Before modern medicine, caring for someone medically in the home was quite common, and hospitalization was rare. Today, with a growing trend toward reduced hospital stays, home care is gaining popularity.

While caregivers of the past were generally family members or friends, home health care today is based more on a professional health care team working toward a common goal.

Today home health care may be considered for patients who are recovering from an illness, undergoing treatment, disabled, chronically ill, or terminally ill.

Home health care is not an option for everyone. Generally, the patient receiving care or treatment must be well enough to be cared for in the home setting.

Who provides the best home health care services? Various agencies and other companies provide home health care including home health agencies, homemaker and home care aide agencies, pharmaceutical and infusion therapy companies, durable medical equipment and supply dealers, and staffing registries and private duty agencies.

So, how do you choose a home care provider? Locating an appropriate home health care provider requires some research. You will need to consult with your physician to evaluate your home care needs. When looking for a provider, consider the quality of care, the availability of services, personnel training and expertise, and payer coverage.

When evaluating the quality of a provider, you may encounter the following terms:

Licensure - Some states require providers to have licenses to operate. Basic legal and operating requirements mandated by the state must be met to obtain a license.

Bonding - A bond is a type of insurance policy for a provider. To become "bonded", the provider must pay a set amount. The bond protects the provider from bankruptcy in the event of a lawsuit by a consumer.

Certification - State certification by state health departments makes a home health or hospice care provider eligible for Medicare (and sometimes Medicaid) payments. To become certified, a provider must meet basic federal and state standards in patient care and financial management. Certified health care professionals are certified by their respective national organizations. The certification usually requires passing a national test and/or work experience.

Accreditation - Nationally recognized accrediting organizations evaluate and accredit quality health care services. A provider must voluntarily seek out this accreditation. Some organizations that accredit home heath care include the Accreditation Commission for Home Care, Inc., the Community Health and Accreditation Program, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and The National Home Caring Council.

When choosing a provider, you should consider asking the following questions:

* How many years has the provider been serving the community?

* Does the provider have literature describing it services, costs, and funding?

* Is an evaluation of the patient's home health care needs required? Is there a written plan of care for the patient?

* When are caregivers available?

* Is there a nursing supervisor on call 24-hours a day?

* Can the provider ensure patient confidentiality?

* How is the quality of care and services monitored?d