Zero deficiency surveys are within reach with Deborah Wesley, RN, BN, MSN, MHA, CEO at Addison County Home Health & Hospice, and Janell Solomon, Director of Compliance at Sangre de Cristo Community Care

In the latest episode of the Post-Acute POV podcast, our host, Jessica Rockne, Associate Director of Product Strategy, is joined by Deborah Wesley, RN, BN, MSN, MHA, CEO at Addison County Home Health & Hospice, Janell Solomon, Director of Compliance at Sangre de Cristo Community Care, and Debbie Goings, Advanced Specialist, Customer Support Consultant at MatrixCare.

Their conversation delves into strategies for maintaining compliance and optimizing care in post-acute care. The group covers key topics such as ensuring data connectivity for field staff, the importance of individualized care plans, and practical tools to ensure documentation is thorough and survey ready. Listen in as the panelists stress the value of training surveyors on using the EMR system, making documentation accessible, and using real-time analytics to support fast, efficient reviews.

Topics discussed during today’s episode:  

1. [00:32 – 05:23]: Jessica Rockne, introduces our guests: Deborah Wesley, Janell Solomon, and Debbie Goings. Deborah emphasizes proactive survey readiness, with lessons from the pandemic about maintaining workflows. Janell discusses the importance of accessible policy and procedure manuals, advising agencies to streamline compliance efforts to focus on meaningful actions.
2. [05:23 – 11:03]: Deborah explains how her agency integrated the policy manual and other tools into their EHR on iPads, making compliance resources easily accessible for field staff. Janell shares an example of a staff member's documentation error and the importance of following protocol precisely, especially for critical tasks like seizure protocols.
3. [11:03 – 15:41]: Janell describes Sangre’s approach to mock surveys, focusing on manageable audits led by different staff to ensure thoroughness. Deborah details using surveyor guidance and conducting impromptu visits to simulate real survey conditions.
4. [15:41 – 20:03]: Deborah highlights tools like speech-to-text and coding services that improve efficiency and documentation accuracy. Janell details the benefits of their EHR system, which enhances efficiency and compliance, with surveyors impressed by ease of use and integration of tools like HIPAA-compliant texting.
5. [20:03 – 26:02]: Deborah and Janell discuss the critical nature of ensuring data connectivity for field staff, where cellular-enabled devices and Wi-Fi allow seamless data access even in remote areas. Janell highlights the importance of individualized care plans to ensure compliance with care standards, using tools like laminated cards for staff. Debbie Goings adds that surveyors often check documentation against care plans during compliance audits.
6. [26:02 – 30:51]: Deb discusses using a wound care consultant and later an in-house wound care specialist, ensuring all policies are compliant and contracts are clear for surveyor review. Janell recounts how quick EMR training sessions with surveyors improved efficiency.
7. [26:16 – 32:59]: Deb notes that during recent surveys, they could show low wait times and maintained staffing, crediting MatrixCare's remote work tools with improving work-life balance for staff.
8. [33:01 – 39:15]: The group closes out their discussion by detailing challenges with goal specificity in documentation, such as measurable objectives and clear timelines in patient care plans, ensuring that goals are specific to individual patients.

Resources  

• Learn more about MatrixCare at: https://www.matrixcare.com/ 
• Find out more about Addison Home Health & Hospice: https://www.achhh.org/
• Find details on Sangre de Cristo Community Care: https://www.sangre.org/
• Listen to more episodes of the Post-Acute POV  

Disclaimer  

The content in this presentation or materials is for informational purposes only and is provided “as-is.” Information and views expressed herein, may change without notice. We encourage you to seek as appropriate, regulatory and legal advice on any of the matters covered in this presentation or materials.  

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