Home care services: eligibility, inclusion, exclusion and discharge criteria

• Autor(a) principal: Paiva, Patrícia Alves
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Silva, Yara Cardoso, Franco, Nathalia Ferreira Soares, Costa, Maria de Fátima Ribeiro Luiz, Dias, Orlene Veloso, Silva, Kênia Lara
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.unifor.br/RBPS/article/view/4651
• topic: Home Care; Home Care Services; Regional Health Planning.; Atención Domiciliaria de Salud; Servicios de Atención de Salud a Domicilio; Regionalización.; Assistência Domiciliar; Serviços de Assistência Domiciliar; Regionalização.

Objective: To describe the aspects involving eligibility, inclusion, exclusion and discharge in home care from the perspective of home care managers and coordinators. Methods: This is qualitative descriptive exploratory study. Interviews were conducted with five managers and 17 coordinators from 16 municipalities of Minas Gerais between January and September 2015. Results: Respondents reported following the criteria proposed in the national guidelines of the home care service, but with some exceptions. With regard to eligibility, most managers reported that patients undergo clinical evaluation performed by the physician who determines whether or not the patient is eligible for home care. Inclusion criteria refer to the assessment of the patient’s conditions, the identification of the caregiver, social and environmental issues, team access and adaptation of the home to the patient’s needs. Exclusion criteria point to the structural conditions of the home, the lack of caregiver and safety for professionals. The discharge is referenced by clinical stability criteria and the end of treatment. Conclusion: Although home care services criteria are set by the Ministry of Health, managers and coordinators make exceptions to the inclusion and discharge criteria considering: the fragility of the network regarding discharge and referral to another point of care and the patient’s reality. Home care should be performed when the clinical and administrative conditions of the user are just right, considering the eligibility, inclusion, exclusion and discharge criteria.