National Home Care Hospitalization Reduction Findings Released
Dr. Bob Fazzi
It was the largest study in the history of home care on best practices for reducing avoidable hospitalizations. It involved over 800 agencies of all sizes, all auspices, rural and urban and hospital and free-standing. It involved agency leaders in participating in a 30 minute phone interview. And now, the study has been completed and initial findings were unveiled at the 30th Annual NAHC Convention in Las Vegas.
Fazzi Associates was both the designer and facilitator of the study. It was sponsored by Delta Health Technologies and co-sponsored by the National Association of Home Care and Hospice. Leading health care groups ranging from the Joint Commission and CHAPS to the NAHC Forum of State Associations, American Physical Therapy Association, WVMI/Quality Insights and Fazzi Associates were affiliated sponsors. The sponsors along with a national steering committee of industry experts helped to shape the survey, defined the questions and clarified the focus.
The initial findings were presented at the NAHC Annual Meeting. Thanks to Delta Health Technologies, findings will be presented free to the entire home care industry through national webinars in early November. In addition, the best practice report is scheduled for release in early December. Findings to be released include insights into what practices are used most frequently, what practices tend to be more successful and how to best implement the most successful process. Fazzi is incorporating many of the key findings from the Delta Study into our new SafeSide Hospitalization Reduction Program. Stay tuned for special announcements as we move forward.
Reduce the Anticipated Burn of the PPS Proposed Rule with SPF 2012
Jean Ellis
Just because summer is over, the need for protection hasn’t gone away. CMS has released the Proposed Rule which will result in a net decrease in revenues by 3.35% for home health agencies. Many are still reeling and dealing with the 2011 changes and for those agencies that have not yet made any necessary adjustments it’s time to pick up the pace. Fazzi’s recommendation: SPF 2012.
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As changes are made with new clinical applications, telehealth programs, OASIS, coding and rehab tracking requirements often new positions are added “in vacuums” without looking at the whole picture. Data gleaned from our BestWorks benchmarking services provides us with insights as to what the highest performing agencies are doing operationally that sets them apart. Consider an operation review to identify areas that could create more efficiencies and reduce costs in your organization.
OASIS and coding accuracy is a KEY driver of your Medicare revenue. Get it right by assuring that your clinicians are thoroughly and consistently trained and are held accountable for maintaining proficiency. Third party OASIS audits will point out the areas that your team needs help with. Training and competency programs as well as outsourcing your coding or OASIS reviews are other options to meeting these goals. Fazzi Associates is available to assist you in your efforts to end 2011 successfully and begin next year feeling prepared.
Cathy Barr, MBA, RN, CEO of Bethesda Hospital to Speak at Fazzi Leadership Forum
We are pleased to announce Cathy Barr MBA, RN a guest panelist at the 2011 Fazzi Leadership Forum in San Antonio, TX on November 9 – 11, 2011.
Cathy was named CEO of Bethesda Hospital in February 2008. Throughout her career she has applied her medical, communications, and operational leadership skills to a variety of settings including acute care, clinical care, and home health care. Cathy has been with HealthEast since 1998, providing program development innovations and management expertise to a wide array of service areas.
Cathy will be sharing her insights on how home care agencies can partner with hospital and health systems to create mutual success. For more information on Fazzi’s Leadership Forum, click here.