title: Home visit effectiveness for peritoneal dialysis patients.
abstract: Medicare regulations require follow-up home visits to home dialysis patients, yet routine home visits require a lot of personnel time. The effectiveness of home visits was evaluated by a nurse, dietitian and social worker using a questionnaire. Thirty-six patients were evaluated during an 18-month period. Collectively the team documented an average of 10 pertinent observations per visit and made an average of 4 recommendations for change. Staff members gained new information about the patient as indicated by the fact that they changed their rankings on 5 of 15 parameters following the home visit. The home visit policy that recommended an annual home visit was revised to recommend a single home visit for each new peritoneal dialysis patient. Further visits are performed only if significant problems are identified.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ponferrada
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Prowant
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Satalowich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartelt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000451:nursing*