The documents required for a home health report vary depending on the purpose for which the report is requested and the service the person applies to. Although in everyday conversation it may seem as if there is a single list of documents, applying for home health services is not the same document process as a medical board report, a disabled health board report, or a single-physician report declaring a bedridden condition. For this reason, clarifying three things before preparing the file makes the process easier: the purpose of the report, the institution requesting the report, and the type of report. Below, we informatively address which documents are useful according to these three topics, which ones are not mandatory in every situation, and how the evaluation proceeds.

Table of Contents

The core document group in a home health service application

The most commonly confused point is this: to apply for home health services, you do not necessarily need to have a previously obtained report in hand. The core document group for applying to public home health services is quite simple; at its core are the patient's identity document and, if available, existing health documents.

According to the information published by some home health units affiliated with the Ministry of Health, during the application an identity document and existing reports, if any, are specified as a sufficient core document group; the application form, meanwhile, is completed and recorded by the family physician or the home health services unit. The application can be made by the patient themselves or a relative to the family physician, the home health services unit at the hospital, or the relevant coordination center. For public home health services across Turkey, the 444 38 33 Home Health Services Communication Center number is used.

On the private home physician side, the initial logic is similar: evaluation begins with the identity document, existing reports, and medical records you have on hand, and missing documents are identified during the process. If you want to see in advance the scope of the home physician evaluation, the information on our home private physician services page may be helpful.

Document groups that vary by report type

In everyday usage, the term "home health report" covers more than one type of report. A person may request a report to document a bedridden condition, apply to a medical board, have a disability status assessed, document the need for a medical device or supply, demonstrate medication use with a report, or report a health condition to an institution. Each of these purposes requires a different set of documents; therefore, rather than providing a single "definitive list," it is more accurate to show which documents may be kept on hand according to the purpose.

In medical board applications, an identity document, old reports and test results related to the illness (if any), reports or prescription records for the medications used, and a petition or institutional letter specifying the purpose of the report request may be required; the number of photographs and other supplementary documents vary by report type. For identity verification, according to the Ministry of Health's directive on health reports, an ID card bearing the Turkish ID number, a passport, a driver's license, or a similar document may be used. The manner in which the report is issued and the board format are also determined according to its type.

How to prepare a file for bedridden individuals

For individuals who are bedridden or have difficulty going to a health facility, the file is kept somewhat broader, because there are moments when the physician needs to make a preliminary assessment based on documents rather than examining the patient in person. In this case, it is useful to first include the following documents in the application file:

• Identity document
• Bedridden condition or existing illness report, if any
• Hospital discharge summary and discharge report
• Specialist physician evaluations
• Current test and imaging results
• List of regularly used medications
• Medical device and supply reports, if any
• Information about the patient's relative or legal representative

In some cases, a "single-physician condition report" or a medical board report may be required; however, this requirement is determined according to the service applied to and the institution to which the report will be submitted. In a home health service application, having a previously obtained report may not always be mandatory; if existing documents are available, they are submitted for evaluation. The purpose of home health services is often to assess the follow-up, care, testing, and rehabilitation needs of patients already diagnosed, within the home environment; after the application, the patient's eligibility for the service and the medical support they need are evaluated by health personnel.

The documents in the file also help anticipate the level of support the patient will need at home; for example, if regular injections, catheter care, or wound monitoring are planned, applications within the scope of home private nursing may be taken into account during the evaluation, and if the need for movement and rehabilitation is evident, the content of home physiotherapy may be considered.

When are photographs, discharge summaries, and old reports needed

These three documents are the items readers hesitate over the most; the answer is not "always" but "depending on the situation."

Whether a photograph is required varies by report type. While some medical board reports require a current passport-style photograph, the photograph practice may differ for report types that can be issued as e-reports; the Ministry of Health's report issuance directive states that the photograph requirement has been removed for certain reports issued as e-reports. Since the number of photographs can vary particularly for reports intended for different purposes such as a disabled health board report, guardianship appointment, driver's report, or medical device report, the most practical approach is to check the current list of the institution to which the application will be made.

