How to select a home care speech therapist?
It is not at all uncommon for patients to be treated by a home care speech therapist following surgery or following some other medical event, such as a stroke or brain injury. What kinds of questions should you ask prior to hiring a home care agency to provide speech therapy to you or a loved one?
The following list reviews common concerns, according to physical, speech and occupational home care therapists with Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice, located in Port Huron, Michigan. VNA/BWH services patients in St. Clair County, including Algonac, Fort Gratiot, Marysville and St. Clair; Sanilac County, including Port Sanilac and Sandusky; and Macomb County, including Richmond, New Baltimore, Shelby Township, Chesterfield Township, Ray Township, New Haven and Fair Haven.
What does a home care speech therapist do?
Home care speech therapists work with patients on their speech, language and swallowing difficulties, among other things. The speech therapist will assess and determine what challenges are greatest to the patient. The therapist will work with the patient to set and achieve task-specific goals.
Does the speech therapist specialize in the condition you need treated?
Like family physicians, many speech therapists treat a wide range of maladies in any one day. But you should always make sure that the in home speech therapist who has been assigned to your case has experience providing treatment to patients with your particular needs. Speech therapists work closely with other members of your care team, including your dietitian, to ensure that your speech, swallowing and feeding habits and routines are properly assessed and corrective actions and adjustments can be made if needed.
Will I see the same home care speech therapist every session or will different therapists treat me each time?
This is an extremely important question. Patients who are treated by the same speech therapists see results faster than those who are treated by a different therapist each visit. When you receive consistent care from the same provider, greater progress is made because the speech therapist learns, over time, what improvements you have made and what areas need more attention.
How long will each of our therapy sessions last?
When you receive home care from a speech therapist, you want to make sure an adequate amount of time is spent working toward your speech therapy goals to ensure the quickest improvement possible. If you believe your speech therapist is rushing through your session in order to attend to other patients elsewhere, make sure you speak up or contact the agency.
Will I be treated by a speech therapist or a speech therapy assistant or a therapy aide?
If your insurance is paying for an actual speech therapist to provide home care, the provider who arrives at your door should be an actual speech therapist and not an assistant or therapy aide. While assistants and aides can provide good care, the actual speech therapist should be working closely with you to achieve the speech therapy goals set by your physician.
What kind of education, licensing and certification does my speech therapist have?
When hiring an agency to provide speech therapy home care, do not hesitate to ask about the credentials of the therapist who will be working with you or your loved one. You want to work with a licensed speech therapist. Many also receive certifications in specialty areas, as well.
Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice
Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice is a non-profit provider of in-home hospice care, home health care and private duty services in St. Clair, Sanilac and Macomb Counties of Michigan, including the cities of Algonac, Marysville, Port Huron, St. Clair, Port Sanilac, Richmond, New Baltimore, Shelby Township, Chesterfield Township, Ray Township, New Haven and Fair Haven.
Additionally, the organization also operates the Blue Water Hospice Home in Marysville, Michigan, which allows patients to receive hospice care in a home-like setting.
by greatlakeswoman
Established in 1952, VNA/BWH consistently receives exceptional ratings for patient satisfaction and quality of care from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For more information, please visit our website at www.vnabwh.com or contact us at (810) 984-4131.