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Home Health

A nurse chats with a patient in his home about his medications. Most people prefer to be at home when recovering from an illness or surgery – and, they often feel better faster in familiar surroundings. Once you are well enough to leave the hospital, your healthcare provider may suggest home health services to aid in your continued recovery.

HRMC’s home health team has been proudly serving the community since 1976. Our trained, caring professionals will work with you, your family and the physician to develop a plan of care to help you get back on track as quickly as possible with the goal to:

Shorten your hospital stay or prevent re-hospitalization.
Provide care upon transitioning from the hospital to the home.
Assist you during recovery and help you to return more quickly to routine, daily activities.
Work with other community agencies to help you in your recovery.

If you are interested in finding out if Home Health is right for you or your loved one, ask your physician or contact HRMC’s Home Health at 605-353-6520. A registered nurse or therapist will help you contact your physician and begin the process of evaluation for receiving care.

What services are available?

HRMC’s Home Health uses a combined team approach including physicians, registered nurses, nurse aides, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and social workers. Services provided include:

Assist with taking your medications and monitoring the effects of the medication. The nurse will help you organize and teach you or your primary caregiver how and when to take your medication.
Provide education on recently diagnosed illness or medical condition, such as diabetes, stroke, congestive heart failure or ostomy care.
Provide wound care by cleaning the wound and changing the bandages. Every home health nurse is trained in vacuum-assisted closure therapy, a technique that can boost overall healing of acute or chronic non-healing wounds. The nurse will also teach you and your family members the proper procedures for wound care.
Provide catheter care and irrigation.
Provide chronic or acute pain management through medication or comfort methods.
Provide physical, speech and occupational therapy to improve movement, communication and daily living tasks.
Provide assistance with personal care, such as safe bathing or grooming.

Who is eligible?

HRMC’s home health services are provided to patients of all ages who meet the criteria and live within a 20-mile radius of Huron. Some examples of typical home health patients include, but are not limited to:

A patient recently discharged from the hospital, nursing home, veteran’s administration facility or outpatient facility.
Patients who need IV or injection therapy.
A patient recovering from surgery.
A dialysis patient who needs health care beyond the care they receive in dialysis.
A patient with Alzheimer’s disease.
Pediatric home care for children who have special medical problems.

Referral to home health may be made by physicians, patients, family, friends or community agencies. The care must be ordered by a physician.

Who pays for the services?

HRMC’s home health is certified by the South Dakota Department of Health for Medicare participation. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted for payment of services. Most private insurances cover home health costs if the physician determines the care is necessary for the recovery of the patient.