Home Safety Evaluations: There's no place like home

In my role as a hospitalist, I am always happy when a patient is healthy enough to be discharged. A resounding majority of people want to go back to their home after they leave the hospital. What we do not want is an unsafe environment leading to repeat injuries resulting in a hospital readmission.

At discharge we can have members of the Home Health team perform a “Home Safety Evaluation”. Physical Therapists, occupational therapists and sometimes speech therapists will evaluate a person’s home for safety concerns and ensure it is set up optimally for best function. The team looks at areas whe...