Specialty Training in a Managed Care System

Abstract

Home health care delivery is in a dramatic state of change due to the backlash of President Clinton's health care reform proposal. The concept of managed care has been influential in creating the changes seen in hospitals and other acute care settings. Now the home care industry is reeling from similar effects. The challenge for skilled nurses in today's arena is to prepare to implement skilled nursing care in the home setting-to go from generalist to specialist, from delivering quality patient care in a structured environment to maintaining the same quality in the patient's home. To meet the time restraints required by managed care guidelines, home health care nurses must increase their knowledgebase and improve their skills. Specialty training offers both. In a particular area of home health care delivery, allowing the nurse to provide care in a more efficient and cost- effective manner allows the nurse to become proficient in a specific area of home health nursing, such as care of the diabetic patient.