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Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

720.0. "Healthsource and Support Services Following Birth" by ROAMIN::BLACHEK () Mon Apr 04 1994 17:40

    I'm 6 weeks away from having my second child.  I am now using
    Healthsource as my HMO and I have some questions from those of you in
    the same predicament.
    
    With Healthsource, you can only stay in the hospital for 1 night, if
    you have a typical vaginal delivery.  They do, however, give you 4
    hours of a cleaning service, and the services of a home care agency,
    which they advise you to select in advance.
    
    I have a cleaning service that comes in now.  Can I use that same
    service, and how do I go about getting that money refunded?  
    
    In Nashua, where I live they have contracts with the following home
    care agencies:
    
    Acucare Nursing Professionals
    American Healthcare
    Home Health & Hospice Care
    Interim
    
    The only one that I am familiar with is Home Health & Hospice.  
    
    Can anyone tell me what their experiences have been with any of the
    above agencies?  You may need to do this in mail, to follow the
    conference guidelines.  But I would think you could at least let the
    noting community know if you used a particular service, and how
    Healthsource treated you.
    
    I'm so glad this is my second child.  Last time I needed that second
    day to get comfortable with the baby and breast feeding.
    
    Thanks, 
    
    judy
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
720.1Home Health and Hospice is okayREFDV1::SENAWherever you go, there you are !Tue Apr 05 1994 11:0424
    Judy,
    
    Knowing Healthsource, the answer to the question about using your own
    cleaning service is probably "no".  The only sure way to find out is
    to call their 800 number (sorry, I don't have it on me) and ask to 
    speak to someone in member relations.
    
    I had Home Health and Hospice come in to do the cleaning.  One lady 
    was excellent, but the other one was only so-so.  I can't remember
    their names.  In any case, it really beat doing the cleaning myself !
    
    I, too, was glad that it was *not* my first baby that I was delivering.
    I was looking forward to going home within a day of having the baby
    (which I did).  What I wasn't prepared for was the onslaught of
    information, baby care classes, post-partum instructions, forms to
    sign, etc. that that used to stretch out for the 2-3 days you were 
    there.  Now they cram it all in within 24 hours, and it seems as if
    you *never* get any rest while you're there.  If I were a first time
    mother, I would have been incredibly overwhelmed !
    
    Good luck, Judy !
    
    -Joy
720.2Recent Delivery w/Healthsource as HMOISLNDS::WILCOXWed Apr 06 1994 09:2123
    I just delivered my third son in late January and have Healthsource as
    my HMO.  I had the same type of questions as you and called
    Healthsource prior to delivery and this is what I was told...
    
    You can only get the Home Care Agency help and/or Cleaning Service if
    your doctor on discharge thinks that you need it...in other words it
    has to be "prescribed".  If it had been prescribed, then a Healthsource
    rep. would have contacted and assisted me in setting up the Home Care
    or Cleaning Service with one of the agencies that Healthsource listed. 
    I do not understand why the information pamphlet that they send to your 
    house states to line these services up ahead of time because it doesn't
    seem to work that way.
    
    BTW, I delivered my son at 8:30pm at Exeter Hospital.  I was told that
    Healthsource will not hold you to the 1 night stay when a baby is born
    after 6:00pm.....I stayed 2 nights, no questions!  (just be sure to
    call then within 24 hrs of delivery)  On the day of my discharge my
    nurse asked me if I felt strong enough to go home and, if not, that she
    could speak to the doctor to extend my stay.  I felt fine and was ready
    to go home.  
    
    Best of luck to you!
    	marty