What's Happening to Home Health Care?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, PCU.

I am a Telemetry nurse trying to get into Home Health Care to eventually make it my full-time job. I have been trying to find agencies/companies that are dedicated to Home Health Care. I am in South Florida. What I have found is that either staffing agencies have "some work" through hospital systems, or hospital systems hire home health care nurses to work for them; but I have only found 2 true 100% home health care agencies- one is Interim and the other is Gentiva. Interim is a franchise scenario where each office is really having a difficult time staying afloat. I'm not sure what's going on with Gentiva- I sent my Resume, called the area director and have not heard back.

I guess what I would like to know is what is the politics of home health care competition? How are the hospitals distributing (and to whom) their business when they discharge a patient with home health care? I've also heard that with the new Medicare changes alot of home health agencies are going out of business.

Can someone out there fill me in to what's going on and what they feel or think will be the future of home health care?

Thanks alot.:yeah:

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Run as fast as possible away from Interim.. bad bad scene..most owners have no HH exp at all...Gentiva is not so good, not so bad,, but it depends on the actual agency.. you will not get respect...

I do not understand why you feel HH agencies run by hospitals would be bad.. they are the best, usually good benefits same as hospital.. usually fair pay. And they have patients and will not be closing!!! Yes, the law sayd it is patient's choice of agencies... trust me that is such a big farce, Pt's are given a list then told how XYZ Hospital HH can be johnny on the spot and provide for all their needs!!

My mother was in hospital last yr prior to ending up on hospice and dying.. I was in the room and said my agency would be providing care and DC planner continued to tell her about their agency until I got nasty and told her The answer is...... and that is it. And my mother says" You should have listened to her the first time!" I mean I had to be point blank blunt..

So most patients sign to choose the hospitals agency.. they are sick, they are tired, and most do not realize they really have rights!

Having worked for several agencies.. the hospital based are the only ones I will go with now. Self standing private owned agencies do not have the $$ to keep up with new rules every 6 months so they are always kinda a day late and dollar short and it is your license on the line. In some states there are good private agencies but not FL and especially not S. Florida. I lived there most of my life and now am inot 3 rd year in TN and would not go back for hardly any reason. If you want to PM me and tell me in more detail... I am happy to help you.

Good luck and be careful.

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i work for gentiva in SC and i am very happy with my job,,,,if interested go to the gentiva web site and apply that way,,,even if you send your resume to the local branch you will still have to go thru the onlline application process....best wishes

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, PCU.

Thanks for both suggestions. I will apply on Gentiva's website and see what hospitals have their own home health care department.

Thanks a bunch! I love this site because I can always come here to feel connected with other nurses.:yeah:

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

PM me with the area that you're in (I'm in NE FL). I may have a lead for you, depending on your area.

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