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Phone Numbers:
● Main: 956-583-4520
● Fax: 956-583-4521
● Toll-Free: 1-866-561-5055
● Main: 956-583-4520
● Fax: 956-583-4521
● Toll-Free: 1-866-561-5055
1022 E. Griffin Parkway, Suite 106 • Mission, Texas 78572
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Criterion Health Care, Inc. is an innovative
high growth company located in Mission,
Texas. We are a leader in the Home
Health Care Industry in the Rio Grande
Valley in South Texas. In our provision of
patient care we strive to apply the latest
techniques and therapies that produce the
highest quality of care for our patients.
Criterion Health Care provides the
following services;skilled nursing, physical
therapy, Occupational therapy, speech
therapy, medical social services, and
home health aides.
Our central office is located in
Mission,Texas and is part of the area
known as the Rio Grande Valley. The
Valley as it is call is one of the fastest
growing regions in Texas. In the past ten
years it has grown by 50%. It is known for
its Hispanic culture, tropical climate and
proximity to the gulf coast. It is also an
area where many retired persons from
throughout the country make their winter
home. They are affectionately known as
Winter Texans. We are also blessed with
the close proximity of the beautiful Gulf
Coast and South Padre Island. The gulf
coast offers wonderful recreational
activities, from fishing, surfing,
skiing, sailing, to snorkeling, etc., you can
find it here.
Call Toll Free:
866-561-5055
high growth company located in Mission,
Texas. We are a leader in the Home
Health Care Industry in the Rio Grande
Valley in South Texas. In our provision of
patient care we strive to apply the latest
techniques and therapies that produce the
highest quality of care for our patients.
Criterion Health Care provides the
following services;skilled nursing, physical
therapy, Occupational therapy, speech
therapy, medical social services, and
home health aides.
Our central office is located in
Mission,Texas and is part of the area
known as the Rio Grande Valley. The
Valley as it is call is one of the fastest
growing regions in Texas. In the past ten
years it has grown by 50%. It is known for
its Hispanic culture, tropical climate and
proximity to the gulf coast. It is also an
area where many retired persons from
throughout the country make their winter
home. They are affectionately known as
Winter Texans. We are also blessed with
the close proximity of the beautiful Gulf
Coast and South Padre Island. The gulf
coast offers wonderful recreational
activities, from fishing, surfing,
skiing, sailing, to snorkeling, etc., you can
find it here.
Call Toll Free:
866-561-5055
ARTICLES
WHAT IS HOME HEALTH CARE?
WHAT IS HOME HEALTH CARE?
"The Mission of Criterion Health Care, Inc. Is to participate as an active part of the medical
community, by providing high quality Home Health Care services, continuously improving
the quality of these services, and delivering these services in a compassionate manner to
meet the needs of the patient."
community, by providing high quality Home Health Care services, continuously improving
the quality of these services, and delivering these services in a compassionate manner to
meet the needs of the patient."
| Serving: Hildago,Starr,Willacy Counties,Brooks,Cameron,Duval,Jim Hogg,Jim Wells,Kenedy,Kleberg,Zapata |
Home Health Aides are available to meet the patients needs that are non medical, however are essential to the continued good, mental
and physical health. These needs are met by providing the following services: Bathing, Dressing, Exercising, Feeding, Grooming,
Routine Hair/Skin Care,Toileting, Transfer/Ambulation, Cleaning, Laundry, Simple Meal Preparation, Remind of Self Administered Meds
and physical health. These needs are met by providing the following services: Bathing, Dressing, Exercising, Feeding, Grooming,
Routine Hair/Skin Care,Toileting, Transfer/Ambulation, Cleaning, Laundry, Simple Meal Preparation, Remind of Self Administered Meds
Following a disease or injury,
therapy services play an
important role in the
rehabilitation of our clients.
