Home Health Care Glossary

This glossary is to help our home health care community better understand the terms used in relation to care. Please book mark this page for future reference or download our printable version HERE.



Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) A combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions that is performed on individuals whose hearts have stopped beating.
Care management This refers to the comprehensive and coordinated process of activities that begin with the client referral. Both administrative and clinical, care management continues through admission planning, start of care, and ongoing care to the client’s discharge or transfer from BAYADA.
Caregiver (Family) Someone who gives care to another person. Often a caregiver is a family member providing care to a loved one.
Caregivers (Professional) BAYADA employees who provide care to our clients are referred to as BAYADA caregivers, care professionals, or health care professionals. To distinguish from family caregivers, we include BAYADA in front of the word caregiver when referring to our employees who are providing care to a client.
Case management Case management refers to the process of identifying individuals’ special health care needs, developing a health care strategy that meets those needs, and coordinating and monitoring care. Typically, case management is provided by a health professional in their area of practice, such as an insurance company, state Medicaid program, or hospital.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and health insurance portability standards. In addition to these programs, CMS has other responsibilities including the administrative simplification standards from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), quality standards in long-term care facilities (more commonly referred to as nursing homes) through its survey and certification process, and clinical laboratory quality standards under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
Certificate of Need (CON) A CON is intended to control expansion of facilities and services by preventing excessive or duplicative development of facilities and services. In some states, a state agency must review and approve certain proposed capital expenditures, changes in health services provided, and purchases of expensive medical equipment. Before the request goes to the state, a local review panel (the health system's agency, or HSA) must evaluate the proposal and make a recommendation known as a CON. Many states have eliminated their CON processes and requirements.
Certified Intake Specialist (CIS) This certification qualifies employees to handle service request inquiries.
Certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN) A certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN) has met a standard of clinical experience and specialized knowledge about rehabilitation nursing, evaluated by a written exam. The nurse must possess a minimum number of hours of rehabilitation experience to be eligible to sit for the examination. The credential must be renewed periodically.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Also known as chronic obstructive lung disease, COPD is a condition in which the lungs are not able to perform adequately. This results in shortness of breath and decreased ability to tolerate activity or exertion.
Client A client is a person receiving home health care services from BAYADA Home Health Care. We believe our clients come first.
Colostomy A colostomy is a surgically-created opening in the colon onto the surface of the abdomen. This procedure is done to bypass some diseased or damaged portion of the intestine.
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services. CARF accredits Bayada Habilitation offices in North Carolina and Pennsylvania under their Employment and Community Services standards.
Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) BAYADA is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program, which sets the highest quality standards of practice for home care providers nationwide. BAYADA chose CHAP as our accreditation partner in 2008 and currently holds accreditation for Core (standards common to all services), Home Health (Medicare-certified services), and Private Duty care. Created in 1965, CHAP was the first accrediting body for community-based health care organizations in the US. CHAP was granted “deeming authority” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 1992 for home health and in 1999 for hospice. In March 2012, CHAP was granted a renewal of their deeming authority for home health for the maximum six-year term. This helps BAYADA fulfill the goal to grow and serve millions of people worldwide.