Finding the right therapy management software solution for a SNF business isn’t as complicated as one might think. Effective SNF therapy software shines in four main areas: security, interoperability, responsiveness and reliability. Let’s take a closer look at all of these below.
- Implemented Higher Security for Patients and Therapists
Healthcare data security is an essential component of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules. In particular, the HIPAA Security Rule requires skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and hospitals to assess data security controls by conducting routine risk assessments. ¹ Similarly, facilities must implement a risk management program to address any possible vulnerabilities and enforce the appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health information protected within the EHR.²
Unfortunately, cyberattacks on healthcare organizations are on the rise, with 83 percent of those recently surveyed citing an increase in data breaches.³ Therefore, heightened security is a must. Highly configurable management systems help meet an organization’s unique requirements for SNFs while improving staff efficiency and boosting data security.⁴
2) Improved Interoperability Between Systems
SNF software was built to favor a vitals or medication-based system, not to provide therapy-centered documentation. However, details such as functional improvement and time spent per patient are critical for patient retention and reimbursement. For a skilled nursing facility to provide quality care to each patient — and remain compliant — therapy management software must be easily integrated with the existing SNF EHR.
Simplified interoperability grants nurses instant access to patient therapy information and allows therapists to constructively capture the documentation, codes, and billing necessary to demonstrate functional improvement and receive compensation for their efforts.
Therapy Software Checklist
- Better Responsiveness for Precise Billing
Adjusting to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) has been a major pain point for skilled nursing facilities. Updates to common billing practices have left some facilities scratching their heads to understand the new method of calculating reimbursement. SNFs who have been over-delivering therapy can be left unpaid for services provided beyond the reimbursement level for each resident, and those who have under-delivered may experience poor patient outcomes and potential Medicare audits.⁵
Therapy management software with improved responsiveness can help optimize the reimbursement your facility is due and support precise billing. Proactive regulatory readiness provides facilities with the education and resources they need to tackle industry changes, such as PDPM, months in advance. These features of an effective software solution help safeguard a SNF’s ability to be compliant and thrive.
- Seamless Workflows and Business Insights
With patient and facility performance alike, a lack of data insights makes it difficult to determine a baseline for improvement. Not to mention, unreliable workflows, issues in scheduling, and gaps in documentation can complicate operational decisions.
In comparison, friendly reporting and comprehensive business intelligence tools power actionable insights which can lead to improved operational outcomes. Reliable SNF therapy management software provides access to real-time key performance indicators (KPIs), as well as the industry’s best clinical content library and flexible mobility — both on and offline.
Check out our ebook 7 Considerations When Evaluating SNF Therapy Management Software below for more information on how you can drive your SNF to success.
Net Health® Therapy provides industry’s leading therapy management software across the healthcare continuum, including contract therapy companies, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), assisted living facilities (ALFs), and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Our cutting-edge solutions have been specifically designed to address the challenges faced by therapists operating in skilled nursing facilities, including compliance, reimbursement, scheduling, and patient satisfaction.