Assisting Hands Palm Beach: Skilled Nursing Services, Personal Care and Companionship
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 15, 2014) — To meet the needs of the residents in the Palm Beach County area, an Assisting Hands Home Care franchise office launched a transitional care program in January 2013 for its clients. After almost two full calendar years of operation, performance numbers show strong evidence that this program helps those recovering from surgeries or major medical procedures avoid readmission to hospitals by providing skilled nursing services as a part of its in-home care.
“When patients are discharged from the hospital, it can feel overwhelming to them to manage their recovery,” said Assisting Hands Palm Beach owner Marina Ramirez. “Many times their discharge orders are difficult for them to understand, they don’t feel well, find it difficult to drive and have an uphill battle caring for themselves, while being proactive about staying on top of doctor follow-up appointments and prescriptions.”
According to a recently released analysis of Medicare penalty data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 80 percent of hospitals in Florida experienced penalties of varying levels because of patient stays recorded during Fall 2013. A recent Associated Press report lists the nationwide average for penalties per hospital at $127,000 every year since 2012. This is attributed to patients missing follow-up appointments, not taking the correct amount or type of medication as prescribed upon discharge and/or not completing recommended physical therapy.
“On average, 20 percent of the clients we serve have needed help transitioning from the hospital or rehabilitation facility back to their home,” said Ramirez. “And we have a 99% rate of successfully preventing hospital readmissions among those clients.”
Assisting Hands Palm Beach currently employs over 35 caregivers with extensive experience in medical case management and home healthcare. This enables expert assistance for clients in clearly understanding their discharge orders and medications, providing healthy meals and assistance with activities of daily living and ensuring faster and stronger recoveries. AHPB employs a full-time registered nurse to oversee all care and maintain communication with primary doctors and specialists, ensuring a holistic approach to care. Further examples of Ramirez’s high standards and performance include a Joint Commission accreditation and the Home Care Pulse award presented to AHPB in November 2014. Visit http://www.homecarepulse.com/awards/2014-winners/ to learn more.
About Assisting Hands Palm Beach
Marina Ramirez opened Assisting Hands Palm Beach in January 2013 to serve the aging population of Florida’s Palm Beach County. Ramirez was drawn to the Assisting Hands Home Care franchise model after experiencing the need for safe and comfortable care for a loved one. After Ramirez’s mother passed away, she and her sisters became the primary caretakers of their father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease before his death. At the same time, she saw her mother-in-law struggling for many years to care for her father-in-law, who suffered from Parkinson’s. These painful experiences made her realize the need for quality in-home care for the elderly and moved her to create Assisting Hands Palm Beach. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she has a BA from Georgetown University and an MBA from the University of California Assisting Hands Palm Bech is located at 1870 Forest Hill Blvd. Ste.210, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406, and its phone number is (561) 829-3080. Learn more by visiting its website at https://www.assistinghands.com/palmbeach/, its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AssistingHandsHomeCarePalmBeach or by emailing staff members at https://www.assistinghands.com/palmbeach/contact-us/ using an online form.