The
goal is to assist the client in
resuming quality life and
self care tasks. This can be
accomplished through
physician directed therapeutic
exercises, and creative
activities. When complete
recovery is not possible,
therapy plays an important role
in teaching adaptive
techniques in th clients
environment to enable
independence. The following
type of therapy services
are provided:
Transfer and Gait Training
Muscle Re-Education
Therapeutic Exercise
Prosthetic Training
Occupational Therapy
Speech Theapy
We Serve:
McAllen, Mission, Pharr,
Edinburg, Rio Grande City,
Raymondville, Brownsville,
Laredo, Mercedes, Weslaco,
Elsa, Ed Couch, Zapata,
Hidalgo, Sullivan City, La Joya,
Hargill and all surrounding
cities and counties throughout
entire South Texas Region.
We will make it a point to make
sure that you receive the best
possible therapy, treatment,
attention and care for your
injury, illness or age related
ailments.
Please contact our central
office to determine if we can
help you. Many doctors refer to
us throughout the South Texas
Region.
Call Toll Free:
866-561-5055
therapy services play an
important role in the
rehabilitation of our clients.
The
goal is to assist the client in
resuming quality life and
self care tasks. This can be
accomplished through
physician directed therapeutic
exercises, and creative
activities. When complete
recovery is not possible,
therapy plays an important role
in teaching adaptive
techniques in th clients
environment to enable
independence. The following
type of therapy services
are provided:
Transfer and Gait Training
Muscle Re-Education
Therapeutic Exercise
Prosthetic Training
Occupational Therapy
Speech Theapy
We Serve:
McAllen, Mission, Pharr,
Edinburg, Rio Grande City,
Raymondville, Brownsville,
Laredo, Mercedes, Weslaco,
Elsa, Ed Couch, Zapata,
Hidalgo, Sullivan City, La Joya,
Hargill and all surrounding
cities and counties throughout
entire South Texas Region.
We will make it a point to make
sure that you receive the best
possible therapy, treatment,
attention and care for your
injury, illness or age related
ailments.
Please contact our central
office to determine if we can
help you. Many doctors refer to
us throughout the South Texas
Region.
Call Toll Free:
866-561-5055
Criteririon home health care has been serving the valley for many years with home health . They currently serves mcallen, laredo, mission pharr, edinburg, rio Grande City,
Raymonndvilley, boownsville sout ttexas
Raymonndvilley, boownsville sout ttexas
Call Toll Free: 866-561-5055
Home Health Care
WHAT IS HOME HEALTH CARE?
Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can
often delay the need for long-term nursing home care.
More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with
activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs, and monitoring one’s
daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care
may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home
health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical
nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state.
Case Study
WHEN IS HOME HEALTH CARE APPROPRIATE?
Because it is not always clear to the average person when an ailing senior needs home health care and when he or she needs nursing home care, it is usually best
to consult a medical professional for advice. The following case study describes one situation in which home health care proved to be the right choice.
Francis is 84 years old and recently had a stroke. She was hospitalized briefly and then discharged to continue recovering at home. To enable her to return home,
her doctor called a home health care agency, and the agency gave Francis a complete home health care plan for six weeks. Since the doctor ordered the home
care for Francis, Medicare paid for it.
For the first week after Francis went home, a nurse visited her every day. The nurse met with Francis’s family to discuss her special dietary needs and to arrange
for exercise therapy to help Francis regain her strength. Once that was done, the nurse visited Francis twice a week to check on how well she was recovering. The
home health care agency also sent a homemaker, a personal care attendant, and a physical therapist to visit Francis several times during the week. The
homemaker would do the shopping and cook light meals. The personal care attendant would help Francis bathe, get dressed, and walk. The physical therapist
would keep Francis moving and see to it that she got some exercise to aid in her recovery.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT HOME HEALTH CARE IS QUALITY CARE?
As with any important purchase, it is always a good idea to talk with friends, neighbors, and your local area agency on aging to learn more about the home health
care agencies in your community.
In looking for a home health care agency, the following 20 questions can be used to help guide your search:
How long has the agency been serving this community?
Does the agency have any printed brochures describing the services it offers and how much they cost? If so, get one.
Is the agency an approved Medicare provider?
