Home care frequently asked questions

Will the home health nurse bring my supplies at the time of my visit?

• Some home health agencies may have their nursing staff bring your supplies. But most agencies will have your supplies delivered to your home before the nurse arrives.

What should I do with the box of supplies delivered to my home?

• The box of supplies may contain medications that need to be stored in the refrigerator (read the instructions on the medication label for directions).
• If there are medications in your box that need refrigeration, take them out of the box and place them in a clean area in your refrigerator (preferably inside a plastic container or bag to protect them from spills).
• Ask the home health nurse to review the box of supplies with you when he/she arrives.

What should I do if I can't be home for a scheduled delivery?

• You should call the home health agency and tell them so that another delivery arrangement can be made. Most agencies require an adult signature to leave supplies at a home.
• You can arrange to have another adult in your home for the delivery.
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• Or you may be able to have the delivery made to a different location, such as a neighbor's house, but only if your neighbors are willing to accept the delivery on your behalf.
• Some agencies may also deliver to a family member's house, or possibly to your work place.
• Call the agency to agree on a plan that will work best for you.

• Your home care agency may only send out part of the order because the medications may have a short expiration date when they are mixed and are ready to administer. The home care pharmacy will make another delivery to your home to complete the full course of therapy ordered by your child's doctor.

Where should I call if I need a refill on supplies or home health provided medication?

• The home health agency providing your child's care should give you phone numbers to call when you need to order more supplies. They should give you information on how to contact them during regular business hours as well as after normal working hours.
• Some agencies have separate nursing and pharmacy services, or two different agencies may be providing care for home nursing and home pharmacy. Make sure you get contact information for home nursing as well as home pharmacy if your child requires both services.

How will I know when a home health nurse is coming to my house?

• If your child has a timed medication due, the nursing staff at the hospital should be able to tell you (before discharge) what time a nurse is scheduled to be at your house.
• You can also call the agency providing care to confirm the visit schedule for your child.
• Ideally, the nurse should call your home to schedule additional visits that may be needed. Try to arrange these visits with the nurse when he/she is at your house.

Will a home care nurse be coming to give each dose of home care medication my child needs?

• In most cases, you, as a parent or caregiver will need to learn how to give the home health medications.
• A nurse will teach you about the procedure and may leave you with some written instructions.
• You should be given phone numbers to call for problems or questions.

If a nurse comes to my house to draw labs for my child, will the labs be processed at Children's Memorial?

• If your child needs labs drawn from his/her vein, it is most likely that the samples will go to a laboratory that is near your home, or that is near the nurse's visit area for that day.
• You may receive statements or bills from various hospitals or lab facilities, depending on where your child's labs are taken. Check with your home nurse to make sure that the labs are taken to places that are covered by your insurance plan.

Do I need to notify my home health provider if my child is re-admitted to the hospital?

• It is a good idea to call your home health provider if and when your child is readmitted to the hospital.
• Your child's home care needs may change during your stay at the hospital and your home health provider can help make the discharge process go more smoothly if he/she is aware of the hospital admission.
• If your child has a home visit scheduled when your child is re-admitted, you should call the home health agency to cancel the scheduled visit. If you do not have the phone number with you, ask one of the nurses at the hospital to help find the number.

What should I do with the left over supplies when my child no longer needs home care?

Once a home health agency delivers supplies to a home, they usually will not accept any returns. But, you may want to check with your specific home health agency for their policy about returns.

What should I do with left over infusion bags and pumps when my child no longer needs home infusion?

You should call your home pharmacy to find out how you should dispose of any unused medications for infusion. In most cases, the home health agency will arrange for pick up of the infusion pump.

What should I do if my home sharps disposal container (needle box) is full?

Full sharps containers that are provided by your home health agency should be picked up and disposed of by the same agency. Call the agency that provided the container to arrange for a pick up or to discuss disposal options.