 FAQ
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE "HOMEBOUND" AS DEFINED BY MEDICARE?
- The definition of homebound is that it ordinarily takes a "considerable and taxing effort to leave home without assistance".
- Homebound does not mean bedbound.
- Homebound does not need to be forever, it can be a reasonably short term.
- Homebound does not prohibit you from leaving home to go to church, medical appointments, for a ride in the car, out for a meal, or for personal services.
- The need to have another person with you in order to leave home is considered a "taxing effort" in most cases.
- The need to use a device to walk -- such as a walker, cane, crutches or a wheelchair -- is considered a "taxing effort".
- If you can walk unattended, but become short of breath and need frequent rest stops while walking - that is a "taxing effort".
- If you have some level of confusion and should not leave home alone, that is also con sidered homebound.
- Homebound can be a limited period for medical/safety reasons.
- If you are in doubt, call the Vineyard Nursing Association, we'll figure it out.
FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL: How to know if your patient should be referred to the VNA.
- Your patient keeps missing appointments with you or with the lab. What's going on at home?
- You changed their medications but they aren't getting better. Are they taking them correctly -- or at all?
- Your patient's appearance has changed, they aren't as well kept. Do they need help with household chores?
- You've noticed a recent weight loss or gain that isn't supported by medical diagnosis?
- You've reached a new diagnosis that requires teaching, or frequent assessment involving changes in meds, diet or lifestyle.
- Do they need a home safety evaluation to be sure the environment is appropriate for their functional level?
- When you call in a referral would you prefer to get a real live person and immediate help, not deal with a confusing automated system?
- Your patient complains of pain that is difficult to control. The Vineyard Nursing Association achieved a score placing us #1 in the state of Massachusetts in pain management.
- Your patient has a wound that requires dressing changes or assessment by our wound care specialist.
- We can produce mountains of paperwork for your offices to sign! We make it easy for you...one call, we'll do the rest.
TELEMONITORING OR HOME MONITORING
What is Home Monitoring?
Home monitoring transmits your vital medical readings electronically to the Vineyard Nursing Association where trained medical professionals evaluate the results to insure your condition is properly treated. "HomMed Home Monitoring" is available to select patients
Is Home Monitoring right for you?
HomMed Monitoring is a wonderful addition to health care programs that require frequent monitoring and trending of vital signs. If you have had a recent ER visit, been hospitalized, might be faced with admission to an alternative living facility, if you are unable to be properly monitored, or if you have a difficult time overseeing complicated medical self monitoring instructions - HomMed might just be right for you.
What clinical data can the home monitor collect and transmit?
HomMed Home Monitoring records information from which daily and PRN measurements can be made of heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, weight, oxygen saturation, temperature, blood glucose levels, lung capacity and prothrombin time. In addition, up to ten questions specific to the patients condition allow for a comprehensive assessment of the patients status that day.
Are you a candidate for home monitoring?
A Vineyard Nursing Association clinician will conduct a thorough assessment to determine if each interested patient is a good match for the HomMed home monitoring system.
How does Home Monitoring affect my need for follow-up office visits?
Prompt communication of abnormal parameters and routine trend reports allow physicians to detect subtle changes in a patient's clinical status before a condition deteriorates. They can thereby schedule follow-up visits and make incremental adjustments to the treatment plan to help the patient maintain the healthiest status possible.
Does Medicare cover monitoring services?
While Medicare does not currently pay for the daily home monitoring service, the Vineyard Nursing Association does not charge for this service to Medicare patients. Patients that do not qualify for Medicare will in the future, have the option of leasing the monitoring service at a nominal fee.
WOMEN'S HEALTH NETWORK
Do you qualify for free health service through the Women's Health Network?
You may qualify for free screening and health care services from the Women's Health Network if:
- You live in Massachusetts
- You meet the income guidelines
- You have no health insurance or your health insurance does not cover these services and,
- You are age 40-64
If under age 40
- Have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- Have received therapeutic radiation to the chest
- Are referred by a clinician to rule out cancer
If over age 64
- Be ineligible for Medicare
- Be unable to pay for Medicare Part B
If age 18-39
- You have never had a Pap test or have not had a Pap test for five years
HOW IS THE VINEYARD NURSING ASSOCIATION FINANCED?
There is a misconception that, as a certified home health care agency, the cost of providing almost 14,000 home visits annually is reimbursed fully by Medicare and private insurance. The reality is that to varying degrees, we lose money each time one of our skilled medical staff members visits a patient. There are programs that we provide to the community, like home visits through Elder Services, that cost the VNA over $30,000 a year, and free breast and cervical cancer screenings to island women through the Women's Health Network that cost the VNA over $65,000 a year. We must raise over $300,000 annually to balance the cost of services we provide to the community of Martha's Vineyard and the income we receive as payment.
For these reasons we rely on a robust fundraising program that includes special events, grants and donations from individuals and businesses.
FY'06 VNA Budget
Operating Expenses
Patient Revenues
Development Revenue
Total Revenue |
1,800,000
1,400,000
400,000
1,800,000
|
VNA Staffing
Total Employees
Full Time
Part Time |
40
24
16 |
Staff Breakdown:
11 Registered Nurses
1 LPN
2 Occupational Therapists
4 Physical Therapists
2 Social Workers
8 Home Health Aides
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD NURSING ASSOCIATION?
Our agency staff makes over 14,000 patient visits each year.
The Women's Health Network provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to over 350 Vineyard women a year, as well as cardio vascular disease screening to an additional 175 women.
The VNA Pain Management Program, began in 1997, has been recognized as #1 in the State of Massachusetts.
80% of our patient revenue comes from private insurance and Medicare.
Last year total contributions from grants and donations provided $400,000 to our agency.
The Vineyard Nursing Association is the only Martha's Vineyard member of the Visiting Nurse Association of America, Home Health Care Association of MA, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, and the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aide Services.
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