It should be no secret to anyone that the population of the United States is aging. As the "greatest generation" fades into honored memory and the "baby boomers" begin to approach retirement, the health care industries in our country are facing a major increase in demand. This in turn puts a strain on existing hospital and medical clinic resources, often forcing them to become less personal and more systematic in their treatment of patients. People seeking careers in health care can be put off by this reality and seek alternatives which will allow them to practice their skills in a more personal environment-the home.
The number of talented health care professionals choosing to work in a home health agency is increasing as fast as the aging population and the demand for health care services. A home health agency offers significant benefits to anyone seeking a rewarding career in health care.
"Working in a home health agency offers some very significant advantages over a hospital or clinic setting," explained Maria Bushebi, Manager of Private Duty for Family Home Care and Hospice, located in Spokane, WA. "Seeing a patient in a home setting allows a nurse or home health aide the time to develop a relationship with the patient, observe the progress of care and make recommendations that may escape the attention of a hospital or clinic based professional. Plus, it's much easier in our system to follow the progress of care and that's a major part of our job satisfaction."
With more than 250 employees, Family Home Care and Hospice is the largest privately owned home health agency in the Inland Northwest. Michael Nowling, company president, is very much aware of the challenges of running a health care business today.
One of the biggest difficulties of running a health care business is staffing," explained Nowling. "We have great success in recruiting high quality candidates because they are the type of people who are interested in working in a system which emphasizes personal attention and interaction."
Home health professionals not only experience increased job satisfaction, but they also have it easier on the home front. Because they have more flexibility in their schedules, home health workers with families are often able to arrange their schedules so they can be available for family functions or other outside obligations.
Family Home Care is a perfect place for someone with a family," explained Bushebi. "Not only do we have regular hours, but we can quite easily schedule time to attend things like parent-teacher conferences or dental appointments. Flexibility is a tremendous benefit of a career in this industry."
Bushebi observes that many home health agencies are increasingly being staffed by more mature workers. These are often people who have raised their families and are looking for a job that will give them a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
"These more mature workers like the home health environment," note Bushebi. "They are responsible workers so the flexibility is a bonus for them and they tend to have a greater appreciation and compassion for the patient's situation. Working in home health gives them a greater sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as they observe the success of their patients."
Health care professionals are leaving hospital and clinic environments to work in home health. Recent advancements in technology have enabled much of the cutting-edge techniques and therapies to be available for use in home heath situations.
"Nurses no longer have to be concerned that they're sacrificing the technical expertise they've achieved in working with the latest medical equipment or practicing the newest procedures," Bushebi added. "There is so much of this expertise and technology which can now move seamlessly into a home setting. So, not only do they have an opportunity for rewarding patient relationships, but they also have the satisfaction of staying on top of developments in their profession."
Nursing assistant programs and other training classes are commonly offered at community colleges in most areas of the country. These programs are necessary for home health workers to receive the proper licensing so they can work for a home health agency. According to Bushebi, many of the home care agencies, such as Family Home Care, will reimburse employees for this training.
For people both young and old who are interested in a health care career which offers a unique combination of old fashioned patient care and relationship building along with the latest in medical advances, the best choice these days seems to be the home health agency. And, as Bushebi concludes, if her experience at Family Home Care and Hospice is any indication, home health workers will find all that and more in the home health industry.
Family Home Care and Hospice is the largest privately owned home care agency in the Inland Northwest. Medicare has judged FHC&H as among the top one percent of home care agencies in WA. When you think of
home health Spokane, think of Family Home Care. Get your own completely
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