A home care coordinator is a professional who provides patient care outside of a hospital or medical facility, usually in the medical field. Although these job roles can be found in a variety of medical fields, many of them are related to geriatrics, post-surgery, or disabled care. A home care coordinator, in the broadest sense, is someone who ensures that elderly, disabled, post-surgical patients, or anyone else who is unable to care for themselves receives adequate care in their own home.
It’s important to realize that a home care coordinator’s job description is extremely broad, and is largely determined the specific job position set up an employer. Private companies, as well as local, state, and federal government departments, may hire home care coordinators. They may follow internal company directives or specific standards established government initiatives.
A home care coordinator’s role includes determining what type of care an individual may require after being discharged from a hospital or medical facility. The hospice industry is another common example of what home care coordinators do. The home care coordinator typically has a few high priorities in both of these situations. These responsibilities include wound care, ongoing medication, and any other medical conditions that the patient may have, as well as ensuring that the patient’s home environment is effective and safe.
Communication with home care staff and other people in the home environment are also possible aspects of this job. The patient’s home or a government-funded group home for the elderly or disabled can serve as this environment. The home care coordinator may be responsible for more basic tasks such as coordinating daily hygiene and activities for those under their supervision, as well as assisting with any conflicts or problems that may arise.
Employers frequently require home care coordinators to have nursing qualifications because one of their primary responsibilities is to provide a safe and effective home environment for patients. For these positions, a nursing credential and practical nursing experience are required. Because the home care coordinator may be responsible for dealing with various departments in medical facilities and in home environments in order to schedule and coordinate efficient and effective health care beyond a medical network or primary care provider office, employers frequently ask for demonstrations of oral and written communication skills.
Although most home care coordinators work with the elderly and disabled, some other jobs may fall into this category as well. A home care coordinator in an upscale medical office, whether in wound care, dentistry, or other fields, is primarily responsible for educating patients on proper home care for themselves or others. These individuals may not visit patients in their homes on a regular basis, but they may be in charge of disseminating medical and safety information to patients and their families, as well as being on call to answer any questions that may arise later.