 |
How long has the agency been in business?
|
|
|
Does the agency hold itself to a high standard
through an independent accrediting
organization?
|
|
|
Does the agency provide a complete package
of educational material that covers such topics as types of
service provided, patient rights and responsibilities, billing
procedures?
|
|
|
Can the agency demonstrate depth of expertise
and professionalism in the clinical supervisors and case managers?
|
|
|
Does the agency have a comprehensive written
policy and procedure manual and training program for its employees.
Has the agency instituted an ongoing compliance program to
ensure policy and procedures are being followed?
|
|
|
Does the agency verify it's employees by thoroughly
checking their references, professional licensure and affiliations
and by undertaking background checks?
|
|
|
Do the nurses and therapists complete an initial
patient evaluation in conjunction with the patient and/or
family members resulting in a specific and individual care
plan that is agreed to by members involved, including the
patient's physician?
|
|
|
What is the process for getting questions answered
and issues resolved. What is the chain of command. How responsive
is the agency in resolving issues?
|
|
|
What procedures does an agency have in place
to handle emergencies. Are there caregivers on call 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week?
|
|
|
How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality?
|
|
|
What are the billing procedures of the agency?
|
|
|
Ask for references, to include doctors, patients
and discharge planners so that you can establish an agency's
reputation in the community?
|
|
|
How and when are employees supervised? When
will I see a supervisor in my home? |
|
|
How soon do you see a patient after discharge
from a hospital? (patients should be seen with in 24 hours of
discharge) |
|
|
How many different nurses and therapists will
be in my home? (Heritage believes in the case management approach
and therefore fewer different people in the home) |
|
|
Our highly trained staff will save you time
and money when selecting an agency. In other words, we seek
out and hire only the most competent caregivers so you won't
have to?
|
