Home care for life-supported persons: an approach to program development.
Eighteen ventilator-dependent children were returned to their homes from Illinois. Each candidate was selected according to physician-designated guidelines for medical stability as well as predetermined social-environmental and reimbursement criteria. Each individualized occurrence was organized according to a comprehensive home care plan. Unanticipated improvement in medical condition and psychosocial development has resulted at home. The children and families have returned to a safe environment that best promotes the health of all involved. In addition, initial cost savings were at least 70%. These demonstrations have evolved into an organized regional approach to the ventilator-dependent child which utilizes available resources. The required continuum of health care and personal services includes intermediate intensive care, respiratory rehabilitation, transitional care, home care, and community-oriented alternatives to home. Problems of the ventilator-dependent child are those encountered by all children with handicaps and their families. The appropriate solutions will provide models for other complex health care and societal issues.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004630:Emergencies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007223:Infant; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000592:standards*