The following is recommended to help you evaluate home care agencies. You should be able to ask questions to determine whether an organization meets these important standards.

Uniform Standards of Patient Care apply to all patients receiving home care, including private-duty, continuous home care and insurance/Medicare covered home health care.

The Agency should be licensed by the State Department of Health, certified by Medicare and accredited by either the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP).

Standards to measure home care organizations:

Delivery of Care

Patient Rights are explained and observed at all times.

Confidentiality is assured and maintained at all times.

Professional assessment begins with the agency's first encounter with the patient/family and is ongoing.

Services are available and supervised 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Professional nursing is available at all times.

Planning for care includes the patient, family, physician and home care team.

Community resources are accessed appropriately.

Infection control processes are in place and monitored.

Patient and staff safety systems are in place and monitored.

Discharge planning involves the patient/family and includes instruction for self care or alternate care arrangements.

Organization

Employees are screened, bonded and supervised by a nurse or therapist and held accountable to the agency.

Insurance is adequate for employee, agency and patient protection.

Staff competency is evaluated and upgraded constantly.

Staff are provided with adequate resources to deliver quality and safe patient care.

Supervisory support and guidance is available at all times.

Billing practices are ethical, consistent, fair and explained at admission.

Remember:

Ask probing questions...it is your right!

Get references from your doctor or friends

Call your state Home Health Care Hot-Line with any problems

KOKUA NURSES strictly adheres to all of these standards in patient care and business practices. For more information, call us at 808-594-2326.