Send us a Text Message.When we talk about the shift to value-based care, we talk a lot about concepts like delegated risk, upside and downside bonuses and incentives, and of course, data. On the quality side, we default to using standard patient satisfaction scores and tools as benchmarks for where the conversation starts and ends.In this episode, we take a deeper dive into what quality and a relationship with a patient or consumer might mean. How can we move beyond one CAHPS survey to think ...
Send us a Text Message.Tune in to our latest podcast episode for a rapid response to the final Medicaid Access Rule. Join host Tony Kudner and special guest David Totaro of BAYADA Hearts for Home Care as they dissect the implications of the 80/20 rule on home care providers. From understanding key components to exploring challenges and potential solutions, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of home-based care. Whether you’re a caregiver, administrator or advocate, don’t mis...
Send us a Text Message.How can home health and hospice organizations apply data to provide better patient care? What if data-driven predictive modeling could define with a high degree of certainty that a patient was on the verge of hospitalization … or pinpoint when a patient would die?What do future opportunities look like as artificial intelligence and machine learning make predictive modeling even more accurate and able to adjust predictions in real time as risk factors change?In this epis...
Send us a Text Message.Sometimes it’s good to put two “like minds” in a room and get them talking. You don’t have to ask us twice! Transcend’s Stan Massey and Tony Kudner sit down for a free-flowing conversation about the biggest trends in home-based care over the last 10 to 15 years, and discuss what skills might serve providers well in the years to come.With much of Transcend’s research, we aim to have a discrete point of view and easily digestible takeaways. We want to ensure our insights ...
Send us a Text Message.Data is becoming increasingly engrained and revered in the world of healthcare. And, indeed, data is vitally important in improving medical science, measuring outcomes and proving the value of specific processes.Yet, as data continues to grow in priority, that emphasis can cause patients to feel like a number in an ever-expanding sea of numbers. Going back to Hippocrates, medicine was designed to treat people, not just diseases. In fact, one of the main principles of th...
Send us a Text Message.Value is more than a buzzword in home-based care these days. Agencies know that payers, policymakers and consumers are all expecting it in the care they provide. But where should a hospice or home care agency start when thinking about how to demonstrate that value? How do you create a value proposition when there isn’t yet a roadmap for doing so?It all begins with taking a step back and defining exactly who you’re trying to prove value to: Is it the payer? Is it a healt...
Send us a Text Message.A financially viable home-based palliative care model is driven by appropriate practices, processes and logistics. A big part of establishing successful parameters comes from starting with a sensible staffing model.What are the right roles in a palliative care start-up? How should a provider schedule patient visits? What’s the proper mix of in-person visits versus support by phone or virtual video visits? How does the right level of patient care translate into manageabl...
Send us a Text Message.Most healthcare providers – especially providers of care at patients’ homes – started their organizations offering one particular service line. Whether that original service was home health, hospice, private duty nursing or something else, many organizations felt the need to expand their services and engage with patients for more needs over longer periods of time.When these organizations added even one more service, they often began to talk about their “continuum of car...
Send us a Text Message.Due to the historically weak reimbursement stream from CMS for palliative care, providers often have been conflicted with providing this undeniably helpful service and staying out of the red while doing so.Some hospice providers started their palliative care service line with the mindset that it would be a “loss leader” – they expected to lose money on the service but hoped to build relationships with patients and families sooner, convert them to their hospice care as e...
Send us a Text Message.Most providers of home care are struggling with major staffing shortages – especially among nurses, CNAs and social workers. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of professionals reevaluating their careers, resulting in massive job changes and even “the Great Resignation.” Turnover among many healthcare providers is at record levels.Recently, Transcend Strategy Group and MAC Legacy partnered in a national research project to explore what healthcare workers look fo...
Send us a Text Message.It’s no secret that most seniors in America want to maintain their independence for as long as possible. In fact, according to the Disabled Living Foundation, the majority of seniors say they fear losing their independence more than they fear death.For many, a main hallmark of independence is being able to age in place. A survey by AARP revealed that 90% of Americans age 65 and over want to stay in their home and 80% believe their current residence is where they will li...
Send us a Text Message.COVID-19 magnified the need and desire for patients to stay out of hospitals if possible. A national survey conducted by Transcend Strategy Group revealed that more than 60% of family caregivers had greater confidence in the quality of care provided at home during the pandemic versus care in a facility. Plus, the repeating surges in COVID cases across the country pushed many hospitals to the brink – and sometimes beyond – when it came to inpatient beds available.Cooper ...
Send us a Text Message.COVID-19 ushered in an overwhelmingly stronger preference for patients to receive care at home rather than in a facility. A national survey by Transcend Strategy Group revealed that 60 percent of family healthcare decision makers are now more confident that quality care can be provided at home versus 33 percent feeling more confident in the quality of care at a facility. This preference, along with the growing demand for care as the huge demographic of Baby Boomers...
Send us a Text Message.When most people think of “home care” or “home health,” they think of clinical or skilled therapy services at home. However, as the “Silver Tsunami” of Baby Boomers continue to age, there’s an exponential need for nonclinical home care. By helping with activities of daily living, providing personal monitoring and supervision, serving as a companion, running errands and much more, nonclinical caregivers help seniors age in place with greater independence.Jeff Salter – fo...
Send us a Text Message.Many physicians view palliative care and hospice care as the same service – pain and symptom management for the very end of life. By not referring patients to palliative care early in a disease progression, the patients and their families may be missing out on valuable relief from physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.Annette Collier, MD, FACP – and a medical director for palliative care – has invested more than a decade in educating her physician peers about the ...
Send us a Text Message.Whatever your opinion of the BLM movement, it has thrust the topic of true equality into a searing national spotlight – and has prompted many of us to reflect more deeply on the issue.In addition to risk factors regarding COVID-19 and minority populations, equality considerations have sparked renewed discussions on glaring disparities in healthcare across key demographics. Hospice and palliative care professionals have recognized for decades that minority populations gr...
Send us a Text Message.Palliative care may be the Rodney Dangerfield of healthcare. More accurately, palliative care does get major respect from those who know its value when properly applied – but too few truly understand the power of this specialty.In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Melanie Marien, RPA-C – a nationally certified Physician Assistant and palliative care specialist – discusses how we may overcome challenges to make palliative care a routine part of treatm...
Send us a Text Message.Providers of home health services, palliative care and hospice care often express disappointment and confusion regarding referral patterns by physicians. Many providers feel physicians don’t refer to them as early as they should or may be missing the full benefits they can provide to patients and families alike.What are common key barriers that get in the way of physicians making referrals to home-based care providers? How can providers better educate and communicate wi...
Send us a Text Message.If there are any upsides to COVID-19, catapulting necessary change is one of them. Healthcare already needed innovation before COVID-19 if providers are going to indeed achieve value-based care – and COVID-19 gave a kick in the pants to make some of these changes gain traction.In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Devin Griffith, MPA, MSW – vice president of development and innovation for AuthoraCare Collective – talks about innovations he’s seeing in...
Send us a Text Message.COVID-19’s lockdowns and quarantines magnified America’s awareness of social isolation – especially among our seriously ill and elderly populations.Yet social isolation has been a challenge for many seniors long before this pandemic. One valuable tool in overcoming isolation among seniors is adult day care – if it’s available and affordable.In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Kara Harvey, co-founder and CEO of Elder-Well® Adult Day Program, talks ab...