History of the HomeCare Association of Arkansas

In 1980, a small group of Arkansas Home Care providers recognized the need for a professional association to represent the interests of home care agencies. The Arkansas Association of Home Health Agencies (AAHHA) arose from these discussions.

The Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) provided assistance to the newly formed association. The success of the Arkansas Association of Home Health Agencies was due in large part to the generosity, support and hard work of the staff of AHA.

The first meeting of the fledgling association was held in 1981 at St. Vincent with Ben Light presiding. The Health Department, Area Agencies on Aging, Hospital-base Home Health, Non-Profit Home Health and Proprietary Home Health Agencies were represented. Bylaws were written at this meeting to ensure that all the above auspices were given fair and equal status. Betty Maddox served as the first association president.

The goals of AAHHA were quickly established:

• To foster high standards of patient care in home health agencies.
• To provide an organized and unified voice for home health agencies.
• To provide an exchange of information with those interested in home health services and total care.
• To interpret home health services to governmental bodies affecting the delivery and financing of home health services.
• To promote consultation and disseminate information.
• To encourage cooperation with existing organizations at national, state and local levels.
• To initiate, sponsor and promote educational programs and research.

As the association grew, an avenue to allow greater local participation was needed. The association created a district form of organization. Again, representatives from the various auspices and areas of Arkansas met to determine what form of organization would best serve the needs of the members. Seven districts were established: Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Metro, Arkansas Valley, Southwest, and Southeast.

As the organization grew, the need to expand the membership of the association to include all types of providers became evident. Often home health agencies worked with IV therapy and home medical equipment companies to provide care for individual patients. Many home health agencies had their own hospices or worked with local hospices to provide continuity of care. Discussions with representatives of IV therapy companies and home medical equipment companies and hospices were begun. In 1993 the association changed its name to the HomeCare Association of Arkansas (HCAA), created additional Board of Director positions to include representatives of the home medical equipment, IV therapy and hospice segments of the industry.

The HomeCare Association of Arkansas has grown tremendously as a professional association since its inception in 1980. The association continues to meet the challenges of the future with an unwavering commitment to its membership, the state, the nation and those whom its members serve.