[I198]In Home Health Services

It should be no secret to anyone that the population of the United States is aging. As the "greatest generation" fades into honored memory and the "baby boomers" begin to approach retirement, the health care industries in our country are facing a major increase in demand. This in turn puts a strain on existing hospital and medical clinic resources, often forcing them to become less personal and more systematic in their treatment of patients. People seeking careers in health care can be put off by this reality and seek alternatives which will allow them to practice their skills in a more personal environment-the home.

A significant portion of our most promising heath care professionals are selecting careers in a home health agency. The increasing interest in this career path has much to do with the ability of the health care provider to establish a more personal and rewarding relationship with the patient.

"There are some definite advantages to working in a home health agency," noted Maria Bushebi, Manager of Private Duty for Family Home Care and Hospice, headquartered in Spokane, WA. "When you can see a patient in a home environment, you can take the time to get to know them and take more detailed note of their progress. You can even make effective recommendations that may never occur to someone who sees the patient in a clinic or hospital setting. And, it's easier to keep up with the patient's progress. Seeing a patient improve is such a major part of our job satisfaction."

With more than 250 employees, Family Home Care and Hospice is the largest privately owned home health agency in the Inland Northwest. Michael Nowling, company president, is very much aware of the challenges of running a health care business today.

One of the biggest difficulties of running a health care business is staffing," explained Nowling. "We have great success in recruiting high quality candidates because they are the type of people who are interested in working in a system which emphasizes personal attention and interaction."

In addition to greater job satisfaction and fulfillment in their patient relationships, home health professionals have much more control over their work hours and schedules than do hospital based workers. This makes the home health agency a great place for family oriented employees. They have a more typical work schedule than other health professionals and can often be available to meet family or social obligations.

"The environment at agencies like Family Home Care is perfect for employees with families," noted Bushebi. "We have regular work hours and can even arrange our schedules so that things like parent-teacher conferences or dental appointments for the kids can be accomplished without much difficulty. The ability to be flexible is a great benefit."

Bushebi observes that many home health agencies are increasingly being staffed by more mature workers. These are often people who have raised their families and are looking for a job that will give them a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

"The home health environment works well for these employees because they are mature and responsible and tend to have a highly developed sense of compassion and concern," said Bushebi. "They fit well into a home environment and gain a real sense of accomplishment and appreciation as they develop a relationship with patients and see them progress."

Health care professionals are leaving hospital and clinic environments to work in home health. Recent advancements in technology have enabled much of the cutting-edge techniques and therapies to be available for use in home heath situations.

"Nurses no longer have to be concerned that they're sacrificing the technical expertise they've achieved in working with the latest medical equipment or practicing the newest procedures," Bushebi added. "There is so much of this expertise and technology which can now move seamlessly into a home setting. So, not only do they have an opportunity for rewarding patient relationships, but they also have the satisfaction of staying on top of developments in their profession."

Licenses and certifications are necessary for workers in home health. Training programs which result in licensing for Nursing Assistants are offered by most of the community colleges across the nation and are not expensive. In addition, home care agencies like Family Home Care will often pay for workers to receive this training.

For people both young and old who are interested in a health care career which offers a unique combination of old fashioned patient care and relationship building along with the latest in medical advances, the best choice these days seems to be the home health agency. And, as Bushebi concludes, if her experience at Family Home Care and Hospice is any indication, home health workers will find all that and more in the home health industry.