A liver transplant can be the only option for people with advanced liver disease or acute liver failure, and according to HHS* there are nearly 13,000 candidates waiting for one. The waiting period for a transplant from a deceased donor can range from days to years depending on a person’s MELD† score. Home Health provides care for recipients in the comfort of their homes before and after their transplant.
The average hospital stay after a liver transplant is 2 to 3 weeks. Some patients’ stays may be shorter and some much longer if complications arise. Readmission after discharge is common within the first year after a transplant. Choosing home health for post-surgical in-home care reduces those chances by limiting patient exposure to infection.
Home health nurses provide routine blood tests, check incisions for infection, change bandages, review medications, and teach patients how to manage their condition. Once a patient has received a liver transplant, they will have to check their blood pressure and heart rate, as well as monitor their general health for the rest of their life.
Post-surgical complications that Home Health nurses watch for include:
Bleeding
Breathing problems
Infection
Obstructed blood vessels
Kidney damage
Always include post-surgical advantages of home health care when marketing for referrals. Check out our Patient Outcomes Brochures for Physicians and our Patient Outcomes Brochures for Seniors to help demonstrate your success in patient recovery.
We also have a variety of customizable disease specific brochures and flyers to provide targeted material for specialized areas of home health and hospice care.
Resources: http://www.unos.org/ | https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/ | http://www.srtr.org/ *https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/data/
†MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) scores are based on a complex formula of specific blood values that rates a patient’s transplant need. Adults scores range from 6 to 40 and the patient with the highest score receives the next available matching liver.