If You Could Give Your Rehab Department a Star Rating, What Would it Be?

How Would You Rate Your Rehab Department?

If your answer isn’t a solid 4-Star or better, it might be time for a long discussion, or possibly a change or overhaul of how your services in your rehab department are being delivered.  If you can’t give them at least the high school equivalent of a B+, you’ve got some valid issues to discuss and work to be done.

Amidst the enormity of never ending and changing federal and state policies, issues, mandates and initiatives that affect our long-term care industry, we must begin to expect our partners (a.k.a. our vendors, business associates and internal departments) to accept a portion of the burden and help our SNF facilities move forward.

I’ve spent the last 26 years working both directly for SNF’s and other providers, as well as the last sixteen years in contract rehab, auditing and risk management. I have seen a lot of great…and not so great therapy departments. I have assisted in cleaning up a fair amount of therapy programs, and I’d like to share just a few pointers on what to look for, and how to begin.  In essence, what qualities or attributes should you look for?

I’m sorry, but fancy equipment, lovable therapists, low rates and glossy sales binders simply don’t make the difference between success and mediocracy these days. I hear it all the time. Let me share a verbatim statement from one of my old cases.

“Oh, we just really love Ruth Ann, our therapy manager.  She is just wonderful.  I don’t get any reports or hear anything from the corporate office, but I love our therapy team.”

Not. Good. Enough.

It’s 2017 people!  7 days a week is a standard expectation.  Therapy managers in the morning meeting and care plans should be a given. Competent therapists that are skilled in the treatment of older adults is a no-brainer. This is basic stuff. What I am asking you to do is dig deeper. Look at the systems, look at the foundation of this partner. What have they done for you lately? And what are they doing for you tomorrow to compliment the objective and vision for the future of your building?

Here is what your therapy provider should be doing for you…

  • Complete transparency as a Partner; if a reimbursement changes, address it then so you aren’t on the losing end, such as in Managed Care contracts.
  • Case mix support. They should know your state’s system, and identify routes to help improve and maintain this.
  • Extensive programming and protocols, especially for those diagnosis most prominent in your mix.
  • Full auditing services (and not by someone with a vested stake for it to look “good”).
  • Complete ADR and Denial support.
  • Marketing, and not just talking about it, but doing it.
  • Tracking and reporting your Outcomes. Value based is coming, it’s time to be prepared.
  • Provide you with hospital reports for your feeder hospitals, including re-hospitalization numbers.
  • QM and QAPI active participants.
  • NOT turn a blind eye on your behavioral and dementia patients. They have needs, too, and the therapists should be trained on programming and techniques.
  • PUF analysis and a plan of correction if they are putting you at risk.
  • PBJ uploads.
  • Management of the Program and Staff! If that Regional or Manager above the building level isn’t there regularly, there is an issue.  Not everything can be seen, completed or corrected remotely.

A culture of stewardship and servitude involving real people that are  true partners that exhibit  forward thinking, progressive and strategic ideas and with the momentum for actual implementation, are the cornerstones that effectively help drive SNF providers forward and upward in service and success . This success is triggered and facilitated by not only your internal team but also your vendors, especially rehab. These areas are what can truly, ultimately make the difference between being a 3-star building and a 5-star building.  It determines being financially viable or struggling with odious and resource-draining factors such as audits, tags and/or reduced census.

If you take nothing else away from this short statement, please just take the time to look closely, seek outside help or assistance, or at least review your current status in all areas.  You may be surprised at what a difference a few changes can make.

HTS is your partner in therapy. If your facility or company would like a free financial and clinical analysis or consultation, contact us.

GUEST BLOG:

Kerry Wright, OTR/L
Executive Director of Business Development and Southern Operations
Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc.
kerry@htstherapy.com

 

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Managing Painful Arthritis with Exercise

Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Arthritis is a condition defined by painful
inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Exercise may be the last thing on a person’s mind when suffering
from arthritis. But exercise is absolutely crucial. A person may think exercise will aggravate their joint
pain and stiffness, but that’s not the case. Lack of exercise can actually make your joints even more
painful and stiff.

Exercise can:

• Strengthen the muscles around your joints
• Help you maintain bone strength
• Give you more energy to get through the day
• Help you control your weight
• Enhance your quality of life
• Improve your balance

Keeping muscles and surrounding tissue strong is crucial to maintaining support for your bones.
Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles, creating more stress on your joints. Exercise is
considered the most effective non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients.

How Therapy Can Help!
Although exercise is extremely important in managing arthritis symptoms, it may be hard to get started
and to maintain an exercise program. Overcoming the hurdles of pain, exhaustion, or boredom can be
very difficult, especially on your own. A physical or occupational therapist can help you to overcome
these hurdles and gain success in maintaining your exercise routine.

Physical therapists evaluate your needs and teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility,
muscle strength and fitness. Physical therapists can also recommend exercises for you to do on your
own. These exercises might include; range-of-motion exercises, aerobic exercise and strength training.
Occupational therapists can also help by teaching you how to protect and reduce stress on your joints
while exercising and performing daily tasks. Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of both
physical and occupational therapy for your arthritis needs!

