There's a lot facing the home health agency owner today. Regulations and compliances issues, staffing and managing costs are just some of the few issues that face agency owners and executives. For those operating in competitive home health care markets in large U.S. cities, the challenges can be even greater. Although the long term outlook for home health care is positive and the industry is poised for growth, the daily, short-term business issues facing a home health agency still exist.
As a home health agency owner, you want to be working with a software company that is growing with you. Each agency has specific goals and needs. Is your agency software meeting them all? Here’s a look at the latest areas software agencies are focusing on to help agencies succeed:
Regulation and Compliance. A compliance issue can stop an agency in its tracks. An issue can mar an agency’s reputation and raise issues with CMS. There is already much government scrutiny over home health care providers and it’s growing. The right home health care software will be fully integrated and offer solutions that ensure real-time regulatory compliance; allows users to pass regulatory audits with ease; adopts best-practices; and grow your business worry-free. Built-in billing and financial reports will help providers track claims submitted for accuracy and ensure providers only bill for services provided. The reports ought to be customizable and the software should include automated reports to help grow your business; streamline operations; and ensure compliance.
Speed and Efficiency. Agency owners are continuously challenged by providing excellence in care, yet operating quickly and efficiently. Conversely, efficiency can help and agency’s bottom line, but not at the expense of patient care. For example, when agencies use a clinical scheduler, they are more likely to be in the top 25% in terms of quality as compared to agencies who use a non-clinical scheduler. [i] This is likely why 36% of agencies have a clinical supervisor or schedulers do the scheduling, as opposed to 26% of schedulers who do their own scheduling.
Maintaining Quality Patient Care. Every agency owner knows patient care comes first. For most agencies in smaller communities, it’s a referral business. Keeping up with competitors by delivering quality care means running a tight ship is critical to staying competitive and growing. Is your agency using all available software and technology tools to keep current? An important part of patient care is communication with a patient’s physicians and other care providers. Using software that can interact with multiple providers in different areas can mean the difference between having patient wait days for a diagnosis or prescription or just minutes.
Controlling Cost. Minimizing costs and reducing overall spending is the goal of every agency. But how can it be done effectively without compromising a caregiver delivering the best patient care? Technology is the first step in managing best billing practices. When billers and coders are using up-to-date and comprehensive software, they are working faster. In addition, a software that is tracking mileage using accurate GPS is another way to be more accurate when it comes to reimbursements.
Embracing Technology. Change in everything is inevitable. One of the biggest mistakes and agency can make is continuing to embrace old ways and not adapting to new systems and processes. Formerly, the best way to document visits was obtaining a patient’s signature then scanning that paperwork and submitting it. Now a newer, less time consuming solution is here: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). EVV means a caregiver can automatically check-in at the point of care, making the regulatory process even easier by using real-time check in with a patients signature on a Smartphone or tablet.
If your agency’s software system is addressing all these needs, you’re most likely working smarter and faster. If you feel you need more, contact a home health agency software provider to find out how you can automate more aspects of your business to poise for even greater success.
[i] National State of the Industry Report for Home Health and Hospice 2013-2014, Fazzi Associates
