Are You Considering Home Health as A Career Option?

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When I was student it seemed as though home health was a taboo topic, if you mentioned it  you’d get shushed or the topic would rapidly get changed.  I was always exasperated by the lack of information on this service area, especially as I always saw it at the top or near top of earning charts for PT/OT/ST.  It aggravated me that my teachers would seldom mention home health, and even when they did, it was always “But you shouldn’t consider home health as a new grad.”
What a bunch of malarky! 

I will admit to having a slightly rebellious side to me; a side that questions tradition and norms.  To me it was unfair to state that something was off limits to me just because I was new.  My own personal research indicated that most home health companies asked for 2 years experience minimum in your respective field.  BUT...

“What’s the worst they could say?” 

So I called a number of home health recruiters and sent out a few emails.  Though several companies were adamant about their experience requirements, one company’s recruiter gave me a call the very next day after I emailed this:

“Good evening,
My name is Jesse Madera and I am a new graduate and newly licensed Occupational Therapist.  I was researching jobs in home health and while perusing your website came across this email address.  I was wondering whether new grad therapists are hired by your company?  If they are, I will be sure to apply.
Thank you very much for your time!”

Again, what’s the worst they could say?  Well as it turned out, they were actually very interested!  After a short phone call with the recruiter an interview was set up for the following Friday.  The rest is history, but the lesson is very redeemable: Don’t let tradition dictate where your career goes.  

Upon my hiring, a mentor was set up for me and my training began.  My mentor was (and is) a “can-do” guy.  It was his philosophy that if you had the right mentality, it didn’t matter what your experience was, you could do home health if you were dedicated and willing to learn.  He also believed in trial by fire, so on day two of following him as he treated his patients; He handed me his laptop and said “give it a shot.” Documenting as he treated afforded me a quick lesson on not just what is relevant and appropriate for therapy, but how it should be explained to justify for payment for services.  My mentor explained to me the ins and outs of documenting for services as he reviewed what I wrote and added the things I missed. 
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I am grateful for the training I received, and should you decide to start in home health, I’d encourage you to seek out a mentor--whether official or otherwise to help you grow.  It was invaluable to have someone to ask questions, because there are so many awkward scenarios that are not in any textbook.  This website was set up under the same philosophy that my mentor espoused, “You can do home health if you’re dedicated and willing to learn.”  At Hacking Home Health, we want you to learn, to grow and to develop into an amazing clinician.  We’re here to grow too!