Geriactric CNA

[jboogieness]

When a doctor writes an order for home health care, can the patient use a private HHA or do they have to go with an agency. I would like to know how to get my own private clients that can afford a HHA but who qualify for medical.. any Ideas..

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Who would do the nurse visits? Or, are you talking about a sitter service?

[systoly]

A person or a family can hire someone to assist with ADLs without the need for a DR.'s order. This is frequently done and the compensation is solely provided by the private party and is usually substantially less than agency pay. A Dr.'s order is necessarry for Medicare/Medicaid and insurance purposes and the agency/provider is selected at that time and is not easily (allthough it does happen) changed later on. At least this is how it works in my area. I'm not sure what you mean by "qualify for medical..." As far as finding a private client is concerned: network, read and place ads, and if you really mean business, do what the big girls do: introduce yourself to social workers, case workers, discharge personnel, senior centers, etc.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

When an MD writes an order for home health care, isn't it traditionally for licensed nursing care? I wasn't aware that an order was required for assistance with ADL's, etc. that the CNA would perform.

[systoly]

When an MD writes an order for home health care, isn't it traditionally for licensed nursing care? I wasn't aware that an order was required for assistance with ADL's, etc. that the CNA would perform.

I've gone to many a meeting where the payor tried to change to non-licensed care and usually the question comes up, "Could you not train a CNA to do this - the family learned, and they ddidn't have any training."

My usual response," Theoretically yes, but I don't know where you could find such a CNA, let alone two or three."

[BackfromRetirement]

Liability......getting insurance to cover the litigation that can result is a major can of worms. Even a sitter agency has Liability Insurance.

[jboogieness]

Thanks for the reply.