Home health agencies grapple with 'acuity creep' as patient needs become more complex

Home health agencies grapple with 'acuity creep' as patient needs become more complex
Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 1/5/24
As the demand for home-based care continues to rise, so does the need for more intensive care plans as patients continue to be sicker and more complex. Home health agencies are feeling this “acuity creep,” and they’re adjusting. But at times, it’s hard to keep up. “When I’m talking about acuity creep, I’m thinking about how much need do the patients in our care models require?” Michael Johnson, president of home health and hospice at Bayada Home Health Care, said. “It’s not just medical needs, either — there’s a social need as well."