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Your Right to Choose

Choosing a Home Health Agency

Upper Peninsula residents value independence and choice.     Your right to choose a home health provider is also valued and is protected by federal Medicare law in several important ways:

  • The right to review and compare; to have a say in the care you receive at home
  • The right to know whether your provider is a member of nationally-accredited program
  • The right to compare services, fees, and reputation

 For a model Bill of Patient Rights & Responsibilities, consult the National Association for Home Care.

Who can you ask?

  • Ask friends about their home health experiences.
  • Use a senior community referral service, or ask a community leader such as your pastor.
  • Ask your doctor or nurse – do they have a preference?

We are confident that once you compare, U.P. Home Health & Hospice will be among the first you consider.   Here’s why:

  • We guarantee compassionate care.    We want to help you and your family.
  • We are the only Marquette County agency that provides Home Health services as well as Private Duty and Hospice care. Transition from one phase of treatment to the next is seamless.
  • We are independently owned by nursing professionals.  Doctors trust the care we deliver.
  • We have been serving the Upper Peninsula for more than 35 years with a strong commitment to our community’s well-being.
  • We are accredited by CHAP – the Community Health Accreditation Program, a process which includes self-study and regular site visits to evaluate our continuing high standards of care.

What questions should you ask as you make your choice?

The National Association for Home Health Care (NAHC) suggests the following:

1.       How long has the provider been serving the community?

2.       Does the provider supply literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources?

3.       How are employees selected and trained?   Are the employees protected by policies, benefits and malpractice insurance?

4.       Do nurses and therapists evaluate the patient’s home care needs? Does the provider involve the patient’s physicians and family members in a written plan of care as well as changes to the plan?

5.       Does the provider take the time to educate the patient and family members on the care they will receive?

6.       How are the nurses, aides and therapists supervised? Who can the patient and family call with questions or complaints? How are problems resolved?

7.       How are services paid for? Do the patient and family members receive written explanations of costs and payment plan options?

8.       Are there emergency procedures in place? Are caregivers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

9.       How does the provider ensure patient confidentiality?

Ask the home health provider to supply a list of references  including doctors, discharge planners, patients or family members, and community leaders who are familiar with the agency’s reputation.

Then, contact each reference and ask:

1.       Do you frequently refer patients to this agency?

2.       Do you have any contractual or financial relationship with this provider? If so, do you require the provider to meet special quality standards?

3.       What feedback have you received from patients and family members who have used this agency? 

4.       Do you know of any patients this provider has treated whose health care needs are similar to mine? Is so, could you put me in touch with them?

 

(Information paraphrased from the National Association for Home Care, copyright protected 1996)