Hospital Home Health articles from June 2004

Hospital Home Health archives from June 2004

Boost satisfaction scores with key words and quick response: staff education and involvement are keys to success.
June 1, 2004... One way to make sure discharge planners, physicians, and other referral sources continue to send you new patients is to make sure your patients and their family members are happy with your services. Ensuring your patient satisfaction...

Data can be helpful, but frustrating as well: prioritize analysis to focus on problems.
June 1, 2004... If information is power, and data are information, then home health managers may be the most powerful people in the world. Or should we say, home health managers are the most overwhelmed people in the world? One way to transform yourself...

Health workers need influenza immunization: APIC calls for increase in low rates.(Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology )
June 1, 2004... In response to the unacceptably low influenza immunization rates among health care workers, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) issued specific recommendations to health care facilities to develop and...

Report links nursing care to patient safety: overworked staff can affect patient safety.
June 1, 2004... Do nurses at your agency complain they are overworked and understaffed? If so, you may have a bigger problem than retention on your hands--compelling new evidence suggests poor nursing conditions put patients in danger. Patients may be...

Q&A.(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act )
June 1, 2004... [Editor's note: This column addresses specific questions related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) implementation. If you have questions, please send them to Sheryl Jackson, Hospital Home Health, P.O. Box 740056,...

Changes for Medicare termination notices.(Legal ease: understanding laws, rules, regulations)
June 1, 2004... A recent ruling in Healey v. Thompson may mean that home health agencies (HHAs) will be required to provide notice to Medicare patients whenever services are reduced or discontinued for any reason. That lawsuit was filed in 1998 just after...

Target marketing to baby boomers: aim to reach the decision makers.(Legal ease: understanding laws, rules, regulations)
June 1, 2004... Educating physicians about the cost-effective, high-quality care provided by your agency is only half of the marketing equation. Patients are the other half; and in many ways, they're a tougher nut to crack. While most home health care...

CMS to slow payments of noncompliant claims.(for Medicare & Medicaid Services )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Beginning July 1, 2004, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will pay claims no earlier than 27 days after receipt of the claim instead of the current 14 days, if the claim is not compliant with the Health Insurance Portability...

10 most common health care mistakes by seniors.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Based upon information gathered for educational courses and books, the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) in La Habra, CA, has identified the 10 most common health care mistakes made by seniors. "Seniors are enjoying themselves and...

Self-disclosure reduces penalties.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A hospital in Greenville, SC, will pay nearly $9.5 million to resolve Medicare billing improprieties from 1997 through 1999 in its home health, hospice, and durable medical equipment programs, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced...

Improving outcomes in pain management.
June 1, 2004... Kathleen Rose, RN, MSHSA, president and CEO of Vineyard Nursing Association, and Sandi Corr-Dolby, RN, clinical director of Vineyard Nursing, will present "How to Integrate Pain Standards and Palliative Care Principles into a Home Care Agency:...

CE questions.
June 1, 2004... 9. How did Baptist Health Home Health address the problem identified by patient complaints related to misunderstandings of financial obligations, according to Ann Roberson, RN, MSN, CNS, director of the agency? A. Set up a telephone...