Utilization and referral patterns for home health services: a data base for needs determination.
This paper presents and discusses utilization and referral patterns for home health services in Mississippi. The universe of agencies delivering services in an eleven (11) county sample area is surveyed for patient demographic characteristics, modes of referral to home care and diagnostic characteristics. Comparisons are made of diagnoses of the 65 and over population utilizing home health services and a sample of hospital discharges in that same age group. A home health diagnostic index is derived and used in a home health "needs" determination formula.
D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003625:Data Collection; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008922:Mississippi; D012017:Referral and Consultation