Hospital Home Health articles from October 2008

Hospital Home Health archives from October 2008

Cyclically deficient HHAs find POC standards challenging.
October 1, 2008... Cyclically deficient HHAs find POC standards challenging Improved communication, emphasis on following POC key to compliance Fifteen percent of Medicare home health agencies were cited for the same certification deficiency on three...

Face-to-face meetings improve communications.
October 1, 2008... Face-to-face meetings improve communications Keep meetings meaningful and short to ensure success Case conferences can be an excellent way to improve communications between staff members and ensure that the plan of care is up to date....

Improve relationship with physician office staff.
October 1, 2008... Improve relationship with physician office staff Ask for their preferences before asking for signatures All you need is a signature. The challenge is tracking down the physician, getting him or her to review your plan of care and...

Managers think outside the box to address cost of gas.(Report)
October 1, 2008... Managers think outside the box to address cost of gas Hybrid vehicles, surcharges evaluated for effectiveness A creative approach to getting travel costs under control will mean an annual savings of least $50,000 for Alegent Health at...

Market basket increases payments by 2.5% in 2009.
October 1, 2008... Market basket increases payments by 2.5% in 2009 Hospices serving Medicare beneficiaries will see a 2.5% increase in their payments for 2009, according to a final regulation published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)....

Divide lease fleet into mileage groups to save.
October 1, 2008... Divide lease fleet into mileage groups to save Using car for personal use keeps program simple The idea of an agency-leased fleet of cars for use by employees might seem overwhelming to some home care managers, but careful planning,...

Show value of case staff to justify adding more.
October 1, 2008... Show value of case staff to justify adding more Managers often asked to do more than they can handle Most case management departments need more staff to adequately perform their duties u but how do you justify it to a hospital...

Making your case for staff.
October 1, 2008... Making your case for staff Explain roles, measures that affect caseload In addition to giving your administration a list of roles, provide specific and detailed definitions and outline the functions your department performs for those...

News Briefs: Formula improves understanding of glucose.
October 1, 2008... Formula improves understanding of glucose Researchers have found a mathematical relationship between two common blood glucose measurements that can help diabetics better monitor their condition. An international study1 describes the...

AHRQ addresses home role during flu pandemic.
October 1, 2008... AHRQ addresses home role during flu pandemic The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has produced a publication to help home health agencies prepare for their role in a flu pandemic. "Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic:...

Case managers: It's your time to shine.
October 1, 2008... Case managers: It's your time to shine Showcase your profession during CM Week Case Management Week, Oct. 12-18, is a great opportunity for case managers in all settings to educate their co-workers and the public about what case...

CNE Objectives/Questions.
October 1, 2008... CNE Objectives After reading each issue of Hospital Home Health, the reader will be able to do the following: 1. Identify particular clinical, ethical, legal, or social issues pertinent to home health care. 2. Describe how those...