Agent Work
If you have been appointed as Power of Attorney or Guardian of a loved one or for a client and are overwhelmed by the responsibility you now bear, or lack the clinical expertise required, you can turn to IKOR for help. As your agent, you remain in control while we handle any administrative tasks or provide the clinical expertise to and help you make the best decisions for your loved one or clients.
Attending Doctor Appointments
Our Registered Nurse Advocates are available to attend appointments with primary care physicians and other medical professionals. Our clients can benefit by having an experienced registered nurse at their side during a doctor’s appointment to help them ask questions, understand treatment options, make sense of the doctor’s instructions, and even answer pertinent questions the doctor may have regarding their medical history or medications.
Following the doctor’s visit, your Registered Nurse Advocate can help arrange follow-up visits, coordinate referrals to specialists, and answer any questions one has following their appointment.
Benefits Review
Surveys routinely find that consumers don’t understand their insurance benefits and are likely leaving money on the table or paying for medical services their insurance should cover. IKOR’s Client Care Specialists are skilled at reviewing insurance policy coverage and explanation of benefits to ensure a beneficiary is receiving the benefits they are due.
Our Client Care Specialists also understand government benefits. They can help guide you through the application process and the appeals process or recommend expert assistance should you have a complex case.
Care Coordination
We improve the lines of communication between primary care physicians, specialists, in-home care providers, and others who are responsible for our client’s health. By ensuring our client’s care team is on the same page, we can improve the efficiency of the delivery of their care and minimize duplicative tests, screenings, or procedures.
Our Registered Nurse Advocates can follow up on lab results, coordinate follow-up appointments or referrals to specialists, and ensure other care providers are aware of any changes in medications or treatment plans.
Comprehensive Care Plan Assessments
IKOR is a trusted partner and service provider to both individuals and families as well as the many medical, financial and legal professionals who serve them. To support the needs for whatever the requirement, as an independent third-party professional, IKOR provides comprehensive care plan assessments and reports which incorporate a detailed review of our client’s medical, environmental, financial, and psychosocial aspects of their care and wellbeing. These assessments look at the specific life goals and objectives of the individual, provide a detailed review of any presenting medical conditions, their ADLs and IADLs, their medication regimen, supporting care providers, and any programs and services that may be available to them. IKOR provides recommendations within each category to promote independence, safety, health and to improve the quality of life for our clients and in a cost-effective manner.
Concierge Services
We know life is busy and that the day-to-day tasks that absorb our time can seem never-ending. Let IKOR take some of the burdens of life’s general demands off your shoulders. Whether it’s arranging a hair appointment, dropping documents off at your attorney’s or tax preparer’s office, or shopping for the perfect outfit for your granddaughter’s wedding, our concierge services combine reliability, personalization, and ease.
Coordinating In-Home Services
In-home care services are becoming increasingly common and play an important role in helping individuals remain safe and independent in the comfort of their homes.
IKOR coordinates across the spectrum of home care services and can help you find the best provider based on your situation. From non-medical in-home care to hospice care, you can trust us to find and manage the best provider in the area for your needs.
Once you have selected a provider, our Registered Nurse Advocate will perform announced and unannounced visits to ensure the highest quality care is being provided and care plans are being followed
Crisis Intervention
When an individual experiences a sudden and unforeseen medical emergency, it can be difficult for family members or close friends to set aside their emotions and work with medical professionals to determine the best course of action.
As part of our patient advocacy, IKOR’s Registered Nurse Advocates are ready to step in during a medical crisis to ensure the patient’s treatment wishes are being honored. Additionally, they help family members understand the treatment options being proposed and the benefits and risks associated with each treatment option.
Durable Power of Attorney
IKOR is experienced serving as the agent for the durable power of attorney for healthcare, finances, or both. Whether you are aging alone and want peace of mind or you want to avoid family politics, our durable power of attorney service ensures you are protected should you become incapacitated and unable to make your wishes known.
Guardianship
IKOR is trusted by the courts to advocate and manage the medical affairs of the most vulnerable in society. Guardianship is an undesirable situation for any individual to find themselves in. However, IKOR and its staff are experts in the field, and are approved under Section 81 Part 36 of the New York State Unified Court System and have served as expert, care manager and service provider on matters under the jurisdictions
To learn how you can avoid court-ordered guardianship, please visit our Essential Life Documents resource page.
Home Safety Assessments
Falls, the majority of which occur within the home, are a leading cause of injury and hospitalizations for those 65 years of age and older. More than one in four older Americans fall each year, and falling once doubles your chances of falling again. In fact, every second of every day within the United States an older adult falls, making these falls the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injuries among older Americans according to the CDC.
Such injuries are largely preventable by identifying specific areas of risk, and ensuring a safe and secure environment within your home. Utilizing our proprietary Home Safety Assessment application, IKOR will conduct a comprehensive 101 point safety check in all areas of your home, and provide you detailed recommendations within each specific living area. IKOR has access to the best contractors and service providers to ensure whatever modifications may be required can be done properly and at a fair price to ensure your safety within your home.
Medical Bill Review
Because medical billing errors have become commonplace, experts recommend not paying a medical bill unless the information on the bill is understood. IKOR, its professionals and partners have the necessary expertise to understand your insurance company’s explanation of benefits or Medicare coverage, ensuring your bill is error-free and you are not being overcharged.
Should we find errors, we can work with the biller on your behalf to correct the mistake.
Medication Analysis
Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading reasons a senior will visit an emergency department. While many believe their doctor or pharmacist monitors their medications for potentially negative consequences, this isn’t always the case, especially if over-the-counter medications or supplements are part of the daily pill regimen.
IKOR can perform a medication analysis to identify which prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements may interact to create an adverse reaction or lead to undesirable feelings, such as fatigue, nausea, or dizziness. When many specialists are involved, it is not uncommon to find duplicate or offsetting medications being prescribed to the patient.
Our Registered Nurse Advocates will work with the prescribing physician to optimize the medications a client is taking. This reduces the likelihood of an adverse reaction and can help lower the overall costs of medications.
Regular Updates & Communication
We pride ourselves on our responsiveness and proactive communication with our clients or their families. Families who find themselves living at a distance from their aging loved ones can gain peace of mind from the updates IKOR provides about their loved one’s care and any changes in their condition.
Treatment Compliance
The fastest road to recovery is following the doctor’s prescribed treatment plan. Poor adherence to a treatment plan can slow recovery or lead to other medical complications, both of which cost the patient money and keeps them from enjoying activities and time with friends and family.
IKOR’s Registered Nurse Advocates can improve an individual’s overall healthcare by helping them follow the treatment plan. Should the anticipated outcomes of the treatment plan occur slower than expected, the Registered Nurse Advocate will coordinate with the doctor to adjust the treatment plan helping to ensure a timely recovery.