New Home Health Care Quality Comparison Search Released

Millions of people use home health care agencies across the US each year. Understanding the available quality information can help guide you toward making an informed decision about your choice of over 10,000 home health care providers for your recovery.

WhereToFindCare.com is proud to announce our new home health care quality pages. We believe anyone considering using a home health care agency or referring to home health care agencies should be knowledgeable about the quality measures, what they mean, and how they measure up next to competitors.

The new pages allow users to find information for home health care agencies right in their zip code as well as state and national averages.

Over the next several weeks, I'll post tips on what each measure means and how you can use your search to make your choices.

Have you had experiences with home health care agencies in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the home health care agency on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for a homecare agency.

Does your home health care agency have good quality?

Depending on who you ask, you may get a definite "maybe". With over 10,000 home health care providers in the United States, the availability of quality home health care providers should not be hard to find.

We understand how difficult it can be for a consumer to understand the differences between providers, and that's why many patients and their families allow others to choose for them.

WhereToFindCare.com recognizes these dilemmas and has created a set of resources to help consumers, discharge planners, and even physicians to use quality information when comparing home health care agencies.

The new WhereToFindCare.com Home Health Care Quality pages are scheduled to be released in the next several days. Keep watching WhereToFindCare.com for further updates.

Have you had experiences with home health care agencies in your area? Share your experiences with other users by rating the home health care agency on WhereToFindCare.com. Your feedback is invaluable to others in your community searching for a home care agency.

Quality Results of Home Health Care Providers

With hundreds of home health care agencies available in Michigan, it can be a challenge for physicians and consumers to understand the differences in quality between providers. A review of CMS quality data for the 134 participating home health care agencies that deliver care to my zip code,48183, finds that on average these home health care providers are reporting on 11 measures. Quality results on those measures do vary from agency to agency with some receiving a 100% score (all measures above national averages) and others receiving a 0% score.

Comparison to national average is just one way to understand which home health care provider is right for you. Here is a list of home health care providers that provide services (according to the service area they have defined for Medicare participants) in my hometown - Trenton, MI that are the most successful for their indicators as compared to national average:

7 Home Health Agencies have 100% of their measures meeting/exceeded national average

NeoCare Home Care Taylor, MI
Atlantis Home Health Care, Inc Canton, MI
Platinum Home Care Detroit, MI
Community Home Health Care Redford, MI
Global Home Care Troy, MI
First Home Health Care, Inc Southfield, MI
Healing Touch Home Care Southfield, MI

22 Home Health Agencies have nearly all of their measures meeting/exceeding national averages: (scored 90% and above)

Liberty Home Health Care Brownstown, MI
Trinity Home Health System, Inc Brownstown, MI
Metro Home Health Services, Inc Dearborn, MI
Amber Home Health care, Inc Dearborn, MI
Oakland Home Health Care, Inc Farmington Hills, MI
Northwest Home Health Services, Inc Farmington Hills, MI
Allied Home Care Services, Inc Lincoln Park, MI
Physician's Choice Home Health Care Livonia, MI
Optimum Home Health Care Livonia, MI
Residential Home Health Madison Heights, MI
Preferred Home Care, Inc Mount Clemens, MI
First Michigan Home Health Care Oak Park, MI
Vital Home Health Care Oak Park, MI
Affinity Home Care Roseville, MI
Heartland Home Care Southfield Southfield, MI
Alliance Home Care Southfield, MI
Universal Home Health Care Southfield, MI
Prestige Home Health Services, Inc Southfield, MI
Seniors Home Health Care Southfield, MI
Comfort Home Care Southfield, MI
Open Arms Home Care Southfield, MI
Health Producers Home Care Agency, Inc Warren, MI

Interested in learning more about quality outcomes for home health care agencies in your area - go to our homecare page and enter your zip code.

Things to ask a Home Health Agency

I found the following list of things to ask a home health agency:

1. Verified the agency offers the specific health care services you need, such as nursing or therapy.
2. Has staff available to provide the hours of care your doctor ordered, and can start when you need them.
3. Meets your special needs, such as language or cultural preferences.
4. Offers the personal care services you need, such as help bathing and dressing.
5. Offers the support services you need, such as help with laundry, cooking, or shopping.
6. Can help you arrange for additional services, such as Meals on Wheels.
7. Has staff available at night and on weekends for emergencies.
8. Is Medicare-certified.
9. Will explain what your insurance covers, and what you must pay out-of-pocket.
10. Does staff background checks.
11. Has letters from satisfied patients, family members, and doctors.

Do you agree with this list? Are there any other things you should ask a home health agency?

To find a home health agency near you, please visit the Homecare Directory

*(List was taken from "How to find home health care thats right for you" pdf on medicare.gov)