Is the quality of care certified by a national accrediting body such as the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations?
Does the agency have a current license to practice (if required in the state where you live)?
Does the agency offer seniors a “Patients’ Bill of Rights” that describes the rights and responsibilities of both the agency and the senior being cared for?
Does the agency write a plan of care for the patient (with input from the patient, his or her doctor and family), and update the plan as necessary?
Does the care plan outline the patient’s course of treatment, describing the specific tasks to be performed by each caregiver?
How closely do supervisors oversee care to ensure quality?
Will agency caregivers keep family members informed about the kind of care their loved one is getting?
Are agency staff members available around the clock, seven days a week, if necessary?
Does the agency have a nursing supervisor available to provide on-call assistance 24 hours a day?
How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality?
How are agency caregivers hired and trained?
What is the procedure for resolving problems when they occur, and who can I call with questions or complaints?
How does the agency handle billing?
Is there a sliding fee schedule based on ability to pay, and is financial assistance available to pay for services?
Will the agency provide a list of references for its caregivers?
Who does the agency call if the home health care worker cannot come when scheduled?
What type of employee screening is done?
When purchasing home health care directly from an individual provider (instead of through an agency), it is even more important to screen the person thoroughly.
This should include an interview with the home health caregiver to make sure that he or she is qualified for the job. You should request references. Also, prepare for
the interview by making a list if any special needs the senior might have. For example, you would want to note whether the elderly patient needs help getting into or
out of a wheelchair. Clearly, if this is the case, the home health caregiver must be able to provide that assistance. The screening process will go easier if you have a
better idea of what you are looking for first.
Another thing to remember is that it always helps to look ahead, anticipate changing needs, and have a backup plan for special situations. Since every employee
occasionally needs time off (or a vacation), it is unrealistic to assume that one home health care worker will always be around to provide care. Seniors or family
members who hire home health workers directly may want to consider interviewing a second part-time or on-call person who can be available when the primary
caregiver cannot be. Calling an agency for temporary respite care also may help to solve this problem (see the Respite Care fact sheet for more information about
these services).
In any event, whether you arrange for home health care through an agency or hire an independent home health care aide on an individual basis, it helps to spend
some time preparing for the person who will be doing the work. Ideally, you could spend a day with him or her, before the job formally begins, to discuss what will be
involved in the daily routine. If nothing else, tell the home health care provider (both verbally and in writing) the following things that he or she should know about the
senior:
Illnesses/injuries, and signs of an emergency medical situation
Likes and dislikes
Medications, and how and when they should be taken
Need for dentures, eyeglasses, canes, walkers, etc.
Possible behavior problems and how best to deal with them
Problems getting around (in or out of a wheelchair, for example, or trouble walking)
Special diets or nutritional needs
Therapeutic exercises.
In addition, you should give the home health care provider more information about:
Clothing the senior may need (if/when it gets too hot or too cold)
How you can be contacted (and who else should be contacted in an emergency)
How to find and use medical supplies and medications
When to lock up the apartment/house and where to find the keys
Where to find food, cooking utensils, and serving items
Where to find cleaning supplies
Where to find light bulbs and flash lights, and where the fuse box is located (in case of a power failure)
Where to find the washer, dryer, and other household appliances (as well as instructions for how to use them).
A WORD OF CAUTION . . .
Although most states require that home health care agencies perform criminal background checks on their workers and carefully screen job applicants for these
positions, the actual regulations will vary depending on where you live. Therefore, before contacting a home health care agency, you may want to call your local
area agency on aging or department of public health to learn what laws apply in your state.
HOW CAN I PAY FOR HOME HEALTH CARE?
The cost of home health care varies across states and within states. In addition, costs will fluctuate depending on the type of health care professional required.
Home care services can be paid for directly by the patient and his or her family members, or through a variety of public and private sources. Sources for home
health care funding include Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Veterans' Administration, and private insurance.
