Choosing a Provider Johns Hopkins Medicine COVID-19 Updates Masks are required inside all of our care facilities. We are vaccinating all eligible patients. Learn more: Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses Testing Patient Care Visitor Guidelines Coronavirus Email Alerts Find more COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. CloseSearch Submit Search Popular Searches coronavirus careers medical records map insurance accepted telemedicine Menu Health Choosing a Provider Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest Share via Email Print this Page Finding appropriate home health and hospice care providers requires some research. You will need to talk with your healthcare provider to evaluate your home health or hospice care needs. When looking for a provider, consider the following: Quality of care Availability of services Personnel training and expertise Payer coverage Evaluating the quality of a provider 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 as directed 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, a 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 healthcare professionals are certified by their respective national organizations. The certification usually requires passing a national test or work experience. Accreditation. Nationally recognized accrediting organizations evaluate and accredit quality healthcare services. A provider must voluntarily seek out this accreditation. Some organizations who accredit home health care include: Accreditation Commission for Home Care, Inc. Community Health Accreditation Program Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations National Committee for Quality Assurance National Home Caring Council Questions to ask when choosing a provider When choosing a provider, consider asking the following questions: How many years has the provider been serving the community? Does the provider have literature describing its services, cost, and funding? Is an evaluation of the patient's home healthcare 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 quality of care and services monitored? What types of payments are accepted? The National Association for Home Care & Hospice will provide you with the most comprehensive database of agencies available in the U.S. Find a Doctor Specializing In: Geriatric Medicine At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital: Howard County General Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Find a Treatment Center Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology Find Additional Treatment Centers at: Howard County General Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Suburban Hospital Related Pressure Injuries Finding a New Center Tough (But Important) Conversations Palliative Care: Bringing Comfort Request an Appointment Find a Doctor Find a Doctor See More Related Senior Centers and Assisted Living Pressure Injuries Senior Centers and Assisted Living Finding a New Center Caregiving for a Senior Tough (But Important) Conversations Related Topics