Mendocino Coast District Hospital has been providing quality home care to patients on the Mendocino Coast and the surrounding area since 1986. Our service area extends north of Westport to the town of Elk. Our professional staff are noted for their clinical excellence and high patient satisfaction. Professional care is provided in the comfort of the patient’s home. Services that can be provided include: quality nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, medical social services and home health aide care. Our professional staff members are trained in many specialties including cancer, cardiac, diabetes, respiratory, newborn, pediatric, orthopedic, rehabilitation and wound/ostomy care.
OUR NURSES
Assess many aspects of a patient’s condition. They will develop a treatment plan with you and your physician to help manage and resolve care needs. Some common home health nursing needs include:
- Instruction in new medications
- Wound healing and care
- After surgery care and monitoring
- Suture or staple removal
- Care of Heart and lung conditions
- Diabetes monitoring and education
- End of life care
- Pain medication management
- Home IV antibiotic therapy
- Newborn baby assessment
OUR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Assess patients to determine what rehabilitation goals are appropriate. They will work with you and your physician to develop a plan of care to maximize strength and independence. Some common conditions that home health physical therapists treat include:
- Joint replacement surgery
- Stroke
- Fractures
- Amputation
- Heart surgery
- Back surgery
- Head injury
- Degenerative joint disease
OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Provide instruction in activities of daily living to promote maximum independence. Common areas that Occupational therapists focus on in home care include:
- Self care (bathing, dressing)
- Homemaking (cooking, laundry, shopping)
- Conserving your energy
- Medical equipment recommendations (wheelchairs, bathroom modifications)
- Transfers and safety
- Environmental modifications
OUR SPEECH THERAPISTS
Address problems in communication and swallowing. This may involve language use, speech production, special communication devices, oral motor strength and safe swallowing skills. Some common conditions that speech therapists commonly treat include:
- Stroke
- Head or neck cancers
- Brain injury
- Parkinson’s disease
OUR MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS
Assist you in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems. Common areas that a medical social worker focuses on include:
- Assisting with long term care planning needs
- Improving communication and understanding among family members
- Identifying and obtaining needed community resources
- Providing supportive counseling related to a medical condition
- Assisting with Advance directives
OUR HOME HEALTH AIDES
Assist with personal care, bathing, dressing and linen changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I get home health care?
Home Health care is often needed after a surgery or a traumatic injury. It is also available to help manage chronic illnesses or problems that come along as we age.
Am I qualified to receive home health care?
A person must be homebound to receive home health care. Medicare defines homebound as “a taxing physical effort to leave home”. Many private insurances use Medicare guidelines.
How does home health care begin?
Home Health care is like a prescription. It needs to be ordered by your physician. You or your family member can begin by requesting home health care through your doctor or discharge planner if you are in a medical facility. We work closely with physicians to determine appropriate needs.
How is home health care paid for?
Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurances cover all of the costs of care though some private insurance may require a co-pay or only provide partial coverage. If you have private insurance, contact your carrier and ask about home health coverage including any out of pocket expenses you may be responsible for. Our MCDH home health billing department is also available to answer your questions at 707-961-4696.