Hospital Home Health Archives – April 1, 2009
April 1, 2009
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Demonstration proves to reduce readmission rates; improve outcomes
Decreasing hospital readmission rates from 28% to 12% for the patients participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration is only one indication that enabling home health patients to attend adult day center programs during their home health episode is beneficial. -
Data analysis to begin in August
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration began in August 2006 and will end July 2009. There is no set date for the final report, but CMS is required to submit the report and recommendations to Congress within eight months of the end of the project, according to a CMS representative. If approved, implementation will begin March 2010. -
Staffing models differ from site to site
The home health agencies participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration had rules to follow regarding patient selection, partnership with adult day centers, and data collection, but they each were given the freedom to staff the program in the manner that worked best for their agency. -
Some surprises uncovered during demonstration
No one was surprised at the amount of public and referral source education needed to get the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Adult Day Services Demonstration off the ground, but there were a few unanticipated challenges faced as home health agencies have recruited patients for the project during the past 2 years. -
'Senior Sensitivity' training helps staff understand
Before they start their job managing the care of senior members, case managers at Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) Health Plan try to sort pills while wearing heavy gloves, strain to understand a speaker whose voice is muffled, and fill out a medical information form while wearing special glasses that simulate vision loss. -
Hospices start down road of quality improvement
A group of 15 Indiana hospices has a two-year head start on all other hospices to meet the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) requirements of the new Conditions of Participation (COP). -
Telephone may be effective in weight loss maintenance
Face-to-face and telephone follow-up sessions appear to be more effective in the maintenance of weight loss for women from rural communities compared with weight loss education alone, according to a report in the Nov. 24 Archives of Internal Medicine. In addition, telephone counseling appears to be just as effective as face-to-to face counseling for weight loss management. -
Are sleepy workers a threat to safety, productivity?
About one-third of 1,000 workers said they had fallen asleep or become very sleepy at work in the previous month, according to a recent National Sleep Foundation survey. -
News Briefs: Family health history tool released by HHS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released an updated and improved version of the Surgeon General's Internet-based family health history tool. The new tool makes it easier for consumers to assemble and share family health history information and helps practitioners make better use of health history information. -
MedPAC does not recommend HH update
Home health agencies will not receive a payment update in fiscal year 2010, according to payment recommendations submitted to Congress by MedPAC.