A home care coordinator is a professional, usually in a medical field, who provides for patient care outside of a hospital or medical facility. Although these job roles may be in various medical fields, many of them are in the areas of geriatrics, post-surgery, or fields related to care for the disabled. The most general definition of a home care coordinator is someone who makes sure that elders, the disabled, post-surgical patients, or anyone else not able to care for themselves receives adequate care in a home environment.
It’s important to understand that the job role of a home care coordinator is extremely broadly defined, and determined mostly by the individual job position set up by an employer. Home care coordinators may be employed by private companies, or by local, state or federal government departments. They may work according to internal directives from a private company, or according to specific standards set by government initiatives.
One particular role for a home care coordinator is in determining what care an individual may need when that person is being discharged from a hospital or medical facility. Another common example of what home care coordinators do is related to the hospice field. In both of these cases, the home care coordinator typically has a few high priorities. These involve providing for wound care, continual medication or any other existing medical conditions of the patient, as well as ensuring that the home environment provides effective and sufficient safety for that person.
Other elements of this job can include communicating with home care staff persons in the home environment. This environment can be the patient’s private residence or a government-funded group home for the elderly or disabled. The home care coordinator may work on more basic provisions like coordinating daily hygiene and activities for those in their care, as well as assisting with any conflicts or problems that may arise.
Since one of the major responsibilities of home care coordinators is to provide a safe and effective home environment for patients, employers often require that these individuals have nursing qualifications. A nursing credential and practical experience in nursing are key qualifications for these roles. Employers also often ask for demonstration of oral and written communication skills, since the home care coordinator may be responsible for dealing with various departments in medical facilities and in home environments, in order to schedule and coordinate efficient and effective health care beyond a medical network or primary care provider office.
Although most home care coordinators provide services for the elderly and the disabled, some alternative jobs might also fall under this category. An upscale medical office, whether it’s in wound care, dentistry, or other fields, might have a home care coordinator who is primarily responsible for educating patients on proper home care for themselves or others. These individuals may not regularly travel to home environments, but may instead be primarily responsible for distributing medical and safety information to patients or their families, and perhaps being on call to answer any questions that might arise later.