BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – August 18, 2021 – The American Academy of Home Care Medicine (AAHCM) has announced the launch of its National Home Care Medicine Practice Directory, a vital new resource designed to connect patients, caregivers, and the broader healthcare community with trusted home care providers. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network and the Home Centered Care Institute, addresses a critical need for accessible, high-quality care in the comfort of patients’ homes.
For many families, particularly those caring for aging parents, navigating the landscape of healthcare services can be overwhelming. The AAHCM National Practice Directory simplifies this process, offering a centralized and searchable platform to locate qualified home care medicine providers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and even internationally. This directory is poised to be an indispensable tool for not only families and patients but also for healthcare organizations seeking to make informed referrals and foster collaborative care networks.
Brent Feorene, MBA, Executive Director of AAHCM, emphasizes the directory’s significance in improving access to essential healthcare services. “Adult children often find themselves responsible for their aging parents’ care and need the support of home care medicine services,” Feorene stated. “The AAHCM Home Care Medicine Practice Directory directly addresses this need by enhancing access to high-quality, convenient, at-home services. As home-based medical care becomes increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of age-friendly health systems, this directory makes finding and accessing such care straightforward and efficient.”
The development of this National Home Care Medicine Practice Directory was made possible through a generous grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, as part of their ongoing Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative. This funding underscores the critical role of home-based care in meeting the needs of older adults, especially those with mobility limitations.
Scott Bane, JD, MPA, Program Officer at The John A. Hartford Foundation, highlights the importance of home-based care, particularly in reaching vulnerable populations. “Home-based care providers are essential for older adults who struggle to leave their homes, providing everything from vital primary care to crucial COVID-19 vaccinations,” Bane noted. “The collaboration between these three leading organizations is instrumental in expanding the delivery of age-friendly care to older adults with complex health needs, right where they need it most – at home.”
The user-friendly locator tool allows patients, families, payers, and healthcare organizations to easily search the directory by ZIP code. Beyond basic contact information, each listing provides valuable details to aid in informed decision-making, including:
- Types of in-home services offered
- Availability of urgent visits
- And other pertinent practice information
Designed for ease of use, the directory’s locator tool presents search results both visually on a map and as a list of providers. Direct connections are facilitated through one-click phone numbers and website links, ensuring that accessing home care medicine providers is as seamless as possible. By offering the most current provider information, the directory stands as a pivotal resource in expanding access to home-based primary care.
About the American Academy of Home Care Medicine:
The American Academy of Home Care Medicine (AAHCM) is the premier professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of home care medicine. AAHCM serves a diverse membership of physicians, healthcare professionals, and organizations committed to enhancing the quality of care for patients in the home. Through promoting the art, science, and practice of home care medicine, AAHCM strives to realize the promise of interdisciplinary, high-value healthcare in the home for all those in need. The AAHCM’s multidisciplinary membership includes physicians, medical directors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, social workers, practice administrators, and residents and students engaged in home care medicine. For more information, please visit aahcm.org and follow @AAHCMedicine on social media.
About The John A. Hartford Foundation:
The John A. Hartford Foundation is a national philanthropy committed to improving the care of older adults. As a leader in aging and health, the Foundation focuses on three core areas: building age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and enhancing serious illness and end-of-life care. Based in New York City, The John A. Hartford Foundation is dedicated to creating a future where all older adults receive the high-quality, coordinated care they deserve. Additional information can be found at johnahartford.org and @johnahartford.
About the Home Centered Care Institute:
The Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) is a national non-profit organization with a mission to advance home-based primary care. HCCI is committed to ensuring that medically complex and home-limited patients have access to exceptional healthcare within their homes. HCCI collaborates with leading academic medical centers, health systems, and industry experts to advocate for and expand the home-based primary care model. This is achieved through workforce development via comprehensive education and training programs, and by establishing a research-backed model for sustainable and scalable house call programs. For more information, visit hccinstitute.org and follow @HCCInstitute.
About the National Home-Based Primary Care Network:
Established in 2012, the National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network is dedicated to ensuring homebound individuals receive high-quality, evidence-based medical care in their homes. The Network achieves this through coordinated initiatives focused on quality improvement and applied research. To learn more, please visit improvehousecalls.org and follow @improvehbpc.
