Medication management is very important to the health and safety of our patients and clients. Here are five questions to assist caregivers with making sure clients and their families stay safe using and being around medications.
Did You Know?
Medication side effects can impact thinking and balance. Often, the professional caregiver is... Keep Reading
The Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) Palmetto, Cigna Government Services (CGS) and National Government Services (NGS) set disease-specific criteria for eligibility for cardiac disease that include assessing the non-disease specific criteria alongside the disease-specific criteria. As with all diagnoses for hospice patients, the eligibility is determined by the physician’s narrative statement... Keep Reading
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) is a payment reimbursement model that was introduced to the home health industry in 2020, an impactful revision on a system that hadn’t been altered in 20 years. This change did not affect the Conditions of Participation, OASIS regulations, or ICD-10 coding guidelines, nor did... Keep Reading
Over the past decade, competition in the private duty home care industry has been heating up as the senior population grows and the need for in-home care increases. According to Home Care Pulse, the number of home care companies with an annual revenue of $5 million or more has doubled... Keep Reading
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is not required to be enrolled in hospice care. However, many providers believe it to be the most appropriate treatment choice for patients, given the severity of their condition. Hospice patients and family members often share this misconception because they see dramatizations in the... Keep Reading
As technology becomes more a part of providing care in the home, a home care software is only as good as its ability to streamline processes. One area of importance to home care agencies, both enterprise-level and smaller businesses, is maintaining a seamless billing process through technology and automation. In... Keep Reading
May is Mental Health Month in the United States, and Axxess joins the national movement to promote the importance of mental health. Throughout the month of May, organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) run campaigns dedicated to increasing mental health awareness, providing tools to support mental wellness,... Keep Reading
If you manage a home health agency (HHA), it may seem like the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) has turned your world upside down. But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Implementing process changes to adhere to PDGM requirements is helping some of our clients tackle one... Keep Reading
Medications are crucial for many people to perform daily activities that might otherwise be difficult. As we age, more medications are often required, and our bodies may handle medications differently than when we were younger, such as the liver and kidney function. This can affect the length of time it... Keep Reading
The scrutiny by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on general inpatient (GIP) level of care over the last few years has many agencies concerned about providing any level of care other than routine home care (RHC) for the vast majority, if not all, of their patients. Indeed, the... Keep Reading
The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey empowers hospice organizations by attracting referral sources, driving business growth, and sustaining compliance with industry regulations, including the current pay-for-reporting requirements and the shift to value-based care on the industry’s horizon. By evaluating hospice patient and caregiver experiences, the... Keep Reading
Providing healthcare in the home brings a level of difficulty that is not present in hospital or facility care. One of the challenges in home care is the environment in which care is provided. The care environment must be appropriate for medical services, be considerate of the safety and health... Keep Reading