When was the first home health care program in the United States organized?

The first home health care program in the United States can be traced back to 1796, when visiting nurses began providing care to individuals in their homes, particularly in urban areas. This early form of home health care was initiated mainly to deliver medical services and support to those who were unable to travel to medical facilities.

During this time, public health initiatives often focused on home visits by nurses or midwives to assist with maternal and child health, as well as to address issues stemming from communicable diseases in densely populated communities. The concept of providing medical attention in the comfort of one's home would eventually lay the groundwork for the more structured home health care services that developed in the following centuries.

Understanding this historical context is important, as it highlights the evolution of home health services and the recognition of the need for accessible medical care in the home setting. The chosen answer reflects this foundational moment in the history of health care delivery in the United States.