Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1291546
TheSouthShoreMagazine.com 11 cover certain types of visits, but only a small portion of them cover telehealth for home care – meaning the use of telehealth is an overhead cost. Unfortunately, the current model doesn't identify when a virtual visit can safely and effectively occur in place of an in-person one. That's why many agencies, including NVNA and Hospice, are lobbying for change. I'm currently working with the National Association for Home Care, as well as the federal government, to push for a policy update. WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF NVNA? Since its doors first opened in 1920, the Norwell Visiting Nurse Association has been charged with bringing essential health service and education into the homes of the South Shore community – and that mission has remained the same over the last 100 years. Following in the footsteps of my predecessors, I will work diligently to ensure that NVNA and Hospice remains rooted in its founding mission while also striving to expand its offerings based on patient needs. In terms of specific growth, I have made it my mission to expand upon our hospice and palliative services. As a first step, NVNA and Hospice launched its Grace Campaign to raise $4.5M by 2021, of which $2.8M has already been raised. Under the leadership of Campaign Chair Jane Steinmetz, Managing Principal of Ernst & Young, donations will help establish a fund for the future that will build on the mission of the Pat Roche Hospice Home and further enhance the Palliative Care Division. Both services have come a long way in such a short amount of time, so I want to maintain that momentum and help them reach their full potential. We know how important it is for patients to be surrounded by loved ones in their final days, so we limited visitors and visitation hours; however, we did not eliminate them. In addition, we provided the appropriate personal protective equipment for families. And I'm proud to report that the Pat Roche Hospice Home has remained 100% COVID-free. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF HOME CARE LOOK LIKE? The reality is that patients are generally sicker than they have been in the past, and clinicians are caring for them at longer trajectories as a result. In terms of how that affects the home care sector, I can confidently say that it's going to grow. Patients won't want to stay in the hospital for long periods of time unless absolutely necessary, so we're going to see more and more of them opt for in-home care. Along those same lines, behavioral health will play a larger role in our clinicians' day-to-day responsibilities and they'll continue to treat patients more holistically than ever before. Baby boomers will also continue to impact the home care sector. According to the 2020 Census, the baby boom generation is now at an estimated 73 million, and all boomers will be at least age 65 by 2030. This means that as more and more of them enter their senior years – about 10,000 a day – we'll continue to see a steady increase in the number that opt for in-home care. I also believe that the future of home care – and healthcare as a whole – will continue trending in the virtual realm. In the immediate future, we're going to see telehealth being used in new, more innovative ways. Finally, we can't talk about the future of home care without talking about Medicare and commercial payers. For those who may not be aware, Medicare and the other commercial payers NVNA.ORG 120 Longwater Dr., Norwell 781.659.2342