The growth of consumerism in healthcare has brought significant changes to the home care industry. Patients view clinicians and healthcare professionals with the same critical eye as every other brand they use. They want to be treated as individuals with tailored treatment plans, and they want to be acknowledged for doing the hard work outside the office to maintain good health.
Then, COVID-19 pushed the healthcare industry to change even faster. It launched everyone into a digital telemedicine and remote-monitoring landscape. The healthcare industry learned how to navigate technology to bring the best possible care in-home during the pandemic.
Home health services have taken on many challenges over the last couple of years as well, setting in motion new trends that are likely to stick around long after the pandemic is gone. Home health service leaders can use these trends to navigate the latest market and meet the ever-growing demands of the patient-consumer.
Home Health Care Industry Trends Leaders Should Know About
Delivering care at home is fast becoming the method of providing care services. A few other services patients and caregivers are looking for include:
- Hospital-at-home models of care
- SNF-at-home models of care
- Transportation services
- Meal delivery
- Remote patient monitoring
- Pest control
- Respite care
The availability of these services has accelerated with the market needs, safety concerns, and new regulatory pressure through COVID-19.
The Challenge Leadership Faces with New Home Health Care Demands
While clinicians and healthcare professionals need to meet patients in a safe environment, some find it challenging to replicate an adequate level of care in the home. Continuous monitoring of vitals, nutritional support, and socialization are critical factors for those receiving home or hospice care. Those require resources and special precautions for higher-risk individuals.
Further, one of the most prominent challenges employers are currently facing is the uncertainty in the workforce. With COVID-19 came critical labor and health safety concerns. Some home health caregivers, clinicians, and other providers left the field while others were called to the front lines or hot spots—this left home health service leaders with unpredictable staffing levels. However, one solution that many home health care providers have embraced to combat staffing challenges is by partnering with a nationwide home health staffing company. This gives providers access to a larger pool of nationwide healthcare workers thus providing a more advantageous handle on labor distribution.
How Leaders Can Help Usher in New Trends
There are five main ways healthcare leaders can adapt to the growing trend of introducing more comprehensive home health care services to the market.
- Connect with other community home health partners who can help form an integrated web of clinicians and providers that will support more comprehensive at-home models.
- Form partnerships with forward-thinking medical technology and courier service providers.
- Create a go-to-market plan and allocate appropriate resources with clear responsibilities of each staff member involved.
- Build care coordination logistical efforts with other home health partners involved in community patient care.
- Invest in devices and applications that help clinicians and healthcare professionals connect with patients, answer questions, and perform electronic evaluations.
Reliable Home Health Staffing Solutions from CareerStaff
As one of the nation’s leading healthcare staffing and managed services providers (MSPs), we specialize in helping organizations like yours achieve successful home health staffing plans. By leveraging a nationwide network of healthcare professionals, you can not only enjoy access to more workers but the freedom to focus on doing what you do best—running your home healthcare business.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your facility, contact us today to set up a consultation. You can also request contingency staff now.