Healthcare used to be delivered in a restricted number of locations—a hospital, a clinic, or the doctor’s office. However, today’s clinical settings encompass everything from walk-in clinics to the patient’s own home. Healthcare workers in the field of nursing and therapy have more options than ever before when it comes to where they want to work and setting their own hours.
There are advantages and disadvantages to working in any field, but if you’re searching for a change, you might consider home health care. Jobs as home health and personal care aides alone are rising at a pace of 33%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and show no signs of slowing down.
Let’s look at some of the advantages of working as a home health care provider.
1. The Demand for Home Health Care Is Growing
If you’re a clinician searching for a change, home health care is an excellent choice. The rise in home health care, as shown by the BLS statistics above, implies that there are opportunities throughout the country. In most circumstances, two years of clinical experience is all that is required to qualify for home health employment.
2. Increased Flexibility
One of the best things about a profession in home health care is the ability to choose your own hours. Once you’ve gotten a caseload, you may create a timetable that works for both you and your patients. You can choose when you work and your vacation days.
3. Improve Your Clinician Skills
Working in home health care provides you with an opportunity to be self-employed. Typically, this means you’re alone with your patient, pushing you to be inventive when confronted with a problem. Having this much control over your clinical practice allows you to develop greater abilities.
4. Relationships in Home Health Care
Working in home health care allows you to have a significant impact on the lives of your patients. You can’t help but nurture a personal relationship with your patient when you spend so much one-on-one time with them. Because of the bond you’re forming with them, you’re effectively a part of their family.
5. Assisting Clients in the Convenience of Their Own Homes
Whether you’re caring for an older patient, assisting someone recovering from an injury, or helping someone manage a chronic condition, you’re allowing them to do so in the most comfortable environment possible. When given the choice, most individuals prefer to be cared for at home when they are sick or injured. You will experience their gratitude and enjoy personal gratification as the person who is allowing this to happen.
6. Increased Pay and Other Benefits
As the demand for home health care increases, so does the salary and other unique benefits packages available. This might involve getting compensated for driving time as well as receiving a fixed wage based on hours rather than units. Because pay and benefits differ, it’s critical to choose a package that meets your needs.
7. Access to Cutting-Edge Technology
More technology is being offered to ease rehabilitation and treatment in a home environment as home health care alternatives continue to expand. Because of the autonomous nature of their employment, home health clinicians generally learn to become digitally proficient.
8. Specialization is a Viable Option
Clinicians in home health have the unique chance to focus their careers on what they are most enthusiastic about. Because of the increasing demand and opportunity, you might discover that you can limit your practice to serving specific groups of patients with comparable medical requirements. This could also help you better budget your time, as you’ll have a better idea of what to expect regarding your duties when visiting each patient.
Home Health Challenges
While there are several advantages to home health care, it is critical to recognize some of the drawbacks. Home health care, for instance, necessitates more paperwork than you’d find in a traditional clinical environment. Some physicians may first be intimidated by the paperwork, but once you’ve found a method that works for you, charting and documenting will become second nature. It’s also worth emphasizing that clinical paperwork should be done during the appointment so that it doesn’t interfere with your home or personal life.
Another challenge is avoiding legal claims and complaints. Working closely with patients and their families presents unique risks that home health aides must navigate. Though you no doubt work carefully and diligently to avoid mistakes, accidents may still happen. And if you are found to be liable, you could be facing thousands of dollars in legal fees and compensation costs. Insurance for home health care professionals could help a simple on-the-job accident from devastating your personal finances.
Related: Home Health Aide Risks, Duties and Limitations
Learn more about insurance for home health aides in Pennsylvania and across the country.
