Volume 9, Number 50 — December 2, 2020
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
Did you know that every article we have published since 2005 is still available for researchers? Employers often send new hires to our article search feature at http://homecaretechreport.com to study our sector's recent history. Try it! Just enter 1, 2, or 3 key words and click "Search Now."
We have heard your complaints. There are not enough care workers for home care agencies and not enough nurses for home health. In the second of our series exploring your dilemma and searching for solutions, staff writer Darcey Trescone, RN shares her research into recent literature on the nursing side of the problem. Her suggestions for retaining good nurses applies equally to non-nurse caregivers. Click below on "Nurse Job Satisfaction Increases Retention."
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As I write this, the COVID-19 pandemic has become worse than it was last spring. The U.S. is recording a daily COVID death count equal to Japan's total deaths since the virus appeared, over 2,000. Last spring, sending home healthcare and hospice staff to work from home became the norm. We did a study then of the cyber security dangers that arise when home networks are not as secure as office networks and found it alarming. Now, with the COVID resurgence, the danger is back but may be worse. International hackers are more practiced at attacking vulnerable home networks and can get through them into any network to which they are connected. Oh, you have firewalls and virus software? They do not help when a home worker clicks on a phishing email that appears to be from Amazon or Verizon or their own bank but is not.
So we are renewing our original warning and adding a new one: Healthcare, it seems, is getting hit by 25 percent of all ransomware and other breaches. If you are sending people home to work, please take a look at our two articles on the subject this week. "Working From Home Poses Major Security Risks...Again" and "Healthcare Prime Target for Pandemic Opportunist Cyber Attacks."
Our friends at Netsmart agree with us about the urgency of this problem. Scroll down to our Upcoming Events section to register for "Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Assess Threats & Reduce Your Risk." It is free and set for December 9.
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Did you find yourself getting hopeful when CMS announced the loosening of telehealth regulations so it can be used for more patients, even after the pandemic subsides? We did too, until we read the entire announcement. In one of my infrequent editorials, I critique Seema Verma's decision to make it easier for hospitals to treat people at home while ignoring the industry that has been doing exactly that for 120 years. My opinion piece is titled, "CMS Snubs Home Health in New Telehealth Rules." We have also reprinted the reaction to the CMS Final Rule by the American Telemedicine Association, which faults the new regulations for different reasons.
With the changes coming to PDGM in January, a number of experts are offering instructional webinars. KanTime is offering "Home Health Final Rule: Preparing for the No-Pay RAP" on December 10. And if you hurry, you can still register for the December 3 free webinar from Healthcare Synergy, "2021's Most Vital Home Health Regulation Changes." Scroll down to our Upcoming Events section for details.
Have great week. Keep making a safe, masked difference!
Nurse Job Satisfaction Increases Retention
The current nursing shortage is only going to get worse as the population ages. Staff writer Darcey Trescone, RN, BSN, offers deep research into the causal relationship between job satisfaction and worker longevity. What causes satisfaction? Darcey explains that as well.
Working From Home Poses Major Security Risks...Again
COVID numbers are up again. Workers are heading back home. Hackers are licking their chops. We found a new, easy to use VPN from Microsoft that could prevent a PHI disaster.
Healthcare Prime Target for Pandemic Opportunist Cyber Attacks
Healthcare was the target of 25% of SSL-based hacker attacks in 2020. Without defensive measures, It could get worse in 2021.
CMS Snubs Home Health in New Telehealth Rules
Announcing "regulatory flexibility" to increase care in the home, Administrator Seema Verma makes it easier for hospitals to do what you have been doing for 120 years. She outlined a program of more telehealth payments to hospitals.
American Telemedicine Association Responds to CMS Telehealth Expansion
It is not only home health and hospice that find the latest CMS final rule on telehealth expansion less than expansive.
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During the 4th Quarter of 2020, web sites of the above advertisers were visited by home care and hospice executives and staff 4319 times. To inquire about placing your message here, contact: Kristin@rowanresources.com As of this date, approximately 39,864,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Retaining And Growing The Direct Care Workforce
Documentation in Order to Manage Risks: Part I
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FREE WEBINAR: Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Assess Threats & Reduce Your Risk
Presented by: Netsmart
Featuring: Randy Pargman, Binary Defense senior director of threat hunting and counterintelligence; Sharon Hicks, MBA, MSW, OPEN MINDS senior associate; and Mike Murray, Netsmart director of Plexus Technologies,
Date: December 9
Time: 1:00 EST
Healthcare organizations are often at risk of cyberattacks due to a lack of dedicated IT and reliance on traditional reactive approaches. To learn how to protect your data, register now to join Randy Pargman, as they map the risk landscape and provide guidance for safeguarding your organization.
