Guidelines for selecting home care

Generally, your choice of a home care agency is up to you, although your choice may be restricted somewhat if you are enrolled in a managed care or private insurance plan. For this reason, your selection of a home care agency is important. Take some time to get to know the agency that you are choosing.

The following are some important questions to consider when deciding which home care provider is best for you. 

Throughout our web site, you will find answers to where VNS stands with respect to these questions.

• Is the agency non-profit, with a mission focused on providing quality care?
• Does the agency have a written mission statement and organizational values?
• Does the agency have roots as a traditional community VNA?
• How long has the agency been serving the community and what services do they offer? 
• Does the agency cover the town in which you will want to receive care?
• Does the agency have any areas of special expertise?
• Does your physician know and trust the agency? 
• Does the agency participate with your insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, etc?
• Is the agency certified by Medicare? Only Medicare-certified agencies can provide services covered by Medicare. 
• Is the agency licensed?
• What other credentials does the agency maintain? Are they accredited by an outside body? 
• Does the agency thoroughly screen its employees with background checks and provide a comprehensive orientation program to them?
• Does the agency ensure that its workers are functioning under written personnel policies, clinical protocols, and malpractice insurance?
• Does the agency have written statements describing its services, eligibility requirements, fees, patient rights, confidentiality, complaint procedures, hours of service, and emergency arrangements? 
• What back-up systems including hospital relationships are in place to ensure continuity of care?  
• Will the agency continue to provide services if Medicare or other sources of reimbursement are exhausted?
• Does the agency conduct patient satisfaction surveying to ensure patient and family member expectations are being met?
• How well does the agency rate on Medicare.gov?