Home care agencies in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, and the greater Los Angeles region have long presented their services as a compliment to other forms of medical care. After all, many patients need additional help upon discharge from the hospital, and a caregiver company can assist in many capacities. Some agencies have even gone as far as creating specialized hospital discharge programs designed to aid people during their transition back home.
The concept clearly isn’t new, but the efforts have accelerated amid the COVID-19 crisis and resulting shortages in hospital beds and resources. And while most caregiver companies welcome the opportunity to assist with new demands, the truth is many are lacking in scope and capabilities. Therefore, medical professionals and families are wise to thoroughly vet agencies before moving forward with contracts or start of care.
Here are 5 must-ask questions for any healthcare leader, administrator, or family considering home care as a facilitator of early hospital discharge:
1) Do you have adequate staff?
Most home care agencies welcome opportunities to contract with healthcare providers, and they are honored to begin care for new patients. But that doesn’t mean they always have the staff needed to do a proper job. Many companies face caregiver and nurse shortages, and COVID-19 has exasperated the problem.
Healthcare leaders must clearly communicate their staffing needs when speaking with home care agency representatives. They should present precise numbers in terms of needed caregivers, CNAs, and nurses and then ask if the agency can realistically meet their expectations. Likewise, families must provide caregiver companies with their desired schedule to determine if staff is on hand and available to work as needed.
2) What skilled nursing services do you provide?
Some hospital leaders and families are surprised to learn the vast majority of private-duty home care agencies in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California are entirely “non-medical.” In other words, they do not employ licensed nurses, such as RNs and LVNs, and are limited in scope. Unlike their Medicare-certified “home health” counterparts, these companies only provide “caregivers” who assist patients with non-medical activities of daily living (help with showers, dressing, cooking, light housekeeping, etc.)
There’s certainly a need for non-medical caregiver services, and the hard work of non-medical caregivers improves countless lives every single day. But for the purposes of “hospital-at-home” contracts and families seeking care for loved ones with significant medical/nursing needs, a typical caregiver agency may fall short. Only a handful of private-duty home care companies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, provide the entire range of nursing staff, including:
Everyone must get their start somewhere, and nobody wants to penalize people or companies for their lack of experience. But the truth is experience does matter. And what hospital leader or family member wants to serve as the proverbial “guinea pig”?
Leaders of health systems must be careful not to enter lightly into contracts with unproven home care agencies. Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California are home to hundreds of caregiver companies, and many would jump at the opportunity to contract with a well-known hospital. But that doesn’t mean they’re up to the task. Families and healthcare professionals should always ask for references before entrusting an agency with a hospital-at-home contract or the care of a vulnerable loved one.
4) How does your care management work, and who supervises it?
For hospital leaders reviewing home care agencies as contracted hospital-at-home partners, nurse-led care management is especially critical. Many home care agencies lack nurse oversight (RN, LVN) and rely on non-medical representatives to supervise care. But with today’s high-acuity patients being discharged home early and at high risk for readmission, the status quo for home care “care management” is no longer adequate. Any hospital-at-home program that results in increased readmissions is clearly counterproductive.
Home care agency partners with nurse-led (RN) care management, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, take a proactive approach to help prevent readmissions, thereby improving the COVID-19/limited-bed dilemma rather than contributing to it. A Registered Nurse care manager actively monitors patient well-being, checks vital signs, communicates with doctors and hospital staff, and even helps coordinate medical services, including:
Most home care agencies have adopted use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce COVID-19 risk. But that doesn’t mean all companies have the same standards. And those without licensed nurses on staff may be less equipped to execute and maintain a comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation strategy.
Once again, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey is well-positioned with a Director of Nursing (RN) who implements and enforces internal COVID-19 protocols. She developed the plan in accordance with CDC guidelines and uses her nursing expertise to hold staff accountable while addressing questions and dilemmas that may arise anytime.
Final Considerations
Ultimately, 2020 proved a pivotal year for home care agencies across the United States and locally here in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California. Many companies feel their value is finally being appreciated by traditional health systems with a new hospital-at-home focus. But that doesn’t mean all caregiver companies are equally equipped to manage the needs of patients and loved ones upon hospital discharge.
Healthcare leaders should carefully vet agencies prior to extending contract opportunities and should particularly consider the advantages provided by companies with comprehensive services that include nurse-led care management and skilled nursing resources (RN, LVN, Therapy). And families should likewise assess if an agency is truly equipped to care for their vulnerable loved one who faces early hospital discharge.
If you’re a healthcare leader or family considering home care services as a facilitator of hospital discharge in light of COVID-19 or other “hospital-at-home” initiatives, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today. We are already contracted with major health systems and can provide a roadmap to help guide your efforts!
