Beth Carpenter and Associates: Pathfinder Newsletter

THE PATHFINDER NEWSLETTER
Hello! Welcome to the May 2008 issue of THE PATHFINDER. My sincere thanks to the members of the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care for their warm welcome and excellent conference offerings. We appreciated the opportunity to network with colleagues, meet new people and attend work sessions on timely topics. Those who attended our session on Open Access Hospice were very complimentary and we enjoyed the interaction during our presentation. While at the conference it was my good fortune to meet Audrey Kinsella. Audrey is a "thought leader and educator" in the area of telehealth. She has been an informational resource to many home health and hospice agencies as they explore the uses of telehealth options to better serve their patients. Beth Carpenter and Associates plans on working with Audrey on future projects. We realize that the aging demographics of our country and the decreasing availability of caregivers in the future - particularly a rapidly growing shortage of nurses -demand that we look at options in order to continue to care for our patients. You can learn more about Audrey's work at www.informationfortomorrow.com. This morning I awoke to find that CMS has extended the deadline for the publication of the final rules for the revised hospice conditions of participation. Citing exceptional circumstances, CMS states that they were "not able to meet the 3-year timeline for publication of the final rule due to the complexity of the rule and the large number of public comments we received." The deadline for publication of new COPs, which is expected to be a comprehensive overhaul "because it updates and revises policies, some of which were originally established in 1983, regarding patient assessment, patient care planning and delivery, quality assessment and performance improvement, drug and biologicals management, inpatient care facilities and the role of hospice care in long term care facilities," has been reset to May 27, 2009. In the area of operational management and cost control - I am very excited to include in this month's newsletter an article by our new Senior Associate, Barbara Gray. Barbara, a deeply experienced operations manager, discusses a specific area of expense control - mileage - in light of the soaring cost of gasoline. She gives practical advice on how to manage this high priority area. Recently I received a call from a physician acquaintance of mine who was very upset that a home health agency had refused to accept a friend onto service because there was no able and willing caregiver available. With that conversation still on my mind, I am including this month Elizabeth Hogue's article on "When Are Patients "Unsafe" for Home Care?" No doubt we all have had similar discussions with referral sources. With summer finally upon us, I wish sunny days and warm evenings for all of you...enjoy this weather as long as it is with us! If we can provide you with any assistance , please do not hesitate to contact us. Best wishes, Beth Carpenter

WHERE HAVE ALL THE MILES GONE? By Barbara Gray, Senior Associate Beth Carpenter and Associates There are many ways to come at the challenge of improving the bottom line. While growing the business certainly brings the most kudos from corporate management, boards and investors, trimming costs without sacrificing quality can often be quicker and more predictable. To read the entire article, please click here....WHERE HAVE ALL THE MILES GONE?

WHEN ARE PATIENTS "UNSAFE" FOR HOME CARE? By Elizabeth Hogue, Esq. Discharge planners/case managers are likely to encounter instances in which home care, hospice, and home medical equipment (HME) providers state that they cannot accept patients because they are "unsafe" at home. The use of this term may be confusing to discharge planners/case managers. What is it about patients' homes that make it "unsafe" for them to receive services there? Aren't all patients appropriate for home care? To read further...

Beth Carpenter Beth Carpenter and Associates 847-382-1035 bcarpenter@bethcarpenterandassociates.com Beth Carpenter and Associates has earned a reputation as a company with deep industry experience and one that works closely with its clients to identify solutions that meet their business goals and strategic objectives. We do not simply advise. We partner with our customers to implement the solution and ensure its success. Sincerely, Beth Carpenter

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH? Since 1995 Beth Carpenter and Associates has provided its real-world experience to the management of healthcare companies, especially those organizations with a focus on home health, hospice and private duty, in the areas of operations, clinical services, sales and marketing. We work with management to identify the strategic direction of the organization and implement the necessary changes that allow health care providers to move forward in today's environment. We help you choose the right path to success and then we walk it with you.

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