What You Need to Know About Home Health Care

Posted on

Oct 19, 2009

Book/Edition

Colorado - Colorado Springs

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What is Home Health Care?
Home health care generally refers to skilled medical services provided in a patients home. Services are provided by licensed professionals and may include skilled nursing, therapies, (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy), nurse aide assistance, or a combination of all three. Thanks to modern technology, many procedures -- from IV infusion for antibiotics, pain control or hydration to complicated wound care -- which once required expensive hospitalization are now safe and cost-effective to perform at home.

Choosing a Home Health Care Provider
There are many things to consider when choosing a home health care provider. The following will help you ask the right questions to ensure you get the answers you need to choose the provider that's right for you.

How are employees selected?
Are employees fully insured?
Are employees subject to criminal and reference checks?
Is the provider accredited?
How are employees supervised?
How are scheduling problems handled?
How is the care plan determined?
How are insurance and billing handled?

Standards of Excellence
Knowing how employees are selected is crucial because they will be coming into your home. Reputable companies have stringent hiring standards, which include checking references, criminal background, and work experience.
Ask how a home care company supports and supervises its employees and deals with after-hours problems. Is each client assigned a case manager, a client services manager (who coordinates services) and a nursing supervisor (who supervises care)? Is there an on-call supervisor to handle after-hours calls? Understand how insurance payments and billing will be handled. Does the provider contact insurance companies directly and handle all the billing?
National accreditation is also important. The Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) is the leader in home health care accreditation.

Conclusion
For many, home health care is the best way to receive medical services and remain safely and comfortably at home. By conducting research before hiring an agency, you'll feel confident about your decision and ensure that your experience is positive.

Editors Note: This article was submitted by Lynda S. Van Dyke, Director of the Bayada Nurses office in Colorado Springs. For additional information she can be reached at 719-598-9100

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