Create Fictitious Incidents
Risk Identification 0
Home Healthcare
Detra Rischer
South University Online
Home Healthcare
Home health care is currently the fastest growing sector in the healthcare industry. Home health care has been practiced by many health professionals and they say that it is easier to manage. However, home health care faces a number of risks to patients, healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals (Stewart, 2015). Home health care provides challenges for those who work in this environment. These risks are associated with nursing homes, healthcare facilities and other household related hazards such as toxic substances, poor quality of air, and aggressive pets among others. Again, home health care setting can’t be easily controlled. Below is a summarized risks associated with home healthcare (Stewart, 2015).
| General security (personal safety) risks | Environmental risks | Patients’ risks |
| Violence from patients and family members | Poor air quality | Poor patient handling |
| Unsafe neighborhoods | Inadequate indoor heating and cooling | Poor infection control |
| Dangerous household pets | Unsanitary conditions including rodents and insects | Patient care environment |
Unsanitary conditions are a primary concern since they provide significant potential risks for both caregivers and patients. The elderly and frail are particularly at risk of cross-contamination. The household disease may spread disease together with dirty household surfaces (Harris, 2017). It is good to note that every home care setting is a work site but the policies and standards of a workplace for caregivers and patients are not put in place. This is dangerous because patients may receive poor health care services.
Pathogenic microbes are also present in various medical wastes. Medical waste disposal provides high risks since the home health care setting is not regulated by states for storage, transportation and finally the disposal of biomedical waste (Harris, 2017). Needle reuse and needle stick injuries are risky as well. Improper reuse and disinfection of drainage bags, insulin syringes and catheters may cause severe infections.
Home healthcare agencies provide a significant service, especially to elderlies. These agencies reduce risks which are associated with home healthcare through screening people who they employ and homes that they serve (Stewart, 2015). A quality improvement and a home safety assessment program can help in identifying these risks.
References
Harris, M. D. (2017). Home health care management & practice. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education.
Stewart, J. E. (2015). Home health care. New York: McGraw-Hill.