Sources: Arthritis Foundation

Understanding the Impact of Aging on Communication

Communication is an important life skill that connects us to those around us. The ability to communicate effectively is important at any age, but for older adults it can be absolutely vital. Older adults need to be able to successfully describe what they need in order to avoid emergency situations. Speech Therapy can be a valuable tool for adults struggling with communication.

As people age, normal changes occur in their speech, language, memory, and swallowing. Vocal cords can become less elastic and larynx muscles can weaken, making it difficult to talk in a manner they are accustomed to. In addition to speech issues associated with normal aging, older adults may experience complications with communication or swallowing due to their heightened risk of dementia, Parkinson’s
disease, or stroke.

Common Signs of Communication Barriers

At Healthcare Therapy Services our Speech-Language Pathologists can assist in differentiating between normal aging and disordered communication or swallowing function. We also provide vital services to those who have communication, cognitive, or swallowing impairments following illness, trauma, or disease.

MAY IS BETTER HEARING & SPEECH MONTH
Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role Speech Therapists play in providing life-altering treatment.

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Occupational Therapy’s Role in Dementia Care

Dementia is a result of damage to the brain, resulting in impaired brain function and cognition. The onset of dementia is gradual and can progress over several years. Alzheimer’s disease, which makes up 60% – 80% of dementia cases, primarily affects people over 65 years of age. Common signs of dementia include; decreased short-term memory, decreased problem solving skills, decreased perceptual skills, and personality changes. Read more

After a Joint Replacement – Therapy’s Role in Recovery

These days, damaged joints can be safely removed and replaced with new ones via a surgical procedure known as joint replacement surgery. Joint replacements are a fairly common procedure with more than 1 million patients in the U.S. undergoing joint replacement surgery every year.

The functionality of joints can be affected by a number of factors, including injuries, arthritis, and various other chronic diseases. In more than a few cases, joint damage may be the result of extreme wear and tear. Replacing damaged joints can improve mobility, alleviate pain and discomfort and enable patients to feel and move much better. Read more

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Antioxidant Rich Foods Promote Healthy Aging

Heart disease causes more deaths in the United States than cancer, AIDs and car accidents combined. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women, claiming the lives of almost two people per minute. Keeping our hearts healthy is important and can be done with regular doctor visits, regular exercise and having a well balanced diet, filled with antioxidant rich foods to help avoid free radical damage. Read more

National Glaucoma Month

Did You Know?
Over 3 million Americans have glaucoma but only half know they have it.
Glaucoma can cause blindness if left untreated.

 

Glaucoma and How It Affects Vision

Glaucoma is caused by high intraocular pressure (high pressure of fluid inside the eye) and can decrease vision without warning. Glaucoma is one of the most common illnesses affecting the optic nerve. The optic nerve’s job is to transfer visual information to the brain, so when high intraocular pressure occurs, the optic nerve compresses, causing cells to die and vision to permanently decline. Read more

Staying Active During Winter

Staying active during the winter months can be challenging. The days get shorter, the nights get longer and well… it’s COLD! Although it may be tempting to curl up on your couch, it’s important to keep your exercise routine alive. The advantages to regular exercise far outweigh hibernating all winter. Also, did you know exercise can also boost your mood? Exercise helps keep those ‘winter blues’ away and increases your energy level so you can get more restful sleep at night.

Tips For Staying Active During Winter

Even if you don’t have a workout planned for the day, try to think of some way to be active. Here are some
examples of planned and unplanned ways to stay active:

Inside:

  • Walk the mall. Since most malls open before their shops do, you can get your walking workout in while doing some window shopping.
  • Visit a health club. Choose a gym that’s convenient and ask staff how to use the equipment when unsure.
  • Join a class or sports league. Workingout with others is a helpful way to keep us motivated. With a little research, you can find classes/teams through community organizations, health clubs and other groups.

At Home:

  • Try a workout DVD. You could buy, rent or borrow. Scouring the internet for workouts suitable for you can help keep your routines fresh, too.
  • Create a home gym. This can be as simple as weights and bands, or if space and funds allow, you can invest in some practical, enjoyable and easy-to-use exercise equipment.
  • Keep cleaning. Sweeping, vacuuming and scrubbing can burn more calories than you may think.

Outside:

  • Play in the snow. Building a snowman is a fun, simple way to get moving.
  • Walking. You can continue your normal routine if you wear the proper attire. Pay attention to your
    extremities, too. Exercising pulls blood to your core and away from extremities, including those areas
    most susceptible to frostbite: fingers, toes and ears. Be sure to keep these areas covered, as well as your head, since that’s where most of our body heat escapes.

Safety Tips

Daytime: Remember your sunscreen. Snow reflects the sun’s rays, making sunburn possible even in the winter.
Nighttime: Wear a reflective outer layer. If the surface of the ground is uneven due to weather conditions, choose footwear with enough traction to prevent falls.

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

According to the Alzheimer Society, almost 40 percent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. When there is no underlying medical condition causing this memory loss, it is known as “age-associated memory impairment,” which is considered a part of the normal aging process. Read more

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Exercise for Your Mind, Body and Soul!

Your body was designed to move and WANTS you to exercise! The good news is that beginning an exercise program at any age has many benefits. Read more