News and Events from our Offices to your homes...
Congratulations to the entire staff of Indiana for third year in a row with no deficiencies in the State and Federal Survey
Carmel, Indiana, February 05, 2004-A state survey (By Indiana State Department of Health, Acute Care Division in Indiana and Illinois Department of Public Health in Illinois) is something that no one looks forward to but is inevitable. We go through one at least once every year. Based on their findings the state (ISDH and IDPH) issues a list of deficiencies (if they find any) and then we (Nightingale Home Healthcare) have to submit a plan of corrections. This has to be acceptable to the State (ISDH and IDPH) and Medicare. This allows the maintenance of our license to provide services under Medicare, Medicaid, Choice and various other government programs.
Last two years produced 'Deficiency Free Surveys' which means that the surveyors found no issues to cite Nightingale for. A great achievement by both the field staff (as surveyors also visit with patients and see the field staff performing visits) and office staff - surveyors go through policies and procedures, patient charts, employee files, check office set up to insure we maintain complete confidentiality of patient records etc. This is an annual survey and they have been coming around March every year in our Indiana office. This is always a surprise visit so we never know when they will be coming.
However this year the surveyors came on January 26th. To add to our surprise a Federal surveyor from Medicare accompanied her. The Federal surveyor was there to see that the state surveyor performed the survey the way it was supposed to be performed. They were there for three days.
In the end when everything was said and done they informed us - 'There are no deficiencies or citations and there is an improvement every year'.
WHOA - we wanted to jump from our seats. What another GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE STAFF OF NIGHTINGALE HOME HEALTHCARE.
However there were some who are REAL HEROES. In the office it was Kim Young, Natalie Richardson, Michelle Bulger, Natasha Freije, Karen Moore and Jeanine. In the field it was Ava Burden, Darlene Berringer, Tom Flaa, Andrea Asher, Nicole Collins, Linda Stavros and Vickie Spoerle. Guiding them as their leader and dealing the most with surveyor was PIPER KIRBY. She did a job that deserves a lot of commendation and congratulation. We are very proud of all the employees. GREAT JOB. Lets get ready for the next survey of 2005. We are and have to be always ready.
Good luck to Chicago now.
To learn more about Nightingale Home Healthcare, visit their website at www.HomeCareForYou.com.
