Selecting Quality Care…

Important Questions to Ask.

 

What is home health care?

 

Before modern medicine, caring for someone medically in the home was quite common, and hospitalization was rare. Today, with a growing trend toward reduced hospital stays, care in the residence is gaining popularity. While caregivers of the past were generally family members or friends, residential health care today is based more on a professional health care team working toward a common goal.

 

Today home health care may be considered for patients who are:

• Recovering from an illness.
• Undergoing treatment
• Disabled
• Chronically ill
• Terminally ill

Residential health care is not an option for everyone. Generally, the patient receiving care or treatment at home must be well enough to be cared for in the home setting.

 

Who provides home health care services?

 

Various agencies and other companies provide home health care, including:

• Home health agencies
• Homemaker and home care aide agencies
• Pharmaceutical and infusion therapy companies
• Durable medical equipment and supply dealers
• Staffing registries and private duty agencies

 

Choosing a Home Care Provider

 

Locating an appropriate home health care provider requires some research. You will need to consult with your physician to evaluate your home care needs. When looking for a provider, consider the following:

• Quality of care
• Availability of services
• Personnel training and expertise
• Prayer coverage

 

Evaluating the quality of a provider:

 

When evaluating the quality of a provider, you may encounter the following terms:

• Licensure- some states require providers to have licenses to operate. Basic legal and operating requirements mandated by the state must be met to obtain a license.
• Bonding- a bond is a type of insurance policy for a provider. To become “bonded” a provider must pay a set amount. The bond protects the provider from bankruptcy in the event of a lawsuit by a consumer.
• Certification- state certification by state health departments makes a home health or hospice care provider eligible for Medicare (and sometimes Medicaid) payments. To become certified, a provider must meet basic federal and state standards in patient care and financial management.

 

Certified health care professionals are certified by their respective national organizations. The certification usually requires passing a national test and/or working experience.

 

·        Accreditation- nationally recognized accrediting organizations evaluate and accredit quality health care services. A provider must voluntarily seek out this accreditation. Some organizations who accredit home health care include:

 

o       Accreditation commission for Home Care, Inc.

o       Community Health Accreditation Program

o       Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

o       National Committee for Quality Assurance

o       National Home Caring Council

 

Questions to ask when choosing a provider:

 

When choosing a provider, consider asking the following questions:

·        How many years has the provider been serving the community?

·        Does the provider have literature describing its services, cost, and funding?

·        Is an evaluation of the patient’s home healthcare needs required? Is there a written plan of care for the patient?

·        When are caregivers available?

·        Is there a nursing supervisor on-call 24 hours a day?

·        Can the provider ensure patient confidentiality?

·        How is quality of care and services monitored?

·        What types of payments are accepted?

 

Dubols Home Care

(RSA)

 

14440 Cherry Lane Ct.

Suite 205

Laurel, MD 20707