Employee asks what services workers’ compensation covers

Home Care by David DiFilippo



Q:
Is home care necessitated by an injury on the job covered by workers' compensation? ~ S. Smith, Pawtucket
A: Yes, you should be able to access nursing services at home with workers' compensation if you have a qualifying condition.
Q: What type of employee screening is done for home care personnel? My mother needs nursing care at home following a hospital stay, and I'm a little nervous about having people in her home that we don't know when no one else is there. ~ K. Woods, Warwick
A: All agencies differ but at a minimum, Medicare certified agencies require a criminal background check. Rhode Island regulations also require certain immunizations and annual testing such as tuberculosis tests. Additionally, each agency may have its own unique screening criteria, so be sure to inquire about the matter when interviewing candidates.
Also, you should always ask for a list of physicians, discharge planners or other professionals who have experience with the company as well as a list of former clients who can relay their experience with the company. You can also check with the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care to see if any substantiated grievances have been posted against a specific company.
Q: What does JCAHO certified mean? I'm seeing that on various materials from home care companies that we're looking into. ~ A. Antonelli, Westerly
A: JCAHO stands for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Organizations that are accredited by the joint commission have met stringent quality standards. CHAP, or the Community Health Accreditation Program, is another accrediting body whose purpose is to define and advance the highest standards of community-based care. 


David DiFilippo is the owner of Concord Home Health Services, which specializes in in-home personal assistance such as errands and medication management, as well as skilled nursing services and rehabilitation. Submit questions to kparkcompass@trmcomm.com.

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