The My Health@Home programs aim to help people with chronic conditions achieve better personal health and independence. There are five major components of the My Health@Home programs. This system of education, intervention, communication and self-care helps patients take control of their own health and well-being. MedStar VNA has a My Health@Home program to focus on each of the following conditions:
Heart failure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Coronary artery bypass graft
Diabetes
Frequency of Visits: During the first few weeks of this program, registered nurses and therapists will visit patients several times per week. As patients learn to manage their own condition, visits will become less frequent.
1
Nursing Care
Patients are monitored and visited regularly by our home health nurses. During regular in-home visits, nurses will monitor and educate patients to:
Follow a prescribed treatment plan
Track and monitor their symptoms
Take medications as needed and look out for side effects
Maintain a heart healthy diet and control their weight
Watch the amount of fluid they consume
Make healthy lifestyle changes like being active
2
Rehabilitation
When prescribed by the physician, patients receive regular visits from our home health therapy team. During regular in-home visits, rehabilitation professionals will:
Screen patients to determine their level of strength and endurance
Asses the patient's risk of falling and create a prevention plan
Develop an individual rehabilitation program to meet the patient's specific needs
Teach patients how to exercise and develop a regular exercise plan
3
Patient Education
Our home health team teaches patients and their caregivers to use tools to monitor daily activities and record weight and symptoms. By caring for themselves, patients take control of improving their quality of life. Learn more about educational tools and resources here.
4
Telemonitoring
Patients report symptom measurements and vital signs daily using a monitoring device called the Health Buddy. This device is placed in the home and connected to the patient's phone line or Internet access point. A dedicated nurse receives the information and monitors it daily. The telemonitoring device walks patients through a step-by-step process to help them record and manage:
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Weight
Oxygen saturation
Medications taken and any possible side effects
Symptoms
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Watch a news clip video about the Health Buddy
5
Physician Partnership
MyHealth@Home programs depend on a strong partnership with each patient's physician. This allows us to track progress and monitor the quality of care. If a patient does not have a regular physician, we recommend calling the MedStar Health Find-A-Doc Hotlines for the hospital that is closest to the patient's home.
Contact us
For more information or to refer a patient to MedStar VNA, call 800-862-2166.
