Healthy at home: Make a difference with Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) 

There’s no place like home

At the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), we know that the needs of our Veterans aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some Veterans need a different approach, which is why our Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program is a game-changer, not just for Veterans, but for primary care providers like you.  

For Veterans navigating the complexities of health, aging and daily life, bringing care closer to home can make all the difference. For you, it’s a chance to apply your skills in an environment offering the care and comfort that help our Veterans thrive.  

How Home Based Primary Care helps 

Some Veterans may struggle with appointments and clinic visits because of their medical issues or even because of their location. This is especially true in rural and highly rural communities where many Veterans choose to live, but where access to care may be hampered by distance.  

But those difficulties aren’t just limited to rural Veterans. A Veteran may need help with daily activities. Perhaps they are isolated, or their caregiver needs support. Perhaps they are homebound, which can be challenging no matter where you live.  

Whatever the case, HBPC allows us to deliver care that is highly personalized and focused on what is important to the Veteran. Through HBPC, we take comprehensive, interdisciplinary primary care to Veterans, rather than asking them to come to us.  

By helping Veterans remain connected to their communities instead of moving into institutional settings such as nursing homes, HBPC also supports better outcomes and higher satisfaction for Veterans and their families. 

Opportunities with Home Based Primary Care 

The success of our HBPC programs comes from the dedicated healthcare professionals who help our Veterans pursue lifelong health and wellness. Employing our Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model, we build around what the Veteran needs and how best we can provide for them.  

What do those teams look like? 

• Physicians working in HBPC supervise the healthcare team that provides the services making a home-based visit to assess needs and building a team suited to the treatment plan.
• Functioning as a care managers, registered nurses (RN) provide nursing care in the home, as well as delegate and oversee additional care delivered by licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
• Occupational therapists (OT) conduct in-home rehabilitation, helping Veterans perform activities and roles that are most important to their daily lives.
• Physical therapists (PT) help Veterans cope with pain, increase range of motion and improve endurance, working with them to overcome physical limitations.
• As the primary mental healthcare provider of an HBPC team, psychologists work with Veterans, but can also assist families, all with an eye to helping to provide the best environment for care.
• Social workers can help identify a Veteran’s strengths, needs, abilities, preferences and coping skills, designing a treatment plan that works best for the situation.

But that isn’t all that we can offer Veterans at home. If a Veteran needs some other kind of specialty care, more clinicians and experts can be added to the team.

Going the extra mile

The HBPC model isn’t always just about medical care, either. Members of the HBPC team in our Sheridan VA Health Care System, for example, noticed the need for more stimulation and activities among the Veterans they served at home.

“We would go into homes and hear stories about what Veterans used to do,” said Julie Jackson, program director. “But there was little talk about what they do now.” 

Partnering with the local Whole Health team, HBPC introduced small indoor gardens for Veterans, which have since become quite popular.

“Every Veteran we gave a garden to has enjoyed it,” Jackson said. “They talk about and share them with others.” 

Join our team

At VA, primary care isn’t limited to a hospital setting. If our Veterans need us, we’ll bring our care to them in the comfort of their homes, and as a member of our team, you’ll get to see exactly the kind of difference HBPC makes. Learn more about HBPC at VA Careers.