Hospital Home Health articles from September 2004

Hospital Home Health archives from September 2004

Tracer methodology focuses on the care of patients, not paperwork: pay less attention to manuals, more to safety goals.
September 1, 2004... Midcycle self-assessments, tracer methodology, and less emphasis on examination of policy books are signs that the new survey process implemented by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is truly different from...

JCAHO's new safety goals routine for most HHAs: medications, falls, timely reports top list of goals.(2004 Circle of Life Award)(Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
September 1, 2004... Medication safety, improved communications, and reduction of falls are among the new additions to the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations 2005 National Patient Safety Goals. The majority of the safety goals,...

Be on guard for avian flu threat, CDC advises: flu has pandemic potential, high mortality.
September 1, 2004... If infectious disease specialists used a color-coded alert system, the color would be yellow, for elevated. And it's edging up to orange. While the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has subsided, public health experts are...

CMS proposes extending patient choice regs.(Legal Ease: understanding laws, rules, regulations)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
September 1, 2004... As many providers already know, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) requires hospitals to share with each patient as part of the discharge planning process a list of available home health agencies (HHAs) that: * are Medicare-certified;...

Are you missing serious illness in older patients? Improve assessment of geriatric patients.
September 1, 2004... An elderly woman presents with a chief complaint of constipation, with few symptoms of acute abdomen. Would you suspect appendicitis in this patient? You may find a misleadingly benign physical assessment in older patients, despite the...

WV plan helps elderly stay in their homes.(West Virginia care plan )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A West Virginia plan to help elderly and disabled individuals remain in the community and out of institutions has been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Approval of this home-and-community-based waiver program...

List of resources aids HIPAA compliance.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... One of the most comprehensive lists of documents that provide guidance to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance can be found in a white paper produced by the Health Care Security Workgroup, a combination of...

Homebound definition test chooses three states.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Missouri, Colorado, and Massachusetts are the three states in which a demonstration project designed to test a more liberal homebound definition will occur. Scheduled to begin in October, the demonstration that was authorized by the 2003...

Providers receive award for palliative care.(2004 Circle of Life Award )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Ten health care organizations were honored on July 26th at the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Health Forum's annual Leadership Summit in San Diego for their innovative palliative and end-of-life care programs. Receiving the 2004...

Audio conference gets your agency ready for flu.(Get Ready For Influenza Season: What You Need to Know About the Threat, Diagnosis and Treatment)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Brace yourself: Flu season is right around the corner. Are you prepared? If an influenza pandemic hits, the entire U.S. population could be at risk. The annual impact of influenza on the United States is staggering. Ten percent to 20% of the...

CE questions.
September 1, 2004... This concludes the CE semester. ACE evaluation form has been included with this issue. Please fill out and return in the envelope provided. 21. What is one way to ensure your home health agency's emergency plan will meet the Joint...