Clinical Respiratory Connection for the COVID Patient Receiving In-Home Care

When Fidelity Health Care receives a home care referral for a COVID-19 patient, we not only provide exceptional nursing care to your patient, but we also support the patients with a clinical respiratory assessment by one of our respiratory therapists. Our services also include direct delivery of home oxygen and supplies if needed.

This is a unique service option typically not covered by health insurance. However, it is an important part of the COVID-19 patient’s recovery at home, and the right thing to do for the patient. We have provided a similar service for COPD patients and found those receiving this service were less likely to readmit than those who did not receive the clinical respiratory assessment.

Here is an assessment tool we use for our COVID-19 patients:

Provide patient education on appropriate oxygen saturation and when to seek medical attention.

Review signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses and when to contact Fidelity Health Care and physican.

Monitor Symptoms for:

• Increased shortness of breath
• Increased blood pressure or heart rate
• Decreased oxygen saturation
• Dry cough with difficulty breathing
• Review breathing techniques; pursed lips and tripoding
• Fever of >100.4 degrees

Encourage patient to monitor vitals BID and with symptom changes.

Back to the January 2021 issue of Premier Pulse