Philadelphia plan for home care of chronically ill persons.

Abstract

A home care program differing in concept and method from others more generally known has been in operation in a section of Philadelphia since 1949, under the aegis of the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia. This program, officially known as the Intensive Home Care Plan for the Chronically Ill, is based on medical care rendered by the family physician practicing in the community, in contrast to plans in which medical care is given by staff physicians of the hospital from which the patient has been discharged. The purpose of the plan is to give the chronically ill, home-bound patient better and more complete medical care in his own home, using the team cooperation approach and always keeping him under the direct supervision of his private physician. It was designed to permit the participating hospitals to use their beds to better advantage by the discharge of patients who no longer need