Is there a national private duty agency that you would reccomend?

caliotter3 · Jun 16, 2010

Of the ones I am familiar with, the only national one that I might recommend, based upon the local office personnel you would be dealing with, would be Gentiva. Be advised though, that Gentiva pays low (don't they all?) and has been implicated in fraud prosecution lately at the national level. For that reason, I think I would avoid them too. Maxim and PSA I would not go near. Bayada is not over the entire nation, on the east coast mainly, I believe, but is the only large organization that has a relatively good reputation. I would look for a Bayada office where you want to work.

ArwenEvenstar · Jun 16, 2010

Best agency I ever worked for doing private duty was a smaller, locally run "mom and pop" agency. "Better" pay (as good as you can expect for private duty), a personal concern and interest for the nurses and the patients, little perks you usually don't get with agency work, etc. They retired and sold to a national chain and things then changed. Sigh.

I would NOT recommend Maxim for multiple reasons!

Like above poster, I have heard good about Bayada.

PSA is a possibility for a national chain. They used to have a bad repetition, but it seems they have improved in recent years. A friend of mine locally works through PSA and has had a great experience.

I think the "problem" with national chains is that individual offices can vary greatly depending on their management. One location may be excellent and another may be terrible. Maxim seems to have consistent complaints all over the USA, but even with Maxim there seems to be an office here and there doing a decent job. BUT still...avoid Maxim is my advice. Too many consistent and similar complaints nationwide.

Whatever agencies you consider, just ask careful questions and make sure you feel comfortable.

candiRN79 · Aug 20, 2011

May I ask why you would not recommend Maxim for private duty? I just had an interview with them.

caliotter3 · Aug 20, 2011

May I ask why you would not recommend Maxim for private duty? I just had an interview with them.

Please do some reading in the home health forum, also look in the agency forum. There are many threads and posts that talk about Maxim, unless those threads and posts have been removed. The majority of them are not positive.

ArwenEvenstar · Aug 21, 2011

Please do some reading in the home health forum, also look in the agency forum. There are many threads and posts that talk about Maxim, unless those threads and posts have been removed. The majority of them are not positive.

Yes, it seems that some of the threads about Maxim have disappeared...at least the ones that voice honest concerns about the problems with Maxim. If I say anything negative, this may too disappear! Clearly censorship is going on.

Quick summary: Maxim offices are run by very young men in their early 20's with degrees in things like sales/marketing. They lack life maturity, and don't understand health care or nurses. Communicating with them was immensely frustrating. They just wouldn't "get it"! They could put on an initial positive professional front, but be wary!

In addition, whatever methods they used to organize schedules and communicate was NOT working! The left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Schedule mix-ups and mis-communication were the NORM. I'd arrive at a home thinking I was working 4pm-9pm, to find that the family expected me to stay until 12! The family had notified Maxim of their shift need, but Maxim never notified me of the change! Maxim seemed to drop the ball with communication constantly.

Even if you told them 2 months ahead that you would not be available a certain day, they would "forget" (and then accuse you of not showing up for work) or do absolutely nothing until the day before the shift. If you put in for a day off or vacation - I would highly recommend that you put it in writing and have them sign so you have proof you notified them.

Maxim is about sales, not caring for human life. The young men are under high pressure (which is not their fault, but the fault of Maxim's business model) to fill shifts with nurses. So these young men could literally hound and harass you to work in their desperation to fill shifts. You need backbone!! (Or else you will find yourself working shifts or cases that don't work well for you!)

In the threads that have disappeared, similar concerns have been voiced by nurses all over the USA.

I went into Maxim "blind" knowing nothing about their reputation or how their offices are run. Had I known ahead of time, my experience might (?) have been better because I would have at least known the deal ahead of time. But I would NEVER work for Maxim again myself.

systoly · Aug 23, 2011

May I ask why you would not recommend Maxim for private duty? I just had an interview with them.

Working for Maxim is better than not working at all, but you do need to have a high tolerance for pain.

systoly · Aug 23, 2011

Yes, it seems that some of the threads about Maxim have disappeared...at least the ones that voice honest concerns about the problems with Maxim. If I say anything negative, this may too disappear! Clearly censorship is going on.
Quick summary: Maxim offices are run by very young men in their early 20's with degrees in things like sales/marketing. They lack life maturity, and don't understand health care or nurses. Communicating with them was immensely frustrating. They just wouldn't "get it"! They could put on an initial positive professional front, but be wary!
In addition, whatever methods they used to organize schedules and communicate was NOT working! The left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Schedule mix-ups and mis-communication were the NORM. I'd arrive at a home thinking I was working 4pm-9pm, to find that the family expected me to stay until 12! The family had notified Maxim of their shift need, but Maxim never notified me of the change! Maxim seemed to drop the ball with communication constantly.
Even if you told them 2 months ahead that you would not be available a certain day, they would "forget" (and then accuse you of not showing up for work) or do absolutely nothing until the day before the shift. If you put in for a day off or vacation - I would highly recommend that you put it in writing and have them sign so you have proof you notified them.
Maxim is about sales, not caring for human life. The young men are under high pressure (which is not their fault, but the fault of Maxim's business model) to fill shifts with nurses. So these young men could literally hound and harass you to work in their desperation to fill shifts. You need backbone!! (Or else you will find yourself working shifts or cases that don't work well for you!)
In the threads that have disappeared, similar concerns have been voiced by nurses all over the USA.
I went into Maxim "blind" knowing nothing about their reputation or how their offices are run. Had I known ahead of time, my experience might (?) have been better because I would have at least known the deal ahead of time. But I would NEVER work for Maxim again myself.

Word for word an accurate description.

lindarn · Aug 24, 2011

They are also one of the lowest paying agencies on the planet!! Do yourself a favor- stay as far away as you can get from Maxim.

They are presently, spamming the Craigslist nursing/medical list serve. Almost all of the nursing ads are from Maxim. That should tell you something.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

ArwenEvenstar · Sep 14, 2011

Latest news on Maxim from the FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/newark/press-releases/2011/maxim-healthcare-services-charged-with-fraud-agrees-to-pay-approximately-150-million-enact-reforms-after-false-billings-revealed-as-common-practice

"Maxim Healthcare Services Charged with Fraud, Agrees to Pay Approximately $150 Million, Enact Reforms After False Billings Revealed as Common Practice"

Do a google search - much info available. If fraud went on in your state, you should find local articles.

candiRN79 · Sep 15, 2011

I agree with you ladies. Pay is low. They pay minimum wage for orientation, and make you pay for tb skin test, and cpr!