Biomaterial Database

Home care quality and the home care worker: beyond quality assurance as usual. 1993

N N Eustis, and R A Kane, and L R Fischer

Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, MN 55455.

Using data from diverse sources, we conclude that the jobs of paraprofessional home care workers who provide ongoing care for older clients would be more intrinsically rewarding and offer better conditions for high-quality care if workers had more contact with supervisors and peers, more information about clients and care plans, clearer accountability, and more authority. The home care worker's relationship with clients, which also affects quality of care, can be improved by addressing such issues as adequate compatibility, communication, boundary maintenance, balance of power, commitment, and flexibility.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007400	Interprofessional Relations	The reciprocal interaction of two or more professional individuals.	Etiquette, Medical,Medical Etiquette,Relations, Interprofessional
D011785	Quality Assurance, Health Care	Activities and programs intended to assure or improve the quality of care in either a defined medical setting or a program. The concept includes the assessment or evaluation of the quality of care; identification of problems or shortcomings in the delivery of care; designing activities to overcome these deficiencies; and follow-up monitoring to ensure effectiveness of corrective steps.	Quality Assessment, Health Care,Health Care Quality Assessment,Health Care Quality Assurance,Healthcare Quality Assessment,Healthcare Quality Assurance,Quality Assessment, Healthcare,Quality Assurance, Healthcare,Assessment, Healthcare Quality,Assessments, Healthcare Quality,Assurance, Healthcare Quality,Assurances, Healthcare Quality,Healthcare Quality Assessments,Healthcare Quality Assurances,Quality Assessments, Healthcare,Quality Assurances, Healthcare
D006699	Home Care Services	Community health and NURSING SERVICES providing coordinated multiple services to the patient at the patient's homes. These home-care services are provided by a visiting nurse, home health agencies, HOSPITALS, or organized community groups using professional staff for care delivery. It differs from HOME NURSING which is provided by non-professionals.	Domiciliary Care,Home Health Care,Care Services, Home,Home Care,Services, Home Care,Care, Domiciliary,Care, Home,Home Care Service,Service, Home Care
D000078329	Workforce	The number of people working or available for work or service.	Human Resources,Labor Supply,Manpower,Staffing,Womanpower,Human Resource,Labor Supplies,Manpowers,Staffings,Supply, Labor,Womanpowers,Workforces
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D017009	Professional Autonomy	The quality or state of being independent and self-directing, especially in making decisions, enabling professionals to exercise judgment as they see fit during the performance of their jobs.	Self Regulation, Professional,Autonomy, Professional,Professional Self Regulation,Regulation, Professional Self
D017028	Caregivers	Persons who provide care to those who need supervision or assistance in illness or disability. They may provide the care in the home, in a hospital, or in an institution. Although caregivers include trained medical, nursing, and other health personnel, the concept also refers to parents, spouses, or other family members, friends, members of the clergy, teachers, social workers, fellow patients.	Family Caregivers,Informal Caregivers,Spouse Caregivers,Care Givers,Carers,Care Giver,Caregiver,Caregiver, Family,Caregiver, Informal,Caregiver, Spouse,Caregivers, Family,Caregivers, Informal,Caregivers, Spouse,Carer,Family Caregiver,Informal Caregiver,Spouse Caregiver