Medicare is the largest single payer of home care services. The Medicare program will pay for home health care if all of the following conditions are met:
The patient must be homebound and under a doctor’s care;
The patient must need skilled nursing care, or occupational, physical, or speech therapy, on at least an intermittent basis (that is, regularly but not continuously)
The services provided must be under a doctor’s supervision and performed as part of a home health care plan written specifically for that patient
The patient must be eligible for the Medicare program and the services ordered must be “medically reasonable and necessary”
The home health care agency providing the services must be certified by the Medicare program.
To get help with your Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048 for the speech and hearing impaired) or look on the
Internet at http://www.medicare.gov.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOME HEALTH CARE?
There are several national organizations that can provide additional consumer information about home health care services. These include the following:
The National Association for Home Care, which can be reached at 202-547-7424 or by visiting its website at www.nahc.org. The postal address is: 228 7th St., SE;
Washington, DC 20003.
The Visiting Nurse Associations of America, which can be reached at 617-737-3200 or by visiting its website at www.vnaa.org. The postal addresses are: 99
Summer St., Suite 1700; Boston, MA 02110.
To find out more about home health care programs where you live, you will want to contact your local aging information and assistance provider or area agency on
aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.gov) can help connect you to these
agencies.
WHAT IS HOME HEALTH CARE?
Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can
often delay the need for long-term nursing home care.
More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with
activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs, and monitoring one’s
daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care
may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home
health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical
nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state.
Case Study
WHEN IS HOME HEALTH CARE APPROPRIATE?
Because it is not always clear to the average person when an ailing senior needs home health care and when he or she needs nursing home care, it is usually best
to consult a medical professional for advice. The following case study describes one situation in which home health care proved to be the right choice.
Francis is 84 years old and recently had a stroke. She was hospitalized briefly and then discharged to continue recovering at home. To enable her to return home,
her doctor called a home health care agency, and the agency gave Francis a complete home health care plan for six weeks. Since the doctor ordered the home
care for Francis, Medicare paid for it.
For the first week after Francis went home, a nurse visited her every day. The nurse met with Francis’s family to discuss her special dietary needs and to arrange
for exercise therapy to help Francis regain her strength. Once that was done, the nurse visited Francis twice a week to check on how well she was recovering. The
home health care agency also sent a homemaker, a personal care attendant, and a physical therapist to visit Francis several times during the week. The
homemaker would do the shopping and cook light meals. The personal care attendant would help Francis bathe, get dressed, and walk. The physical therapist
would keep Francis moving and see to it that she got some exercise to aid in her recovery.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT HOME HEALTH CARE IS QUALITY CARE?
As with any important purchase, it is always a good idea to talk with friends, neighbors, and your local area agency on aging to learn more about the home health
care agencies in your community.
In looking for a home health care agency, the following 20 questions can be used to help guide your search:
How long has the agency been serving this community?
Does the agency have any printed brochures describing the services it offers and how much they cost? If so, get one.
Is the agency an approved Medicare provider?
Is the quality of care certified by a national accrediting body such as the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations?
Does the agency have a current license to practice (if required in the state where you live)?
Does the agency offer seniors a “Patients’ Bill of Rights” that describes the rights and responsibilities of both the agency and the senior being cared for?
Does the agency write a plan of care for the patient (with input from the patient, his or her doctor and family), and update the plan as necessary?
Does the care plan outline the patient’s course of treatment, describing the specific tasks to be performed by each caregiver?
How closely do supervisors oversee care to ensure quality?
Will agency caregivers keep family members informed about the kind of care their loved one is getting?
Are agency staff members available around the clock, seven days a week, if necessary?
Does the agency have a nursing supervisor available to provide on-call assistance 24 hours a day?
How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality?
How are agency caregivers hired and trained?
What is the procedure for resolving problems when they occur, and who can I call with questions or complaints?
How does the agency handle billing?
Is there a sliding fee schedule based on ability to pay, and is financial assistance available to pay for services?
Will the agency provide a list of references for its caregivers?
Who does the agency call if the home health care worker cannot come when scheduled?
What type of employee screening is done?
