In-home respiratory care for ill patients is a must. They need this care to save their lives. Many people suffer from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea, and other chronic respiratory ailments. For them, home respiratory care can be vital protection. It gives them the independence to live a quality life too. Some reputable healthcare facilities have started providing home-based oxygen therapies, which has become an added advantage for the medical system. Both patients and providers benefit from this. But it is necessary to make this whole setup cost-efficient, convenient, and patient-centric. Ensuring high-quality products and services becomes an integral part of the process.
According to Apria Healthcare, physicians recommend respiratory therapy to the patients, who then can access oxygen equipment and treatments in the comfort of their homes instead of going to nursing homes or hospitals. The home respiratory care providers must take care of a few aspects, though. They need to educate patients about health management and the use of respiratory equipment. The responsibility of fast delivery of the medical supplies is also on them. The therapists evaluate the fitting and functions of the equipment and guide the caregivers to make the best use of them.
Insights into home respiratory care by Apria Healthcare
Who needs this type of service?
COPD and other patients with acute respiratory problems require home respiratory therapy. COPD is one of the three leading causes of death in America, as about 15 million people suffer from this. About 12 million people don’t go for the diagnosis. This specific lung condition is not a singular illness as it includes refractory asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc. These patients experience breathlessness, tightness in the chests, coughing, wheezes, etc. Although the disease is not curable, a patient can manage it at home efficiently with access to helpful therapy. The poor lung functions don’t allow them to step out of their homes comfortably. Then, factors like air pollution and pollen pose other challenges.
To be precise, some patients struggle to walk due to difficulty breathing. Still, not everyone has to remain homebound. With proper care, both groups can get better control over their lives. Since home health care is affordable medical support compared to hospitalization, it can be one of the best ways to maintain respiratory health. At the same time, it can also bring down the need to visit an emergency room frequently.
How does this help healthcare spending?
Patients opting for home treatment can feel better than those in the hospitals. It can impact healthcare spending positively. As per data, a patient needs to spend about 35% less in the home-based setting. While the home therapy costs about USD$13,000 on average, the total cost of inpatient care can amount to USD$20,000. With the increasing number of patients looking for in-home oxygen supplies and equipment, one can expect hospitalization and emergency room trips to go down. Going by Apria Healthcare, home respiratory care can ensure higher patient outcomes. It can make things more cost-effective for everyone, including taxpayers, patients, and providers.