Private Duty Concierge Services May Be a Program for You
You hear the words “Concierge Services” more and more often these days in relation to specialty programs in Private Duty agencies. Some of you may be asking, what is that? Concierge is a French word that means caretaker, custodian, guardian, keeper, and so on. What does Concierge Service mean for a Private Pay specialty program? A Private Duty Concierge Service implies a comprehensive plan that takes care of everything for the client.
A good example of a Concierge program would be a Day Surgery service. This service can be designed any way an agency chooses as long as it addresses all the needs of the client before, during and immediately after surgery. The best source for the kinds of services that are required is the client. A brief survey in a surgeon’s office can help you gather the information you need, or you or someone in your family may have experienced day surgery yourselves and already understand what the needs might be. However you gather your information, it is critical to develop a program that customers perceive as valuable and are willing to pay for.
The biggest need for clients having day surgery is having someone else attend to all the details so all they have to focus on is the surgery. That may mean that the agency picks the client up at their home or airport, transports them to the surgery suite, arranges for after care, including distribution of all medications, and provides a place to stay if they are from out of the area. Twenty-four hour care may also be made available until the client can manage for him/herself.
So, if you are contemplating a specialty service for your private duty agency, do your homework before developing the program. If you are struggling with what to develop or do not know where to start, entertain the use of a home care consultant. The investment in the objective expertise of a home care consultant ultimately saves you money and ensures a successful program.
Category: Agency Startups, Ginny's Blog
[...] the future. For additional ideas on how your home care agency can gain the competitive edge, read Private Duty Concierge Services May Be a Program for You and Diversifying Services: A Matter of Survival for Home [...]