This year has caused many unpredictable changes to occur, and the changing environment at skilled nursing facilities has been no exception. As noted by Skilled Nursing News, the Coronavirus completely changed the way SNFs interacted with third parties – in many cases, existing supplier and provider partnerships evaporated overnight when lockdowns began.1 And so, many…
You’re making your list of possible therapy management software and checking it twice. But how do you know if your skilled nursing facility (SNF) software is naughty or nice? While therapy management software isn’t as simple as choosing between a present or a lump of coal this season, finding the right solution for your business…
Therapists provide the critical benefit of ongoing, in-home care to patients who have recently been discharged from the hospital, are dealing with chronic conditions, or need specialized assistance to improve long-term outcomes. The challenge? Even pre-pandemic, only 54 percent of those referred to home health services actually utilized these care providers.1 COVID-19 has compounded the…
There is no denying that the bond between a human and an animal is often special. And while a good majority of families in the U.S. own a pet, integrating pets in medical care facilities for patient support and recovery is something that has only emerged in recent years. Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted…
It’s pretty safe to say that 2020 was a roller coaster of a year for contract therapists in the home health space. From staying on top of COVID-19 to navigating the transition to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), we’ve had our hands full since we put away the party hats and champagne flutes on January…
In the continued effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently rolled out new requirements for long-term care facilities. While many of us are already doing our part by complying with suggested courses of action, the recommendations have now been upgraded to requirements with some stiff penalties…
In early August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed changes to the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and some aspects of Medicare Part B that could end up lowering reimbursement for physical and occupational therapy. The exhaustive 1,355-page document1 outlined reimbursement, structural, and procedural changes proposed to begin January 1, 2021. While…
The release of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in October of 2019 reshaped the operating landscape for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).1 These new regulatory changes came coupled with new opportunities to leverage data to drive results. By identifying areas where data can be best employed, we’ve seen that managers, owners, and operators can make better…
Juggling many things plays a big role in the contract therapy world. From client needs, to staffing turnover, to logistics, and now PDGM regulation changes— we understand that contract therapists can feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes. We’ve seen over the years that clients can alleviate the added stress and drive efficiency and effectiveness through the…
Evolving compliance regulations for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) create a potential paradox. While the data-driven nature of skilled care — especially during the current global pandemic — demands increased access to digital information that helps inform patient treatments, improve outcomes and implement effective cost-management strategies, these new processes also introduce the potential for compliance compromise. Here’s…