The concept clearly isn’t new, but the efforts have accelerated amid the COVID-19 crisis and resulting shortages in hospital beds and resources. And while most caregiver companies welcome the opportunity to assist with new demands, the truth is many are lacking in scope and capabilities. Therefore, medical professionals and families are wise to thoroughly vet agencies before moving forward with contracts or start of care.
Here are 5 must-ask questions for any healthcare leader, administrator, or family considering home care as a facilitator of early hospital discharge:
1) Do you have adequate staff?
Most home care agencies welcome opportunities to contract with healthcare providers, and they are honored to begin care for new patients. But that doesn’t mean they always have the staff needed to do a proper job. Many companies face caregiver and nurse shortages, and COVID-19 has exasperated the problem.
Healthcare leaders must clearly communicate their staffing needs when speaking with home care agency representatives. They should present precise numbers in terms of needed caregivers, CNAs, and nurses and then ask if the agency can realistically meet their expectations. Likewise, families must provide caregiver companies with their desired schedule to determine if staff is on hand and available to work as needed.
2) What skilled nursing services do you provide?
Some hospital leaders and families are surprised to learn the vast majority of private-duty home care agencies in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California are entirely “non-medical.” In other words, they do not employ licensed nurses, such as RNs and LVNs, and are limited in scope. Unlike their Medicare-certified “home health” counterparts, these companies only provide “caregivers” who assist patients with non-medical activities of daily living (help with showers, dressing, cooking, light housekeeping, etc.)
There’s certainly a need for non-medical caregiver services, and the hard work of non-medical caregivers improves countless lives every single day. But for the purposes of “hospital-at-home” contracts and families seeking care for loved ones with significant medical/nursing needs, a typical caregiver agency may fall short. Only a handful of private-duty home care companies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, provide the entire range of nursing staff, including:
- Registered Nurses (RN)
- Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
- Physical Therapists
Everyone must get their start somewhere, and nobody wants to penalize people or companies for their lack of experience. But the truth is experience does matter. And what hospital leader or family member wants to serve as the proverbial “guinea pig”?
Leaders of health systems must be careful not to enter lightly into contracts with unproven home care agencies. Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California are home to hundreds of caregiver companies, and many would jump at the opportunity to contract with a well-known hospital. But that doesn’t mean they’re up to the task. Families and healthcare professionals should always ask for references before entrusting an agency with a hospital-at-home contract or the care of a vulnerable loved one.
4) How does your care management work, and who supervises it?
For hospital leaders reviewing home care agencies as contracted hospital-at-home partners, nurse-led care management is especially critical. Many home care agencies lack nurse oversight (RN, LVN) and rely on non-medical representatives to supervise care. But with today’s high-acuity patients being discharged home early and at high risk for readmission, the status quo for home care “care management” is no longer adequate. Any hospital-at-home program that results in increased readmissions is clearly counterproductive.
Home care agency partners with nurse-led (RN) care management, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, take a proactive approach to help prevent readmissions, thereby improving the COVID-19/limited-bed dilemma rather than contributing to it. A Registered Nurse care manager actively monitors patient well-being, checks vital signs, communicates with doctors and hospital staff, and even helps coordinate medical services, including:
- Blood Draws (for lab testing)
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Picc Line Care
- Catheter Care
- Infusion Treatments
- Etc.
Most home care agencies have adopted use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce COVID-19 risk. But that doesn’t mean all companies have the same standards. And those without licensed nurses on staff may be less equipped to execute and maintain a comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation strategy.
Once again, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey is well-positioned with a Director of Nursing (RN) who implements and enforces internal COVID-19 protocols. She developed the plan in accordance with CDC guidelines and uses her nursing expertise to hold staff accountable while addressing questions and dilemmas that may arise anytime.
Final Considerations
Ultimately, 2020 proved a pivotal year for home care agencies across the United States and locally here in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Southern California. Many companies feel their value is finally being appreciated by traditional health systems with a new hospital-at-home focus. But that doesn’t mean all caregiver companies are equally equipped to manage the needs of patients and loved ones upon hospital discharge.
Healthcare leaders should carefully vet agencies prior to extending contract opportunities and should particularly consider the advantages provided by companies with comprehensive services that include nurse-led care management and skilled nursing resources (RN, LVN, Therapy). And families should likewise assess if an agency is truly equipped to care for their vulnerable loved one who faces early hospital discharge.
If you’re a healthcare leader or family considering home care services as a facilitator of hospital discharge in light of COVID-19 or other “hospital-at-home” initiatives, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today. We are already contracted with major health systems and can provide a roadmap to help guide your efforts!