Visiting Nurses

Visiting nurses are in high demand because of the rising cost of physician-based health services and a rapidly increasing number of elderly Americans in need of health services. These nurses work for various home health agencies across the nation, visiting patients in their homes in order to assist home caregivers in administering medication, checking vital signs and acting as a go-between with the patients' physicians.

History

• Although nurses made house calls as far back as the 1800s, not until 1983 did they form a national governing organization, known as the Visiting Nurse Association of America (VNAA). Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the VNAA represents hundreds of community non-profit nursing and home health organizations. They are also active in lobbying Congress on behalf of home health initiatives.

Significance

• With more than 4 million Americans receiving services from a visiting nurse, healthcare costs are minimized and disabled persons and the elderly benefit from convenient care in their own homes. For patients who must receive regular injections and examinations but are unable to travel to a healthcare facility, the VNAA has effectively lowered the rate of premature admission of these patients into a full-care nursing home facilities by supplying weekly or more frequent visits.

Features

• The VNAA proudly promotes its flu immunization program. In addition to administering a yearly flu vaccine for homebound patients, traveling flu clinics offer low-cost immunizations to the public in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). With the goal of preventing a pandemic flu outbreak, visiting nurses also provide public education about reducing the spread of influenza.

Benefits

• Through local home health agencies, the VNAA works with Medicare, Medicaid and Hospice to provide covered healthcare services to patients. In addition, visiting nurses work closely with victims of work-related injuries, monitoring their healing and dressing their wounds. The VNAA also offers continuing education for visiting nurses on the treatment of non-healing wounds in the elderly. Ask your home health agency about their billing policy for Medicare and Medicaid.

Theories/Speculation

• With a growing number of baby boomers entering their senior years, the demand for home health care will increase dramatically until 2035, creating a greater need for visiting nurses. In response to this demand, the VNAA is teaming up with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to lobby for federal funding of visiting nurse initiatives.