Discharge summaries and old reports may not be mandatory in every application; however, if available, submitting them provides a significant contribution to the evaluation process. The following documents help in understanding the patient's health history:

• Discharge summary from hospitalization
• Documents issued after surgery or a procedure
• Specialist physician reports
• Laboratory results
• Radiology and other imaging reports
• Previously obtained medical board reports
• Reports showing continuous medication use

The originals of the documents should be preserved if possible, and during the application the original or a photocopy should be submitted in the form requested by the institution. Since health facilities may have different practices regarding document format, obtaining information from the relevant institution before applying speeds up the process.

Why the purpose of the report comes before the documents

Different reports may be issued for the same illness for different purposes; therefore, the real answer to the question "which documents are required" depends on the question "what will the report document."

• Single-physician condition report: For a specific health condition to be declared by a physician.
• Medical board report: For situations requiring the evaluation of more than one area of specialization.
• Disabled health board report: For disability assessments defined in the legislation.
• Medication report: To document the use of certain medications within the scope of a report.
• Medical device or supply report: For the medical evaluation of the needed device or supply.

Clearly stating the purpose for which the report will be used at the time of application ensures that the expressions that need to appear in the report are correctly evaluated. If there is an institutional letter or official request, including it in the file helps the report to be issued in the correct format and with the correct content. An application with an unclear purpose often requires a second application due to missing documents.

Is the report issued at home or by a board

Not every health report is issued through a home visit. Within the scope of home health services, the physician can perform examinations, follow-ups, and necessary evaluations in the patient's home; however, whether the report can be issued depends on the report type and the duties of the authorized health facility within the scope of the legislation. In cases where the report must be issued by a medical board, additional planning may be made to have the patient undergo the board evaluation. For bedridden individuals, the evaluation method and required documents are determined by the relevant public health unit or authorized health facility.

In the private home physician service, the physician can review the existing medical documents, examine the patient, and make a medical assessment regarding under which health facility or report type the report need should be addressed. In other words, the evaluation performed at home does not always mean the document is issued at home; it is often a guidance stage that serves to determine the correct report type and the correct application address. To see our other topics collectively, you can review our services page.

Pre-application document checklist

Preparing the file completely in one go reduces the need for a second application and the scramble for documents. The following list is a general preparation framework; the final document list should always be verified according to the current practice of the institution to which the application will be made.

• Is the patient's Turkish ID document ready?
• Have existing health reports, if any, been collected?
• Have discharge summaries and specialist physician evaluations been included?
• Are the latest test and imaging results ready?
• Is a list of medications used or medication reports available?
• Has the purpose for which the report will be used been determined?
• Is there a specific statement or form requested by the relevant institution?
• Is the information of the relative who will apply on behalf of the patient ready?
• Are guardianship or legal representation documents, if any, ready?
• Has it been learned from the relevant health facility whether a photograph is required?

If you are curious in more detail about the legal framework of home health services and the documents signed during the application, our article on the home health service consent form is a complementary topic in this series.

Frequently asked questions

Which document is definitely required to obtain a home health report?

In a home health service application, the patient's identity document is fundamentally required. Existing health reports, if any, are also added to the application. Other documents vary according to the report type and purpose of use.

Is a health report required to apply for home health services?

Having a previously obtained health report may not be required in every application. Existing reports are added to the application; the patient's eligibility for the service and their needs are determined as a result of the evaluation.

Can a patient's relative make the application?

Yes. In public home health services, a patient's relative can apply on behalf of the patient. The patient's identity information and existing health documents should be kept on hand during the application.

What service is 444 38 33 used for?

444 38 33 is the Home Health Services Communication Center number used for public home health services affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

Are a home health report and home care service the same thing?

No. A health report is an official document that certifies a person's specific health condition or medical need. A home health service, on the other hand, is the planning of services such as medical care, nursing, follow-up, testing, or rehabilitation in the person's home. Whether a report is required is determined according to the purpose of the service and the application.