Hospital Home Health Archives – November 1, 2002
November 1, 2002
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Don’t ignore biological, terrorist threats in your emergency plan
What would you do if a field nurse reported an unusual rash on several of her patients? What would you do if a bomb caused the closure of major roads usually traveled to reach your agencys patients? How would you stay in touch with field staff and patients if cell phones no longer worked? -
Patient education crucial for emergency planning
As you let your staff members know about changes to your emergency plans, dont forget that patients also need information, says Rita Lapham, RN, director of patients services and owner of Golden Age Home Health in Oklahoma City. -
In an emergency, make sure your staff can be reached
During an emergency, you want to make sure you can call employees to ensure adequate staffing. -
Many factors are part of making HHA referrals
Hospital-affiliated agencies have it easy. They automatically get every referral from their hospital. Right? Wrong, say hospital discharge planners interviewed by Hospital Home Health. -
Are your ads falling flat? Try a different approach
Advertising in the phone book isnt cheap. For some agencies, it represents a major part of their marketing budget, but many home health agency managers still dont believe it is an effective expenditure of money. -
Urge diabetics to quit smoking, exercise more
For both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, weight control, exercise, and elimination of tobacco use are essential for controlling blood sugar levels and minimizing complications, says Faith Thibodeau, MS, RD, LD, CDE, a diabetes educator for Visiting Nurse Service in Saco, ME. -
How do you protect your employees from violence?
Home care providers owe their employees a duty of reasonable care. That is, they are responsible to take reasonable precautions to protect their employees from harm. -
News Brief: HHS releases final HIPAA privacy regulations
You may be proud of meeting the Oct. 16, 2002, deadline for the transaction standards portion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or you may have successfully filed your request for a one-year extension, but it is now time to look carefully at how your agency will comply with the privacy standards. -
News Brief: CMS allows standing orders for vaccinations
Home health agencies now may use standing orders to immunize patients for pneumonia and flu according to a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policy published in the Oct. 2, 2002 Federal Register (Vol. 67, No. 191). -
Patient education crucial for emergency planning
As you let your staff members know about changes to your emergency plans, dont forget that patients also need information, says Rita Lapham, RN, director of patients services and owner of Golden Age Home Health in Oklahoma City. -
Audio conference tackles HIPAA privacy concerns
The recently released final privacy rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) makes significant changes to the existing regulations. With the April 14, 2003, compliance deadline fast approaching, are your staff receiving the proper training? -
2002 Salary Survey: Motivating staff, reducing stress: Important for managers
With all of the changes and new job pressures experienced by home health employees in just the past few years, how do managers stay energized and motivated? Just as important, how do they inspire their staff members to do the same? -
2002 Salary Survey: Homecare revenue up by 10% in 2001
The overall homecare industry revenue growth in 2001 was 10%, which is a decrease of 3% from the revenue growth experienced in 2000, according to results of the 2002 Financial Performance Survey Report, an annual benchmarking survey of financial and management practices conducted by the Alexandria, VA-based American Association for Homecare.