Many dedicated employees work for home health care providers that contribute to patient care beyond the nurses and home health aides on the front line and administrators behind the scenes. Some are responsible for running the organization, while others ensure regulatory compliance, manage billing, hire and train staff, coordinate care, order equipment, and provide care. Employees are salaried or in hourly positions; some require licenses, while others don’t.
Following is just a snapshot of several of the workers who comprise the home healthcare industry.
Management
There is the CEO/executive director, who is at the helm of the home health agency, responsible for the organization’s profitability and overall administration. He or she is typically the owner or an executive who reports to a board of directors. An agency administrator oversees all clinical operations, is responsible for licensure, and typically reports to the CEO. The director of reimbursement manages the agency billing, including coordinating documentation required for reimbursement, Medicare compliance, and control of receivables.
A chief information officer (CIO)/IT director oversees the organization’s technology and staff, including directing and coordinating systems, programming, operational activities, and equipment acquisition. The CIO is also responsible for ensuring that cybersecurity measures are implemented and practiced throughout the organization.
The human resources executive is a top-level management position responsible for planning, developing, and administering personnel policies, including employee onboarding and training practices. He or she supervises the HR coordinator responsible for hiring and recruiting, training and development, and maintaining employee records.
Patient Care Coordination
A case manager/team leader assigns and coordinates activities for a multidisciplinary team – nurses, therapists, home care aides, and specialists. The case manager is the liaison with referral sources, clients, payors, physicians, and field staff.
A home care consultant is responsible for matching client needs with the agency’s services. A staffing/scheduling coordinator maintains the schedule for paraprofessionals, including managing the daily workload of home care aides/certified nursing assistants. The home medical equipment (HME)/durable medical equipment (DME) sales supervisor oversees HME/DME operations, equipment, supply, rental needs, and assignment of responsibilities. The HME/DME technician is responsible for delivering, maintaining, and training employees on HME/DME equipment and supplies. Also, he or she may provide client counseling on the proper use and care of equipment.
Patient Care
Many types of health care professionals are responsible for patient care, including physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, speech/language pathologists, registered nurses, practical nurses, nurse practitioners, home care aides, telehealth nurses, and others.
It takes many people to provide quality home health care working together in an industry that continues to grow.
About Manchester Specialty Programs
We specialize in providing agents and brokers with totally integrated business insurance solutions to meet the needs of Home Care, Allied Health, Medical Staffing, and Human/Social Services organizations. For more information about how our products and services can help protect your insureds and how we recognize accredited firms, please contact us at 855.972.9399.