Your questions and concerns are very important to us.  In this section you can find some of the most frequently asked questions we receive.  If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to call us at 203-375-5871 or email us at stratfordvna@stratfordvna.org

Is the VNA hiring?

Yes! We are currently looking to fill several positions.  Check out the Careers page to learn more.

What insurance companies does the VNA accept?

On our Insurance page we list all of the insurance companies that the VNA is able to accept.  Please check to see if your insurance is on the list.  If you don't see it listed, please contact us.  We may be able to obtain authorization from other providers not included on the list.

Does the Stratford VNA serve areas outside of Stratford?

Yes, the VNA includes parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties within their service area.  The Area of Service page has a map illustration to help show the different towns.  If you take a look there, you can see if your town is on the list.

Why Should I Choose Home Care?

• Nursing homes can be extremely expensive, and very often Medicare doesn't cover the costs.
• With a home care agency, the patient can enjoy the comforts of their own home, while keeping the routines that they are comfortable with and maintaining their dignity.
• Home care allows the patient to receive one-on-one care, with a treatment plan specifically designed with their needs in mind.

Why Should I Choose Stratford VNA?

• Our agency has served the community since 1919.
• Our mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive health services.  Our commitment to this is reflected in our mission statement and in our consistently high patient satisfaction rate.
• Our service area includes towns in Fairfield and New Haven counties.
• Specialties include Advanced Wound Care, Home Telemonitoring, Psych Nursing, IV Therapy and many others.
• Our Staff undergoes a thorough background check including criminal, driving, references and licensing checks, if applicable.  Staff members receive a personalized orientation to our agency's policies and procedures and are competency checked in all procedures prior to performing them.
• Staff longevity.
• Our agency has been selected as one of the "2009 HomeCare Elite ^TM ," the annual compilation of the most successful home health care providers in the U.S.

How will my care be paid for?

Medicare covers homecare services 100% if you meet the following criteria:

• Be considered homebound
• Care must be intermittent
• Care must be reasonable and necessary
• Care is ordered by a physician

Medicaid covers homecare services 100% if you meet the following criteria:

• Care must be intermittent
• Care must be reasonable and necessary
• Care must be ordered by a physician

Private insurance company coverage depends on individual policies, but generally has the same coverage guidelines as Medicare.

Call the agency for any questions regarding coverage of your services.

How often can I expect a visit?

Your nurse or therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your needs and health status and formulate a treatment plan with you to best meet your goals. Generally, you will receive more frequent visits and phone calls by your homecare team within the first few weeks of beginning care. As you reach your goals and become more independent, visits will be more spaced out until you are discharged from care.

How will the agency help me manage my pain?

The Stratford VNA believes all patients have a right to be as comfortable as possible. If you are having pain, your nurse or therapist will work with you to find the best method to control it. Pain can affect all aspects of your life including sleeping, eating, moving and socializing. If pain is not controlled, it can affect your recovery and response to treatment.

You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale from 0-10 with zero being no pain and ten indicating the most severe pain you have ever felt. Pain can be described as sore, heavy, achy, burning, stinging, sharp, dull, shooting or cramping. Let your nurse or therapist know what makes your pain better or worse.

Sometimes pain can be relieved or improved without using medication. Non-pharmacological pain relievers can be heat, cold, rest, elevation, massage or simple distraction like music or reading. Ask your nurse or therapist about non-pharmacological ways to relieve your pain.

What do I do if I need help after hours or on the weekend?

A registered nurse is available by phone seven days a week, 24 hours a day to discuss any issues you may be experiencing and make a home visit if determined appropriate. We encourage you to “Call me first.” The “Call me first” campaign is designed to help keep you out of the hospital and at home where you can convalesce in a comfortable environment. Call your nurse or therapist whenever you experience a change in condition, have a question or a concern. Reporting changes when they occur allows the VNA staff to speak with your doctor, possibly make changes to your treatment plan and keep you at home.

How long will my homecare services last?

Your treatment plan is based on your individual needs and the length of services will depend upon your medical status and how quickly you achieve your treatment goals.

What does it mean to be accredited by the Joint Commission?

Accreditation means that we have volunteered to undergo a challenging, comprehensive evaluation. We have made a significant extra effort to review and improve key factors that can affect the quality and safety of your care.
    Because Joint Commission standards are regarded as the most rigorous in the industry, organizations that choose to be accredited by the Joint Commission are committed to providing the highest level of care. The Joint Commission's seal of approval is a clear sign that we have demonstrated compliance with the most stringent standards of performance.
    The fact that we have gone through this evaluation shows an extraordinary commitment to provide safe, high quality care and a willingness to be measured against the highest standards of performance.
    A team of healthcare professionals from the Joint Commission personally visited our facility to conduct a review and look at how well we:

• provide a safe environment for your care
• educate you about the risks and options for diagnosis and treatment
• protect your rights as a patient, including your right to confidentiality
• evaluate your condition before, during and after diagnosis and treatment
• protect you against infection
• plan for emergency situations

    Joint Commission accreditation is voluntary. To prepare for a Joint Commission review, we made a commitment to quality improvement and put teams together to look carefully at what we could do better to ensure safety and quality of care.
    A team of health care professionals conducted an on-site survey of our organization. The team interviewed staff and patients, residents, or clients; reviewed documents; examined the physical surroundings; and spent time observing how we deliver care. The team evaluated our overall performance against Joint Commission's nationally recognized standards.
    Accreditation is an accomplishment we're proud of, and rightfully so. It means we have been recognized for complying with rigorous national performance standards that promote safe and quality health care. It means we've earned the Joint Commission seal of approval.

    The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of safety and quality of care in all health care settings. Since 1951, Joint Commission accreditation has been recognized within health care as a symbol of quality.
    The Joint Commission's governing board includes doctors, nurses, medical directors and consumers. The Joint Commission sets the standards that measure health care quality in America and around the world. On a continuing basis, groups of doctors, nurses, and representatives of national health care organizations meet to review the standards for care, and make recommendations for additions and improvements to the requirements.


For more information about accreditation of health care organizations, visit www.jcaho.org. To find other accredited health care organizations, look for Quality Check.