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Frequently Asked Questions About Home Health
Home health care is when a client receives assistance in a home or facility setting. It can range from treatment visits by a nurse or therapist to a companion or aide to assist with personal care. Studies have shown that people will heal much faster or more satisfied in a home environment. Back to TopWhat services are available from Palm Beach Staffing? Nursing visits for infusion treatments, wound care, medication management Do I have a choice in which home health agency I use? You have the right to choose the home health agency you prefer regardless of who your physician recommends or the agency that may be servicing the facility you live in. It is as simple as calling Palm Beach Staffing’s phone number, 561-433-9666 or 800-273-6692, and requesting services. You will get to talk to one of our nursing supervisors and provide them with the initial information to get you set up in our system. The nursing supervisor will schedule a time to visit you to do an initial assessment and get required paperwork completed. What is involved in an initial assessment of my home care needs? A nurse will ask you questions about your medical history, get list of your current medications, check your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature), determine if any assistant equipment is needed, and decide specifically what level of care assistance is needed. The nurse will use this information to develop a plan of care that is sent to your physician to sign. Back to TopDo you consider my requests or consult with my physician and family members in identifying my home needs? Most definitely yes! We look to you, your family and your physician for assistance in determining your needs. Do I receive a copy of my plan of care and is this plan updated when changes occur? The nursing supervisor will provide you with a copy of the Home Health Aide assignment sheet. Upon request, we will send you a copy of the plan of care that is signed by your physician. Reassessments are done, at no charge to you, every 60 days or more frequent if needed. The nursing supervisor will call you prior to doing a reassessment to set a time that is convenient for you. Back to TopWhat paperwork is required for a new start of care? To begin services, we are required by state law to have the following documents: Contractual agreement that states what services you request, the cost of those services and who the payer will
be. Other documents that are included in the initial assessment are: What are your hours of operation? Office hours are Monday-Friday 9am until 5 pm. When the office is closed our professional on-call scheduling coordinators and on-call nurses are available by calling 561-433-9666. When is the right time to consider home health care? Usually the time to consider assistance in the home is when one has difficulty with performing activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, transferring, ambulation, feeding, toileting) or need assistance with cooking, shopping or light housekeeping. Forgetfulness is another sign that one may need assistance with medications or other safety issues in the home. A recent illness or injury may identify a need for assistance to shorten your recovery or prevent hospitalization. When in doubt, call us at 561.433.9666. We provide free evaluations to determine what level, if any, of home care is needed. Back to TopA weekly invoice is generated and mailed for the prior week’s billing cycle which is Monday through Sunday. If you have long-term-care insurance, we will send a copy of the invoice, times lips and HHA notes to your insurance company for reimbursement. Back to TopDo we have to have assistance all the time? No, you will determine the frequency and hours you need. Back to TopPalm Beach Staffing nursing supervisors will monitor and assist you with any changes you need. Back to TopHow do you screen your care givers? Care givers are screened for their knowledge at the time of application. They must pass a written test and skills test, provide educational documentation of their training and show proof of physical clearance from a physician. Care givers are required to have a fingerprint background screening and determined eligible to work by the Agency of Health Care Administration before they can be placed on any case. Do I have a say in the type of caregiver I receive? Yes, you can make specific requests and we will attempt to meet those requests. You will be notified prior to services if we have been unable to find the type of caregiver you requested. Will my insurance cover any of the home care services? Most long-term-care insurance companies will cover care in your home providing you meet the obligations of your policy. You will need to call your agent or insurance company to determine what your policy requires. Palm Beach Staffing will assist you in completing any initial claim forms your insurance company requires. What if I don’t like the aide sent? All you have to do is call Palm Beach Staffing, 561-433-9666, and request the aide be replaced. If there are specific issues that you didn’t like, we would like to hear your concerns. Back to TopThe aides are not housekeepers that do “deep” cleaning of a house. However, they are required to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment for our clients. Aides can do “light” housekeeping, which may include keeping the client’s bathroom clean, changing bed linens as required, laundry, taking out trash, keeping kitchen clean, vacuuming and dusting your main living area. Most aides can prepare simply meals. If there is a specific way you like your meals prepared, please let the nursing supervisor know at the time of your assessment and they will make sure the aides are prepared to meet those requests. Will the aides drive me to appointments or outings? Most aides should be able to drive you to appointments or outings. If this is an ongoing need you will have, please let the nursing supervisor know at the time of your assessment. If the need arises after care has begun, let the scheduling coordinator know you need someone that can drive. Why go through an agency and not hire someone privately? Palm Beach Staffing will do all the screening that makes sure you only receive one that meets the requirements of Florida for home health care givers. We also have many care givers available to fill in should your regular caregiver cancel for any reason. Our nursing supervisors are available to assist you with calls to physicians or pharmacies at no additional cost. I have home care from another agency but I’m not happy with their services, what can I do? We recommend you communicate with that agency and express your concerns and see what they can do to meet your needs. If they are unable to work with your needs, check with your contractual agreement with that agency and see what notice they require for ceasing services with them. As stated in an earlier question, you have the right to choose any agency you wish. How quickly can services begin? We usually are able to service any emergency situation immediately. The ideal situation is 12 to 24 hours’ notice. Back to TopMay credit cards be used to pay Palm Beach Staffing Home Health for amounts owed? Absolutely. Palm Beach Staffing Home Health accepts, Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards. Other payment methods, such as Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments can be set up as well. Back to Top |
Our Mission is to strive as advocates in order to provide the highest quality of care for a client's emotional and physical well-being with a motivated, proficient, and knowledgeable staff. |
Home Health Agency License HHA20896096