Volume 9, Number 50 — September 9, 2020
Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,
The virus pandemic that will not go away continues to change the way healthcare is delivered, and to put physical and emotional pressure on those who deliver it. This week, we explore those changes from different angles, with some of our reports aimed at non-medical home care providers, others at home health agencies, and some at both.
Non-medical caregiving is now the single largest profession in the country, when both in-home and residential workers are counted. Not-for-profit advocacy group PHI shared with us their brand new, 36-page report. Read our summary of PHI's research into demographics, pay rates, turnover, and the nearly impossible number of workers that will soon be needed. Then follow our link to the complete report.
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Skilled nursing facilities are losing residents by the thousands, some to COVID-19, some to their homes out of fear of COVID-19. We take a deep dive into the phenomenon and propose steps both home health and home care can take to welcome these SNF refugees.
Data Governance Strategies are what turn data into actionable information. Staff writer Darcey Trescone outlines the importance of managing data, from clinical documentation through management reports. "Having" data is not the same as "governing" data. Wise advice.
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Social Media will bite you...eventually. Guest author Elizabeth Hogue, Esq. offers a harsh warning about corporate liability for what employees do and say online.
CMS News: two important announcements this week. CMS has launched home health quality reporting training. Plus, there is now one "compare" web site instead of separate sites posting the CMS scoring system for hospitals, doctors, home health, and nursing homes.
Reminder: the sponsors you see on this page and on our web site make it possible for us to provide this free information service to the healthcare at home sector. From time to time, click on their graphic displays to see if what they are offering might be exactly what you are looking for.
Speaking of "looking for," if you are beginning a search for an EMR or home care practice management system, for an EVV or telehealth partner, for CRM or OASIS management tools, or for a consultant to help you with any of these, our new service is certain to get you started in the right direction. Our Home Care Technology Buyer's Guide is free. It asks you a few questions about your agency and your current technology search, and it answers with a short list of products that match your needs. Don't waste time calling the 800 numbers of the 40 or more vendors that are wrong for you. Let The Guide find the handful that have exactly what you need. Read up on them in our objective, hype-free company and product descriptions. If you like, The Guide will automatically send them a Request for Information, all filled out with your agency description and the details of your search. Try it today! http://homecaretechnology.info
Have a great, week. Stay healthy and keep making a difference!
Report: Direct Care Workers Now Largest Occupation in U.S.
Still among lowest paid, in-home and residential caregivers outnumber every occupation in the country. 8.2 million more needed in less than 10 years.
Home or Nursing Home? COVID Makes the Choice Clearer
In response to the pandemic, residential facilities are shedding residents and employees. Why shouldn't home health and home care pick up the slack?
The Value of Data Integrity and Governance
Data is not information. From clinical documentation at the point of care to monthly and quarterly reports generated for business intelligence uses, Data Governance Strategies are a necessary management tool.
Social Media Will Bite You!
Can your employees' social media posts on their own page on their own time bring your agency down? An attorney says 'yes.'
CMS News: New Training, New HH Compare
— Home Health Quality Reporting Training announced
— Home Health Compare merged with all other "Compare" databases
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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 38,940,000 Baby Boomers have become Medicare eligible. |
Last Week's Most-Read Stories:
Florida Hospice Selects Netsmart
Rapid Technology Evolution Drives the In-House Skills Needed
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FREE WEBINAR: How Technology Enhances Home Care in an Increasingly Remote World *
Sponsored by: Care Connect
Moderator: Tim Rowan
Panelists: Mike Gelman, President COO, CareConnect; Jim Rolla, SVP, VNSYNY Partners in Care; Steve Pellito, SVP, Provider Sales, Sandata
Date: November 12
Time: 1:00 pm EDT
The 2021 Home Health Final Rule
Insights to position your agency for success
Sponsored by: WellSky
Featuring: Sharon Harder, president, C3 Advisors; Jill Dyer, BSN, RN, HCS-D, HCS-O, president, JID Consulting and Coding, LLC
Date: November 18
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 ESTAttendees will learn:
- How to prepare for and implement the operational changes imposed by the final rule, including submission of no-pay RAPs within five calendar days of the start of care and changes to the types of non-physician practitioners who can order home health services
- The impact of CMS’s decision to retain the PDGM behavioral adjustment
- The status of proposed legislation aimed to allow home health agencies to bill for telehealth services during public health emergencies and how this change would affect care planning and delivery
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
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