Areas where technology helps providers cope with the new changes
Identity Management
EMPI solution to detect duplicate records
Duplicate records provide a splintered view of patient’s medical history, leading to unnecessary services/tests putting the patient at risk. In addition, many denials are due to the inability to identify patients correctly based on the data provided. A carefully implemented EMPI solution can help HHAs to minimize the expenses related to unnecessary tests/procedures, record maintenance costs and the possibility of lawsuits.
Digitized and Structured Assessments
DEL to create an electronic, distributable, and centralized resource of CMS assessment data
DEL, is an opportunity for HIT vendors to eliminate the hassles associated with subjectivity and variety of assessments, and bring a structure to unstructured data. Through this, HHAs could compare improvement in a patient’s condition across time horizon and patients with relatable conditions bringing consistency in care provisioning. HHAs must submit standardized assessment data through PAC assessment instruments by the CY 2020 under OASIS submission. While most of the quality measures are already implemented by HHAs, the IMPACT Act introduces functional status and incidents of major falls targeted to be implemented by 2019.
Document Management
Document Management Solution to consolidate documents and promote interoperability
By systematically managing documents with the assistance of technology, providers could dedicate more time in productive patient care. To allow information exchange through remote monitoring, patients should be able to send documents as part of emergency preparedness plan mentioned under CoPs. The educational materials and clinical documents shared with patients by HHAs or physicians promote patient centricity. Besides maintaining the clinical records, a discharge or transfer summary document can help with a smooth transition. Document management is a hectic and costly affair that HHAs need to maintain, and produce when required which could be managed stress-free with the aid of document management solutions.
Plan of Care
Quick information exchange through digitization
Plan of Care helps in assessments and interventions to provide quality care and rectify gaps in care to administer proper care. Digitization will enable quick information exchange and decisive actions promoting enhanced healthcare quality. To facilitate communication with an HHA and a physician, the systems used by both should be interoperable. To do so, the HHA’s EHR can send Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) document to the physician’s EHR. Most physicians have ONC certified EHRs beforehand, so the complete loop is automated.
For more details on Plan of Care, refer to CoP whitepaper.
Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
Enhanced health related decisions to improve healthcare delivery
An EHR used by the aides should support CDS to ensure proper interventions related to the quality of care are triggered using the protocols developed by every agency. Here, they are provided with a checklist to ensure better care decisions, which is in alignment with QAPI requirement necessitating the agency to monitor the improvement of the patient. For QAPI PIP (Progress Improvement Program), proper planning and revision for further maintenance are required.
More on QAPI, here.
Patient portal
Advanced health information engagement to enhance care management
Patients get the most effective care in a patient centric system where they acquire better awareness through the complete care details, which includes the plan of care document, details of patient rights information, and other health information. Enhanced patient portals could empower patients by allowing them to track the progress of care, upload any health information document that can be shared with the home health aides and physicians, send complaints, make payments or initiate transfers easily.
Analytics
Track patient progress to get actionable insights
Tracking patient progress becomes a major component under the QAPI as it provides actionable insights by tracking quality indicators. This aids in analyzing the quality of care and rectifying negligence in care or investigating allegations on negligence in care. Dashboards can be configured to track measurable outcomes and improvements, which would provide insights for the providers as well as motivation for the patients.
Interoperability with Devices
Remote Monitoring devices to reduce quantity of care while maintaining quality
Remote patient monitoring is an effective way to reduce quantity while maintaining quality as it focuses on ‘management by exception’. Advancement in the technology enables staffs at HHAs to spend their resources in a more effective and productive manner. With remote monitoring devices, HHAs can track patient movements, measure vitals, monitor sleep patterns, detect fall and so on. Availing interoperability, the immense data collected by the device could be analyzed for insights using analytical tools.
To discuss further on how to implement this for your system connect with us at info@nalashaa.com.
Vijayalaxmi Kudekar
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- How can Technology Help HHA Providers? - December 1, 2018