Home Nurse Visits and Skilled Nursing in Tampa

What is in-home skilled nursing?

Skilled nursing is medical care that needs the training and judgment of a licensed nurse. With skilled nursing at home, that care comes to you. A registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) from Making Memories Home Health visits on a schedule your doctor orders, checks how you are doing and keeps your doctor informed.

This is different from help with chores or companionship. A home nurse notices things a family member might miss: an incision that looks a little red, a weight gain that may mean heart failure is getting worse, or two pills that should not be taken together. Your nurse also teaches you and your family what to do between visits, so you feel more confident running your own care.

We are a locally owned, Tampa-based agency. We are Medicare-certified and accredited by The Joint Commission, and our nurses care for people in English or Spanish.

What a home nurse does at your visits

Every visit follows the plan of care your doctor approves. Depending on your needs, your nurse may:

• Check your vital signs, weight, breathing and symptoms, and report changes to your doctor
• Clean and dress surgical wounds, pressure injuries and other wounds, and help with ostomy care. See wound care at home.
• Give IV antibiotics and IV fluids, give injections your doctor orders, and care for PICC lines. We do not insert PICC lines; your hospital or infusion team places them and our nurses care for them at home. See home IV therapy.
• Care for urinary catheters and teach you how to lower the chance of infection. See catheter care at home.
• Review all of your medicines, explain each one and help you set up a safe routine. See medication management at home.
• Teach you how to live day to day with heart failure, COPD or diabetes
• Watch your recovery closely after surgery or a hospital stay
• Show family caregivers what to do and what warning signs to watch for

Each of those services has its own page with more detail. Our article on skilled nursing at home also answers common questions in more depth.

What a visit looks like

Your first visit is with a registered nurse. The nurse reviews your health history and your medicines, looks at your home for safety risks and talks with you about your goals. Together with your doctor, the nurse sets up your plan of care.

Later visits are usually shorter. Your nurse checks on you, gives the treatments your doctor ordered, answers questions and updates your doctor when something changes. Visits are part-time, not a nurse in your home all day. Between visits, current patients can reach an on-call nurse 24/7. For chest pain, trouble breathing or any other emergency, call 911.

Our nurses visit homes across Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, so a home nurse near you is often closer than you think, including Tampa, Brandon and Lakeland.

Who qualifies for skilled nursing at home?

Skilled nursing at home often helps people who:

• Just came home from the hospital or a rehab facility
• Had surgery and need incision care or close checks
• Have a new diagnosis or a medicine change that needs a nurse’s eye
• Live with heart failure, COPD or diabetes and want to stay out of the hospital
• Need wound care, IV therapy or catheter care that family cannot safely handle alone

For Medicare home health, you generally must meet all of these rules:

• A doctor or allowed practitioner orders your care. A doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant certifies that you need it and reviews your plan of care.
• You need skilled care on a part-time or intermittent basis, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech-language therapy or continued occupational therapy.
• You are homebound. Leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort. Short, infrequent trips for medical care, religious services or adult day care are OK.
• You had a face-to-face visit with your doctor or allowed practitioner within 90 days before or 30 days after your care starts.
• Your agency is Medicare-certified. Making Memories Home Health is.

What Medicare and insurance cover

When you meet the rules above, Medicare can cover part-time skilled nursing visits at home, along with any therapy your doctor orders. If you also get skilled care, a home health aide may help with bathing and personal care as part of the same plan.

Medicare home health does not cover 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, or homemaker and personal care when that is the only care you need. Medicare Advantage plans have their own rules and may need approval before care starts.

We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. You can also read more about the insurance plans we accept. We explain what your plan covers before your first visit.

How to start in-home skilled nursing in Tampa

Getting started is simple, and we help with each step:

1. Talk to your doctor. Ask whether skilled nursing at home is right for you. If you are in the hospital, ask the discharge planner for a referral to Making Memories Home Health before you leave.
2. Call us at (813) 931-0015. You or a family member can call first. We check your coverage and contact your doctor for the order. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
3. Your doctor sends the order. Doctors, hospitals and case managers can send a referral online or by fax to (813) 931-0017.
4. Your first visit. A registered nurse comes to your home, reviews your health and medicines, and answers your questions.
5. Your plan of care. Your nurse and your doctor agree on a written plan with clear goals and a visit schedule. Your doctor reviews and signs it, and your nurse keeps your doctor updated as you improve.

If you are looking for a home nurse near you in Tampa or a nearby town, call us. We will tell you whether you qualify and help you take the next step. Planning a hospital discharge? Our guide to coming home after a hospital stay can help you get ready.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between skilled nursing and regular home care?

Skilled nursing is medical care that a doctor orders and a licensed nurse gives, such as wound care, IV therapy or teaching about a new medicine. Regular home care usually means non-medical help like cooking, cleaning or companionship. Medicare does not pay for that kind of help when it is the only care you need.

How often will the nurse come to my home?

Your doctor's orders set the schedule. Home health visits are part-time or intermittent, so the nurse comes for a visit and then leaves instead of staying for a shift. Visits are often more frequent at first and slow down as you get better.

Does Medicare pay for a nurse at home?

Medicare can cover part-time skilled nursing at home when you meet its rules, such as being homebound and having a doctor certify your plan of care. Medicare Advantage plans have their own rules. Call (813) 931-0015 and we will check your coverage before care starts.

Can I call to start care myself, or does my doctor have to call?

You or a family member can call us first. We will contact your doctor to get the order, since home health care needs a doctor's or allowed practitioner's approval. If you are in the hospital, you can also ask the discharge planner to send the referral.

Can I reach a nurse after office hours?

Yes. Current patients can reach an on-call nurse 24/7 for questions about their care. For chest pain, trouble breathing or any other emergency, call 911 first.

Where we provide skilled nursing

We visit patients at home in Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, including:

Tampa · Brandon · Riverview · Plant City · Temple Terrace · Lutz · Carrollwood · Town 'n' Country · Lakeland · Winter Haven · Bradenton · Lakewood Ranch

Hillsborough County · Polk County · Manatee County

Insurance we accept

We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. See insurance we accept.

Doctors, hospital discharge planners and case managers can send a home health referral by fax to (813) 931-0017. How to refer a patient.

Other services

Making Memories Home Health provides home health care services.

Wound Care · Home IV Therapy · Catheter Care · Medication Management · Physical Therapy · Occupational Therapy · Speech Therapy · Medical Social Work · Home Health Aide · Medicare Home Health · Home Care & Long-Term Care