What is wound care at home?
It means a licensed nurse comes to you to check your wound, clean it and change the dressing the way your doctor ordered. For many people, getting to a clinic several times a week after surgery or an illness is tiring or simply not possible. Healing at home lets you rest in a familiar place while a nurse keeps a close eye on your progress.
Wound care is part of our skilled nursing service. Your doctor orders it, and every visit follows a written plan of care. Our nurses care for people across Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, in English or Spanish.
Wounds we care for
- Surgical wounds. Incisions after joint replacement, heart, belly and other surgeries, including incisions closed with staples or stitches.
- Pressure injuries. Also called bedsores, they form when skin stays under pressure too long, often over the tailbone, hips or heels.
- Diabetic foot ulcers. Sores on the feet that can heal slowly when blood sugar runs high or feeling in the feet is reduced.
- Venous leg ulcers. Wounds on the lower legs linked to poor blood flow in the veins, often with swelling. Your doctor may order compression wraps.
- Skin tears and other wounds that need regular dressing changes and close watching.
- Ostomies. Help with a new colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy, including pouch changes and protecting the skin around the stoma.
What a wound care visit looks like
A visit usually takes place at your bedside or kitchen table. Your nurse will:
- Look at the wound and measure it, so healing can be tracked from visit to visit
- Clean the wound and put on the dressing your doctor ordered
- Check for signs of infection and ask about pain
- Check your skin on other pressure points, like heels and hips
- Talk about things that affect healing, such as blood sugar, eating, drinking, swelling and how much you move
- Share ways to take pressure off the wound, like changing position often or keeping weight off a foot when ordered
- Report what they see to your doctor, who may change the treatment
Wounds keep healing between visits, so teaching is a big part of the job. Your nurse can show you and your family how to keep the dressing clean and dry, wash hands and handle supplies safely, change a simple dressing when your doctor wants family to help, check the feet daily if you have diabetes, and empty and change an ostomy pouch. We go at your pace and check what you learned at the next visit. Our guide for family caregivers has more ideas for the people helping you.
Warning signs: when to call
Call your doctor, and let your nurse know, if you notice:
- Redness, warmth or swelling that spreads around the wound
- More drainage, or drainage that turns thick, cloudy, yellow or green
- A bad smell from the wound
- Fever or chills
- Pain that gets worse instead of better
- The edges of an incision pulling apart
- Raw skin around an ostomy, or a stoma that looks much darker than usual
Call 911 for bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, trouble breathing, chest pain, new confusion, or a high fever with feeling very sick.
Who qualifies for home wound care?
You may be a good fit if you are healing from surgery, came home from the hospital or a rehab facility with a wound, or have an ulcer or pressure injury that needs regular care. People with diabetes, poor blood flow or limited movement often benefit, since their wounds can heal slowly.
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 part-time or intermittent skilled care, such as skilled nursing for wound care, 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 skilled nursing visits for wound care at home. If your plan also calls for it, physical therapy can help you move safely and keep weight off a healing foot, and a home health aide can help with bathing while protecting your dressing. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care, or 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. See all the insurance plans we accept.
How to start wound care at home in Tampa
We serve homes in Tampa, Riverview, Bradenton and many nearby communities. Here is how to begin:
- Talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor, surgeon or wound clinic whether home wound care is right for you. If you are in the hospital, ask the discharge planner for a referral to Making Memories Home Health.
- 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.
- Your doctor sends the order. Doctors and case managers can send a referral online or by fax to (813) 931-0017.
- Your first visit. A registered nurse looks at your wound, reviews your health and medicines, and shows you how to protect the wound between visits.
- Your plan of care. Your nurse and your doctor agree on the wound treatment, the visit schedule and your healing goals. Your nurse keeps your doctor and any wound clinic updated as you heal.
Frequently asked questions
How often will a nurse come to change my dressing?
Your doctor's orders set the schedule, based on the type of wound and the dressing used. Some wounds need several visits a week at first, while others need fewer. As the wound heals, visits usually become less frequent.
Can my family help with dressing changes?
Often, yes, if your doctor's plan includes it. Your nurse shows your caregiver each step, watches them practice and checks the wound at the next visit. Some wounds and dressings should be handled only by the nurse, and we will tell you which ones.
Do I still need to see my surgeon or wound clinic?
Yes. Keep every follow-up appointment your doctors schedule. Home visits cover the days in between, and your nurse shares what they see so your doctors can adjust treatment.
Does Medicare pay for home wound care?
Wound care is a skilled nursing service. Medicare can cover it as part of home health care when you are homebound, need part-time skilled care and your doctor certifies a plan of care. Call (813) 931-0015 and we will verify your coverage before your first visit.
How do I get started?
Ask your doctor, surgeon or hospital discharge planner to send a referral to Making Memories Home Health, or call us and we will contact your doctor. Once we have the order, a nurse schedules your first visit.
Where we provide wound care
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.
Skilled Nursing · 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