INTRODUCTION

An ever expanding segment of the health care industry, Home Health Care (HHC) is growing by leaps and bound as hospitals close in greater numbers. Today's patients are expected to stay hospitalized less days than previous, and with out-patient surgery on the rise, the role of home health care in the medical management of these patients are expanding. Equally competent nurses can now safely do day-to-day nursing care, usually associated with hospitalized patients, at home. Selection processes however are used to screen patients qualified for a home care visit.

The three levels of care, namely:

1. Hospital Care
2. Nursing Home Care
3. Home Health Care

Home health care appears to be the cheapest of the three in terms of health care dollars. Because most of the patients requiring home care visits are the frail, the elderly and the disabled, Medicare usually assumes the lion share of the cost although many private insurances and managed care plans have now recognized the importance of home health care; and are beginning to pick up their share of the cost.