About Guardian Home Health
Home health agency overview
Guardian Home Health is a for-profit Medicare-certified home health agency in Hickory, NC. Certified since 1977, the agency has provided 49 years of in-home healthcare services to the community. The agency offers 6 of the 6 standard home health service categories.
Guardian Home Health provides skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, home health aide services. Skilled nursing and physical therapy are the core services most patients receive, often following a hospital stay, surgery, or acute illness episode.
Guardian Home Health has earned a 4-star quality rating from CMS, reflecting very good patient care outcomes including functional improvement and timely care initiation. 20 physicians are affiliated with this agency.
When selecting a home health agency in Hickory, NC, consider quality ratings, the services offered, patient outcome measures, and whether the agency is covered by your insurance. Home health care allows patients to recover in the comfort of their own home while receiving professional medical care.
At a Glance
Quality Rating
CMS Quality of Patient Care star rating
Very Good
Quality of Patient Care Rating
Guardian Home Health has earned a 4-star quality of patient care rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This rating reflects above-average performance across measures including timely initiation of care, functional improvement in walking and bathing, and avoidance of preventable hospitalizations. This places Guardian Home Health among the higher-rated home health agencies serving patients in Hickory, NC.
Patient Outcomes
CMS quality measures for patient improvement and safety
Timely Initiation of Care
Patients who received their first visit within the recommended timeframe
Improved Walking
Patients whose ability to walk improved during the home health episode
Improved Bed Transferring
Patients whose ability to get in and out of bed improved
Improved Bathing
Patients whose ability to bathe improved during care
Improved Breathing
Patients whose shortness of breath improved
Improved Oral Medications
Patients who improved in managing their medications correctly
Skin Integrity
Patients assessed for pressure ulcer risk with prevention plan
Timely Drug Education
Patients who received timely medication teaching and reconciliation
Functional Assessment
Patients with a comprehensive functional status assessment
Flu Vaccination
Patients assessed for seasonal flu vaccination status
Falls with Injury
Lower is betterPatients who experienced a fall resulting in major injury
Discharge & Readmission
Performance compared to national rates
Discharged to Community
Rate of patients successfully discharged to the community after home health care
Risk-standardized rate: 90.4%
Guardian Home Health performs better than the national rate for discharged to community, indicating stronger outcomes for patients.
Potentially Preventable Readmissions
Rate of unplanned hospital readmissions within 30 days
Risk-standardized rate: 4.2%
Guardian Home Health performs at about the national rate for potentially preventable readmissions, consistent with most home health agencies.
Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations
Rate of unplanned hospitalizations during home health care
Risk-standardized rate: 8.9%
Guardian Home Health performs at about the national rate for potentially preventable hospitalizations, consistent with most home health agencies.
Medicare Spending
Spending per episode relative to national average
Below National Average
1.00 = national average Medicare spending per episode
Guardian Home Health's Medicare spending per episode is 10% below the national average (ratio: 0.90). Lower spending relative to quality outcomes may indicate efficient care delivery. This is based on 1,101 Medicare episodes.
Services Offered
Medicare-certified home health service categories
Skilled Nursing Care
AvailableRegistered nurses provide wound care, medication management, IV therapy, and patient education in the home.
Physical Therapy
AvailableLicensed physical therapists help patients regain strength, mobility, and balance after illness or surgery.
Occupational Therapy
AvailableTherapists help patients relearn daily activities like dressing, bathing, and cooking to regain independence.
Speech-Language Pathology
AvailableSpeech therapists address swallowing disorders, communication difficulties, and cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation.
Medical Social Services
AvailableSocial workers help patients access community resources, coordinate care, and address emotional and financial concerns.
Home Health Aide Services
AvailableCertified aides assist with personal care including bathing, dressing, and light household tasks under nurse supervision.
Affiliated Physicians
20 affiliated physicians
Dr. Lawrence Carter, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Paige Parker, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Kenneth Anderson
Physician Assistant
Dr. Shannon Sherfey, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Dana Brown, DO
Family Practice
Dr. David Kays, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Michael Fisher, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Richard Carlton, MD
Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Robert Reichling, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Catherine Nelson, PA
Physician Assistant
Dr. Robert Glenn, MD
Family Practice
Dr. David Abernathy, MD
Internal Medicine
+ 8 more physicians
Dr. Steven Anderson, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Elijah Vernon
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. William Johanson, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Robert Hart, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Jeffrey Keverline, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Ailisa Smith, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Jamie Hawley
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Robert Yapundich, MD
Neurology
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Guardian Home Health
What is the quality rating for Guardian Home Health?
Guardian Home Health has a 4-star quality of patient care rating from CMS, which evaluates home health agencies on patient outcomes including functional improvement, timely care, and avoidance of preventable hospitalizations.
What services does Guardian Home Health offer?
Guardian Home Health offers 6 home health services: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, medical social services, home health aide.
Does Medicare cover Guardian Home Health?
Yes, Guardian Home Health is a Medicare-certified home health agency. Medicare typically covers home health services when ordered by a physician and the patient is homebound and requires skilled care.
How does Guardian Home Health's Medicare spending compare?
Guardian Home Health's Medicare spending per episode ratio is 0.90 (1.00 = national average). This is below the national average.
How many doctors are affiliated with Guardian Home Health?
20 physicians are affiliated with Guardian Home Health.
Data source: CMS Home Health Compare ·