IDENTIFYING SKILLED MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION NEEDS OF HOME HEALTH-CARE PATIENTS

This article describes the development of an assessment inventory to i dentify home care clients needing skilled management and evaluation se rvices. Evidence supporting the inventory's content, criterion-related , and predictive validity is presented. The inventory accurately predi cted those patients readmitted within 60 days of discharge. Home healt h care nurses found the inventory easy to use without being time consu ming. Use of the inventory, by home health care nurses will permit car e agencies to more easily document the need to continue care and reduc e recidivism and cost while increasing care quality.