Key takeaways:
• Cyber threats in healthcare
• Impacts of a data breach
• Best practices for securing your data
FREE WEBINAR: Can you collect Cash faster?Sponsored by: Savii
Date: Tuesday, January 12
Time: 2:00 pm EST
With small margins in home care it has prompted the question, “Can we collect cash faster?” And what would this do for an agency? One thing we know is margins are small and have become more challenging than ever to for agencies to profit. This doesn’t mean it impossible for agencies to survive; it means a focus on collecting cash faster will be ever so important.
Agency leaders will first need to develop a timeline cadence of when to address claims based on when they were submitted for payment. In addition it will be pertinent to understand their own agency metrics such as DSO (Daily Sales Outstanding) and how they compare to industry standards.
On this webinar you will walk away with how to develop a timeline and your own DSO dashboard for benchmarking. All of these topics will weave into strategic steps to take toward collecting cash flow faster.
FREE WEBINAR: Return to Work under COVID-19
Presented by: Healthcare Synergy
Featuring: David Mauzey, SVP & General Manager, HealthPointe SolutionsDate: January 14
Time: 11:00 - 11:30 PST
The COVID pandemic has evolved, initial processes in place ensure a safe work force environments but need to evolve to stay effective and efficient. Home health has an extra layer of scrutiny given the population may be at a higher risk. This webinar will focus on how an organization can evolve to keep their workforce and patients safe. HealthPointe Solutions has a full inventory of new and advanced recommendations that help implement and maintain site safety. This includes step-by-step guidance that include medical testing administration strategies, patient/employee monitoring, training/education and program auditing.
Objectives:
David Mauzey has over 25 years' experience in healthcare, helping bring operational efficiency solutions to both providers and payers. Within HealthPointe Solutions, he is responsible for operations and was a part of the team that developed HealthPointe Solutions’ COVID response solutions. Prior to joining HealthPointe Solutions, David served as VP and GM of Optum's Network Payment Innovation, where he focused on alternative payment programs, including bundle d payments and population-centric, value-based programs.
FREE WEBINAR: The Rise of Hospital at Home: A Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by: AlayaCare
Featuring: Dr. Bruce Leff, Hospital at Home Pioneer & Professor, John Hopkins School of Medicine; Adrian Schauer, Founder and CEO
AlayaCare; Joel Theisen, Founder and CEO, Lifesprk; Brady Murphy, VP Sales & Marketing, AlayaCareDate: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 1:00 EST
Information and RegistrationAgenda
Across the U.S., the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative from CMS is taking off amid the pandemic with at least 80 approved participants to date. As hospital-at-home models become more popular and more beneficial to both patients and health care organizations, those that have recognized the perks of home-based care prior to the COVID-19 crisis may have the upper hand.
Join us on Wednesday, Jan 27th at 1:00 pm EST for a roundtable discussion with industry experts such as Dr. Bruce Leff, Hospital at Home Pioneer and Professor at John Hopkins School of Medicine who deserves his reputation as a founding father of this virtual hospital concept, to learn about the hospital-at-home model and its impact on the home care industry.
FREE WEBINAR: 5 Key Elements of a Successful Home Health Remote Patient Monitoring Program
Presented by: Amity Healthcare Group
Featuring: Irina Gorovaya, owner and president of Amity Healthcare Group; Erin Vallier, AlayaCare Account Executive; Kaila Raimondo, AlayaCare Solution Engineer
Date: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 2:00 pm EST
Information and Registration
Agenda:
Explore key factors and solutions necessary for successful deployment of patient remote monitoring program in home health.
The discussion will include policies and procedures, documentation, staff education, and telehealth equipment and solutions.
FREE WEBINAR: Rubber Meets the Road with the No-Pay RAP
Sponsored by: KanTime & BlackTree Consulting
Featuring: Nick Seabrook, Managing Principal and Founder, BlackTree; Kim Spence, RN, Director, KanTime Customer Success; Greg Lotz, Director, KanTime Marketing & Sales Technology
Date: February 4
Time: 2:00 ESTAGENDA:
Re-visit regulatory changes and how they have impacted agencies. Plus, tips and tricks to stay ahead of the curve.
Virtual Conference: Winter Leadership Summit
Presented by: National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Date: February 23, 2021
Homecare 100 *
Presented by: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership
Date: June 27-30, 2021
Venue: JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, FL
https://www.homecare100.com/
*The Rowan Report will see you there.
Your state or national association meeting or webinar not listed? Send the details to Conferences@RowanResources.com using this format:
Conference Title
Sponsoring Association
Date(s)
Hotel or Conference Center, City, State
URL
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