Dysphagia has devastating effects on millions of adults and children in the United States and contributes to the increasing cost of healthcare because of the aspiration that results. A new treatment, Vital-Stim, is a form of electrical stimulation that speech therapists can administer in the home care setting. This article reflects one agency's success in changing people's lives by helping them swallow again.

Telehealth and technology will be necessary for home health agencies to care for the avalanche of patients that will need care at home over the next 10 years. Without these tools, agencies will struggle with meeting the ever-increasing acuity of the patients that we see. The nursing shortage will simultaneously be getting worse as the population of people needing home care rises. Hospitals are already under pressure to control capacity whether through reducing soft admissions or by discharging patients sooner. Telehealth can help agencies change patient behaviors. The immediate feedback that patients receive regarding their health status helps them improve their self-care and make a healthier choice in their lifestyle. This article depicts the success that can be achieved at an agency when telehealth is utilized to improve patient outcomes.

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Effective management of wound care patients continues to be a challenge for most home health agencies. Many agencies have implemented successful programs utilizing up-to-date wound care products that decrease visits yet improve healing. Others have been fortunate enough to employ wound care specialists (e.g., certified wound ostomy and continence nurses) who can help guide their programs and provide optimum care to patients. This article discusses the options available as agencies continue their efforts to balance costs while maintaining and improving quality.