Talking About Home Health Care
There have been recent news stories about Attorney General Andrew Cuomo investigating a number of New York state home health care agencies for fraudulent activities. We spoke with Vicky Hines, President of Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County, Inc., one of Rochester’s largest home health care providers, about this.
RHL: Vicky, should area consumers be worried about fraud if they are looking for services from local home health care providers?
VNS: It is unfortunate that a few unscrupulous individuals cast doubt on a whole industry of hard working, caring individuals. The majority of providers deliver vital care services honestly and are proud of the expertise and care they provide.
RHL: Do you recommend any practices consumers can follow to make sure they choose providers wisely?
VNS: We think it’s best for consumers to be “informed shoppers.” If they ask a few important questions, they will really help protect themselves against improper practices. Here is what we recommend:
- Ask how the agency selects their home health aides.
- Ask what kind of professional training aides receive.
- Ask about the aides’ supervision and continuing education.
- Ask if the agency is licensed and insured, and by whom.
RHL: We live in a diverse society. Are aides trained to be responsive to individual needs?
VNS: It is always important to be sensitive to the patient’s cultural, ethnic, and personal interests. Many agencies, including ours, offer special training in this area. In fact, most aides love caring for patients and build relationships with them and their families. Patients thrive under this type of personal attention.
RHL: You mentioned asking about training. Can you be more specific about questions potential clients should ask?
VNS: It’s important to ask about training details. VNS, as well as other local agencies, conduct their own training. And our training programs are approved by the Department of Health. Aides complete courses, are tested, and then observed by experienced trainers to make sure they have the appropriate skills and maturity. They are also assigned mentors to observe and coach them when they start out. If they come to us already certified as aides, the process is even stricter. We verify previous employment and may require re-training. We conduct at least three required background checks for all new employees. Once they’re working they receive 12 hours of continuing education every year. In the final check, agencies should listen to their clients. Typically, we hear lots of compliments. Either way, follow-up with patients is very important.
RHL: Where do you see this industry 10 years from now?
VNS: Health care is appropriately moving from institutional settings to the home. Home is the best place to treat individuals with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, in part because these illnesses involve behavioral change that must come about in the home. Home is a safe place to receive care, and a wonderful place to recuperate. The goal of “aging in place” is at the forefront of many seniors’ minds. The industry would like to make this a reality for them. To do that, we need to continue to support the dedicated paraprofessionals who work hard every day to keep people healthy and independent in their homes.
Visiting Nurse Service
(585) 787-2233
www.vnsnet.com
|