When purchasing home health care directly from an individual provider (instead of through an agency), it is even more important to screen the person thoroughly.
This should include an interview with the home health caregiver to make sure that he or she is qualified for the job. You should request references. Also, prepare for
the interview by making a list if any special needs the senior might have. For example, you would want to note whether the elderly patient needs help getting into or
out of a wheelchair. Clearly, if this is the case, the home health caregiver must be able to provide that assistance. The screening process will go easier if you have a
better idea of what you are looking for first.
Another thing to remember is that it always helps to look ahead, anticipate changing needs, and have a backup plan for special situations. Since every employee
occasionally needs time off (or a vacation), it is unrealistic to assume that one home health care worker will always be around to provide care. Seniors or family
members who hire home health workers directly may want to consider interviewing a second part-time or on-call person who can be available when the primary
caregiver cannot be. Calling an agency for temporary respite care also may help to solve this problem (see the Respite Care fact sheet for more information about
these services).
In any event, whether you arrange for home health care through an agency or hire an independent home health care aide on an individual basis, it helps to spend
some time preparing for the person who will be doing the work. Ideally, you could spend a day with him or her, before the job formally begins, to discuss what will be
involved in the daily routine. If nothing else, tell the home health care provider (both verbally and in writing) the following things that he or she should know about the
senior:
Illnesses/injuries, and signs of an emergency medical situation
Likes and dislikes
Medications, and how and when they should be taken
Need for dentures, eyeglasses, canes, walkers, etc.
Possible behavior problems and how best to deal with them
Problems getting around (in or out of a wheelchair, for example, or trouble walking)
Special diets or nutritional needs
Therapeutic exercises.
In addition, you should give the home health care provider more information about:
Clothing the senior may need (if/when it gets too hot or too cold)
How you can be contacted (and who else should be contacted in an emergency)
How to find and use medical supplies and medications
When to lock up the apartment/house and where to find the keys
Where to find food, cooking utensils, and serving items
Where to find cleaning supplies
Where to find light bulbs and flash lights, and where the fuse box is located (in case of a power failure)
Where to find the washer, dryer, and other household appliances (as well as instructions for how to use them).
A WORD OF CAUTION . . .
Although most states require that home health care agencies perform criminal background checks on their workers and carefully screen job applicants for these
positions, the actual regulations will vary depending on where you live. Therefore, before contacting a home health care agency, you may want to call your local
area agency on aging or department of public health to learn what laws apply in your state.
HOW CAN I PAY FOR HOME HEALTH CARE?
The cost of home health care varies across states and within states. In addition, costs will fluctuate depending on the type of health care professional required.
Home care services can be paid for directly by the patient and his or her family members, or through a variety of public and private sources. Sources for home
health care funding include Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Veterans' Administration, and private insurance.
Medicare is the largest single payer of home care services. The Medicare program will pay for home health care if all of the following conditions are met:
The patient must be homebound and under a doctor’s care;
The patient must need skilled nursing care, or occupational, physical, or speech therapy, on at least an intermittent basis (that is, regularly but not continuously)
The services provided must be under a doctor’s supervision and performed as part of a home health care plan written specifically for that patient
The patient must be eligible for the Medicare program and the services ordered must be “medically reasonable and necessary”
The home health care agency providing the services must be certified by the Medicare program.
To get help with your Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048 for the speech and hearing impaired) or look on the
Internet at http://www.medicare.gov.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOME HEALTH CARE?
There are several national organizations that can provide additional consumer information about home health care services. These include the following:
The National Association for Home Care, which can be reached at 202-547-7424 or by visiting its website at www.nahc.org. The postal address is: 228 7th St., SE;
Washington, DC 20003.
The Visiting Nurse Associations of America, which can be reached at 617-737-3200 or by visiting its website at www.vnaa.org. The postal addresses are: 99
Summer St., Suite 1700; Boston, MA 02110.
To find out more about home health care programs where you live, you will want to contact your local aging information and assistance provider or area agency on
aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.gov) can help connect you to these
agencies.
Setting the Standard in home health care