By Jill Nagy
HCR Home Care, a provider of home health care services in northern New York state, added another star to its galaxy when its North Country region, based in Hudson Falls, received the highest rating, Five Stars, for patient satisfaction in July.
HCR consistently receives four-star ratings, well above average, for both clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. However, this was the first five-star rating, according to Lara Weagle, director of client relations.
The top rating indicates that HCR met or exceeded state and national averages in five patient-satisfaction measures, based upon a comparison of survey results. The surveys and comparisons are performed by medicare.com/homehealthcompare. HCR’s ratings are the highest in the region, according to Weagle.
“We are very proud we were able to reach the five-star rating,” she said.
HCR Home Care is a woman-owned, employee-owned, business headquartered in Rochester and operating in 22 counties in northern New York State. Its North Country region serves an area bounded by the Canadian border; the Vermont border; and Washington, Warren and Hamilton counties, plus Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties.
The company provides health care in patient homes or other places of residence. The company began 40 years ago as a private care provider. Now it also provides certified home health care, often covered by insurance.
A third division of the company provides home care management meant to meet social needs, including housing access, food and transportation. They have operated in the North Country for seven years.
Weagle estimated that, statewide, HCR serves about 12,000 patients a year, 4,500 at any given time. Patient may receive services for a month or two following an “acute episode” up to several years for many private care patients, she said.
Its staff of 900 includes nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, registered dieticians, and home health aides. While an independent company, HCR works closely with Hudson Headwaters Health Systems and Glens Falls Hospital on a daily basis, Weagle said.
All services are based upon medical orders, she added. The company also verifies insurance coverage, when appropriate, and helps patients acquire medical supplies and equipment. Among their services are telemonitoring.
The Homehealthcompare ratings are based upon 22 clinical outcomes and five patient-satisfaction measures divided into several categories: managing daily activities, managing pain and treating symptoms, preventing harm, preventing unplanned hospital care, and payment and value of care.
Typical quality measures include a patient improved at bathing or getting in and out of bed and a patient able to engage in activities with less pain. Survey results from each agency are compared with those from other agencies.
HCR’s North Country offices are located at 124 Main St., Suite 201, in Hudson Falls. They can be reached by telephone at (518) 310-0900 or (800) 270-4904. The website is at HCRHEALTH.com.
