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Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that is not answered in this article, please feel free to Contact Us and we will address your concern in a timely manner.
Q. What are your office hours?
A. The office is open from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday. However, someone is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide assistance. Your call will always be answered by a member of our on-call staff rather than a recorded message.
Q. What area does Nightingale service?
A. Nightingale Private Duty Nursing provides care to those living in Indian River or St. Lucie counties (Florida).
Q. I am interested in working for Nightingale. What do I need and whom do I contact?
A. Please have a look at our Employment Information.
Care-Related
Q. What services do you provide?
A. Please have a look at our Services Offered.
Q. What is the difference between a companion, HHA, CNA, LPN, and RN?
A. We've provided a Services Offered between these professions that will better help you decide on the one that meets your needs.
Q. What is the difference between a registry and a home health agency?
A. There are two types of licensed home health nursing services in the state of Florida. Nurse registries are referral services for nurses and home health aides who work independently, are self-employed, and contracted by the registry. Registries do not provide workers compensation insurance for these independent contractors. If the contractor is injured in your house, your homeowner's policy, or you as the client individually, may be sued for the expenses incurred. Registries do not deduct for or contribute to the contractor's taxes.
Nightingale Private Duty Nursing is a licensed agency. Everyone working for our agency is a full employee covered by worker's compensation and liability insurance. Nightingale, as the employer, assumes responsibility for payroll deductions and contributions towards taxes as required by Florida law. In contrast to being an independent contractor with a registry, all employees of Nightingale are under frequent, direct supervision by a registered nurse.
Q. Am I obligated to a certain length of service time by contract?
A. Our services are on per diem basis, meaning you may use us for one day or daily, seven days a week, for as long as you need. Our scheduling is flexible and can be adjusted to your needs -- mornings, afternoons, evenings and all-night hours are available seven days per week. We also provide live-ins for 24-hour per day care.
Q. If I live out of the area and I am arranging care for my family member in the Nightingale service area, how can I make sure the services are to my liking?
A. Our nursing supervisor and administrator will be happy to communicate with you by phone, fax, mail, or e-mail on a regular basis. You are welcome to contact us at any time for regular reports and updates.
Q. Who monitors the caregiver?
A. An RN is assigned to each case upon admission. This RN makes visits at scheduled times and unscheduled times in the client's home. The nursing supervisor responds to the owner/administrator with a daily and weekly report.
Q. Can I interview the caregiver you select before service begins?
A. We are happy to arrange an interview with the caregiver in our office, at your home, or over the phone.
Q. How does Nightingale ensure that my caregiver is trustworthy enough to come into my house?
A. We do criminal background checks on all prospective employees, and all of our employees are bonded and insured.
Q. How does Nightingale ensure that my caregiver will show up on time?
A. All employees are given a full report and directions before accepting the case. Often the nurse case manager meets the new employee at the home on their first visit.
Q. How does Nightingale ensure that my caregiver will be competent?
A. Complete training records are required by the agency before hiring. A skills checklist is completed during the employee's orientation by Rita Richardson, RN/Instructor. Our classroom setting also provides continuous training for all employees, as well as initial training for prospective new Home Health Aides.
Q. What happens if my attendant is ill or unable to cover his/her shift?
A. Nightingale guarantees coverage at all times and will provide a substitute upon notification of the need. Home Health Aides are on-all for immediate dispatch to your house in these instances.
Q. How does Nightingale guarantee that my concerns and complaints will be handled quickly and to my satisfaction?
A. Whenever a concern arises, our 24 hour on-call staff immediately relays your query or concern to the RN supervisor or administrator to ensure that your problem is addressed in a timely manner. Questions and concerns can also be e-mailed in the Contact Us section.
Billing
Q. Is private duty home-health expensive?
A. Nightingale's rates are competitive in our service area of Indian River and St. Lucie counties. Many of our services are covered by long term health care policies. Whenever possible, we defer to Medicare agencies in our community to provide necessary supplemental services to our clients. Our RN supervisors will be happy to tailor make a program to your needs and for your budget.
Q. What are your rates?
A. Please have a look at our Insurance and Rates.
Q. Who pays for these services?
A. Services may be paid by the client, other family members, trust funds and/or insurance policies.
Q. Will Medicare cover this service?
A. Medicare will only pay for intermittent services (one hour a day), and clients must be homebound. Because our services are custodial, meaning we care for people more than one hour a day, Medicare will not reimburse our private duty services. Also, our clients are very often not homebound, therefore Medicare will not pay. When an agency applies for a license in the state of Florida, they must specify a Medicare or private duty license. Nightingale is licensed for private duty only.
Q. Are these expenses tax deductible?
A. Expenses are tax deductible. Please contact your CPA or refer to tax laws for the state of Florida. Nightingale will provide an end of year account to you for this purpose, if requested.
Q. How do I know if my insurance will cover the cost for service?
A. Because of the new HIPPA confidentiality rules, we are often unable to make inquiries of your insurance company. It is best for you, as the client, to make the initial call, or to inspect your policy for benefits. If we can be of any help after the process has been initiated, we will be happy to assist you in the insurance billing process.
Q. How are customers billed?
A. Customers are billed weekly, receiving an invoice by mail or fax. We accept Visa and Mastercard for payment convenience. You are paying the agency directly, and no payments or tips are to be made to Nightingale employees in your home.