The Comfort of Home. The Security of DCH.
1401 Greensboro Ave.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 759-7010 or 1-800-833-0687
Email: mbailey@dchsystem.com
Home Health
CPAP
Home Medical Equipment
Lifeline
For more than 80 years, people in West Alabama have known they can rely on the DCH Health System to provide world-class health care. This level of quality is part of every service provided through the Health System, including DCH Home Care Services. You can enjoy all the comforts of home while our professionals bring a wide range of health services to your door.
DCH Home Health Care Agency
DCH Home Health Care Agency is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, licensed by The State of Alabama and certified as a Medicare provider. In 2009, DCH Home Health Care ranked in the Top 500 of Home Health Health Agencies in the United States by a national health care information company.
Services
Some of the services provided by DCH Home Health include:
- Skilled Nursing Care
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Medical Social Services
- Nutritional Services
- Personal Care and Grooming
The licensed, professional staff at DCH Home Health Care can provide many services in your home, including:
- Cardiac monitoring and teaching
- Diabetes education and management
- Pain management
- Medication monitoring, education & administration
- IV therapy
- Wound Vac treatments & other specialized wound care
- Care Coordination with the DCH Outpatient Wound Center
- Oxygen saturation measurement
- Evaluation of Home Safety needs
- Gait and transfer training
- Therapeutic exercises
- Functional performance of daily life tasks
- Assistance with catheters, lab collection & tube feedings
- Tracheostomy care
- Teaching caregivers to manage the care of newly homebound patients
- Colostomy Care
Programs Offered
1. Collaborative Disease Management Program involves the physician, patient, payor and provider working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient. The goal of the program is to improve the patient's quality of life and functional abilities, reduce avoidable hospitalizations and allow patients to remain at home as long as possible.
2. Patient Self-Management Program is designed to increase the patient's knowledge, skill and confidence in managing their condition. Self-management strategies emphasize the role of the patient in managing their condition and focus on improving their overall health through education and partnering. The program's goal is to increase the ability of patients to identify changes in their clinical status before the changes become acute and critical. Patients are taught to obtain, record and report their vital signs, weight, oxygen saturation and other pertinent assessment data.
3. Telemonitoring Program monitors patients for early intervention and proactive care. Telephone contacts and assessments are performed based on the patient's needs. Information is collected from the patient and reviewed by the R.N. to determine the patient's progress toward goals and individual needs based on parameters established by the patient's physician.
4. Safe-At-Home Program focuses on safety by providing in-depth assessments and patient education in areas of medication, safety, fall safety and home safety. Strategies are designed to:
• improve mediation administration and compliance by providing education aimed at insuring the patient receives the right medication at the right time, every time.
• prevent falls and injuries.
• identify potential risks in the home environment and implement changes to decrease the risk of harm or injury.
How do I qualify for home care?
To qualify for home health care, you must:
- Be under the care of a physician.
- Require skilled services related to a medical diagnosis.
Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance companies pay for home health care when it is reasonable, necessary and prescribed by your physician.
What happens when I call?
After contacting your physician, a registered nurse will arrange to meet you in your home to discuss your health care problems and needs. An assessment will be performed and the findings reported to your physician. All services provided are arranged and approved by your physician.
DCH Home Medical Equipment
DCH Home Medical Equipment provides equipment and services to patients in need of equipment prescribed by their doctor. A wide range of equipment is offered and can be delivered directly to the home.
Equipment Available:
- Hospital Bed (semi-electric)
- Overlay mattress (type I and II)
- Wheelchair
- Walker
- Bedside commode
- Shower chair
- Straight cane
- Quad cane
- Trapeze bar
- Reacher
- CPAP and all associated supplies
- Nebulizer
CPAP Services
Under the direction of your physician, our licensed respiratory therapists provide equipment and services to patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy for treatment.
Diagnosis & Treatment
DCH Health System offers two accredited facilities to diagnose sleep disorders. Sleep apnea occurs during sleep when the body’s muscles relax and excess tissue collapses into back of the mouth, nose and throat and blocks breathing. When breathing is interrupted by a blocked airway, the body reacts by waking enough to start breathing again.
This may occur hundreds of times each night, but does not fully awaken the patient. So, the patient remains unaware of the loud snoring, choking and gasping for air that are typical symptoms of this disorder. People with sleep apnea never get “a good night’s sleep” because the repeated awakening robs them of a deep sleep. This can lead to a feeling of excessive tiredness during the day and long-term medical problems if the condition goes untreated.
Sleep apnea is most often treated with the use of CPAP therapy. During sleep, patients wear a specially-fitted mask that is connected to an air flow device that stimulates normal breathing and promotes restful sleep.
Services Provided
After completion of a sleep study that confirms you have sleep apnea, we will receive specific orders from your doctor about your therapy. Our Respiratory Therapist will work with the DCH Sleep Lab staff and your doctor to develop a plan of care based on your individual needs and personal wishes.
Our goal is for you to successfully follow your prescribed CPAP therapy. Ensuring your mask is properly fitted and teaching you how to care for your condition and your equipment are critical aspects of the services we provide.
We will also provide your doctor with the information necessary to monitor your progress.
On-Call
A Registered Nurse is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have questions or problems with your therapy or equipment you can call us. We will call your doctor when, and if, necessary.
What It Costs
Most of the cost of the CPAP machine and accessories are covered by Medicare, Blue Cross and other insurance companies. Your health care insurance provider determines the amount covered. Purchasing and/or rental of the equipment are options also determined by your insurance provider.
Pricing includes care provided by a licensed respiratory therapist. We are happy to work out a payment schedule for you on any out-of-pocket expenses.
DCH Lifeline Services
DCH Lifeline is often the solution when a family member suddenly becomes ill or injured, and care assistance is not available around the clock. Lifeline is a personal response system used to summon help when needed any hour of the day or night.
The personal response system includes a lightweight, waterproof help button that activates a small unit called a communicator which is placed in the home. When the help button is pushed, a trained Lifeline Monitor is contacted. The Monitor then calls the person through the Lifeline system to find out what kind of help may be needed.
Lifeline services also include a "reminder feature" to remind your loved one to take their medication or to keep their doctor appointments. The reminders can also be programmed from their home or yours.
To subscribe to Lifeline, or for more information, contact DCH Home Health at (205) 759-7010.
For Further Information
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Our office is located at 1401 Greensboro Ave.. You can reach us during office hours at (205) 759-7010 or toll-free at 1-800-833-0687.
After hours, you can reach us through our answering service at (205) 349-8456. Remember, if you have a serious emergency, call 911.
Call us if we can help you.
