LETTERS: COMPARE HEALTH SERVICES

To the editor:

I am writing in response to a Dec. 5 letter from Harold Reed of Leopold regarding health care. I would like to commend Mr. Reed for his concern for the way taxpayers' dollars are used for health care. Some home health companies are guilty of abusing the system. To say that "all of these home health providers are a rip-off to the patients and the taxpayers" is a misnomer.

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri has been providing home health care for Southeast Missouri citizens for more than 23 years. One of our goals has always been keeping the cost to the taxpayers low, and we have made a diligent effort through the years to maintain a cost that is almost half the cost of other companies in the area. Therefore, services from our company would have cost Mr. Reed approximately $50 per visit. We have don this because we too are taxpayers. We understand that these benefits are available to patients in our community, and we have a responsibility as a member of the community to offer a quality service at a low cost. Our company serves patients at or below the national average for frequency of visits. Therefore, we do no over-utilize services and soak the system. We have been accredited with commendation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, one of the most prestigious accrediting bodies in our country. We take great pride in providing a quality service at a low cost.

When you are looking at home care as a needed service for you or your loved ones, we hop you will ask these important questions: 1. What will you visits cost? 2. How long have you been providing this service? 3. Is your company accredited by the Joint Commission. If so, was your accreditation awarded with commendation?

It is important for consumers to know the answers to these questions. You have a right to this information. You also have the right to choose which company provides your home care services. So when you are in the position of needing home care, ask those important questions.

In reference to Mr. Reed's concern that our legislators examine these issues, I want to report that we routinely communicate with legislators about our concerns about a system that allows agencies to over-charge and over-utilize service. We inform them that the VNA has traditionally been the lowest cost home care provider in Southeast Missouri and that our quality services are always at or below the national average for frequency.

I commend Mr. Reed for bringing this issue to the consciousness of the public. I encourage him to examine all home care agencies rather than identifying one or two agencies as representative of all agencies in Southeast Missouri. Consumers are not coming to understand that they are in a position to make choices that could impact health care for the future.

TERESA McCULLOCH

Chief Executive Officer

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri

Kennett