Any Home Health ADONs

[KDuncan890]

I currenty took a job as a HH ADON. Im new to home health and have basically been utilized as a case manager. I wanted to know what some ADONs do in home health. I could see it being very tough if i have to manage a case load and QA all nursing staff notes as well as be the right hand man to the DON. Let me add that the DON is new as well. What should I expect out of my new job title? If there is any home health ADONs or DONs please give me some insight.

[VTLegalRN]

Hello KDuncan890, First, congratulations on your new position!

The answer to your questions is that it varies from agency to agency. The size of the parent organization and size of the HH agency itself are two key factors that would influence your role.

An agency as part of a greater corporate entity, for example, may have additional support systems in place such as Risk Management, HR, and Finance. A larger free standing HH may also have very specific department functions that require oversight, whereas in a smaller agency with small census, the ADON will wear many more hats including that of case manager and clinical manager.

With that said, my advice is to sit with your new DON and review your job description together. Ask him/her what their expectation for your role is. Be honest about what's reasonable, and what may not be. Let him/her know that you want to support the DON role and make known the areas that you will need assistance in order to do so. This will go a LONG way! You will be seen as a partner and it will set the stage for a future working relationship. It has definitely worked for me!!

I hope this helps you.

Regards,

VT