Monday, October 16

10:30am-12:00pm Educational Programs
2:30pm-4:00pm Educational Programs
4:15pm-5:45pm Educational Programs

Monday, October 16 10:30am-12:00pm

Quality & Outcomes, Financial, Clinical & Disease Management

Outcome Management: Achieving Financial and Clinical Accountability

In this fast paced workshop, participants will learn why Outcome Management is an ideal management system for home care, hospice, private pay, and other health sectors, how it works and why it has such a positive affect on staff morale and retention. More importantly, attendees will learn first hand how one home care agency leader opted to move from traditional management to the highly accountable Outcome Management System and the impact it had on her agency's operation and outcomes.

Objectives:

• Discuss the major challenges and limitations to traditional management systems.
• Identify the fundamental components of an Outcome Management type of management system.
• Describe how the new management system was implemented in one home care agency and the impact of the system on quality and financial outcomes.

Faculty: Robert Fazzi, BA, M. Ed. and Ed.D., President/CEO, Fazzi Associates, Northampton, MA; Carla Braveman, RN, MEd and CHCE, President and CEO, VNA and Hospice Care of Cooley Dickinson, Northampton, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Managed Care, Financial, Leadership

Maximizing Opportunities in a Managed Care Environment

In order to position their agencies to the greatest advantage, key home care staff must have a firm grasp of the growing trends that will affect their standing in the market. Among the trends of greatest concern is the movement of Medicare patients from fee-for-service to the managed care sector. This workshop will provide a broad view of the changes taking place in the Medicare marketplace, the potential impact these changes can have on the provision of home health services, and guidance on ways to position your business to best take advantage of the emerging coverage and payment trends.

Objectives:

• Identify legislative and regulatory changes that encourage a shift from fee-for-service to managed care under Medicare.
• Describe the impact this shift could have on the traditional delivery of home health services.
• Outline ways that agencies can best position themselves for success in the changing financial environment.

Faculty: Jim Hamilton, CPA, Managing Director, David-James LLC, Baltimore, MD; Gary Bowers, CPA, John Gary Bowers, CPA, Long Green, MD;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Staying Alive: Avoiding Risks of Fraud & Abuse

Home Care and Hospice present unique opportunities to improve the lives of the elderly and disabled. They also are opportunities for unethical and illegal conduct designed to secure great wealth. In between are the complex myriad of rules and regulations requiring constant attention to achieve compliance. This program focuses on today's risk areas for fraud and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and other government funded programs with real life experiences and helpful recommendations on how to stay alive through an open-eyed approach to compliance.

Objectives:

• Identify federal and state laws addressing fraudulent o abusive conduct in health care.
• Recognize current home care and hospice activities that a subject to oversight and prosecution.
• Explain actions that aid in the prevention of unintentional non-compliant conduct.

Faculty: William A. Dombi, Esq., Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC; Denise Bonn, Deputy Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management, Leadership

The Service Call: A Radical Approach to Admission Delays

This session focuses on one of the most difficult challenges for agencies today: How to deal with increasing demand and the capacity limits imposed by a nursing shortage. One of the more innovative approaches is to ease the burden of the admission for the nurse by using non-nurse talent to get the admission process going. The service rep model is also very helpful in the hospital setting, when liaisons are finding less time for marketing because of heavy referral volume. This program looks at a different response that can help the referral source while facilitating the admission process.

Objectives:

• Create training tools to help the rep identify key patient and caregiver needs.
• Assess value of admissions nurses and develop training program for them.
• Utilize the service rep in hospital settings and for discharged home care patients.

Faculty: Polly Rehnwall, BA, MA, Senior Consultant, Polly Rehnwall Inc., Salt Lake City , UT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development, Financial

Expanding Business Models Based on Predictive Data

The VNA of Greater Cincinnati took specific steps in developing business models for CHF, diabetes and staffing/utilization. A key factor in success of this agency was the introduction and implementation of a culture change of utilizing data for planning and monitoring purposes. Predictive type data will be presented through a variety of reports from Outcome Concept Systems that led the agency in making decisions. The presentation includes how to evaluate your business , steps to the decision-making process, implementation and monitoring.

Objectives:

• Identify how to evaluate current business patterns and trends to determine priorities.
• Describe the plan of action.
• Describe the steps for implementation.

Faculty: Sue Blockberger-Miller, RN, BSN, Strategy and Planning Executive, Outcome Concept Systems, Seattle, WA; Angi Johnson, RN, Executive VP of Clinical Service, Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Management & Human Resources

Nursing Retention: Stop the Year One Revolving Door!

In today's health care industry there is an increasing demand for and shortage of qualified nursing staff. Many home health agencies are challenged to compete with flexible and attractive employment opportunities offered by hospitals. This program presents a winning strategy used by one agency to improve the turnover rate for new nurses. The audience will be introduced to effective methods to support and retain new hires during that first fragile year of employment.

Objectives:

• Describe two challenges facing the home health industry related to nurse recruitment and retention.
• Identify two strategies that management can use to improve nurse retention in the home health environment.
• Discuss two positive outcomes resultant from a nurse support program.

Faculty: Darlene Zakrajsek, M.S., P.T., Executive Administrator of Post Acute Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Cindy Vunovich, R.N., B.S.N, Director Nursing Services, Cleveland Clinic Home Care Services, Independence, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management, Management & Human Resources

Emergency Preparedness for Home Care and Hospice

This presentation will describe the critical elements of emergency preparedness for home care agencies as identified by New Jersey's Home Care Association through a state-funded Emergency Preparedness Grant Project. Particular attention to special needs population plans were addressed in year two of the grant project and will be shared in the presentation. Lessons learned will also be shared to understand the necessary role that home care must hold in every state to ensure the needs of the community's vulnerable patients are met.

Objectives:

• Identify home care and hospice's role and responsibilities in emergency preparedness planning, including special needs.
• Explain home care's role in planning for special needs populations.
• Illustrate appropriate documentation for emergency situations, and resources for staff education on preparedness.

Faculty: Josephine Sienkiewicz, RN, MSN, Director of Education and Clinical Practice, Home Care Association of NJ, Princeton Junction, NJ; Carol Kientz, RN, MA, Executive Director, Home Care Association of NJ, Princeton Junction, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Private Pay, Financial

Private Pay Start Up: Easy as 1, 2, 3

This in-depth program will walk through evaluating entry into this business line, feasibility studies and implementation of starting a private pay business including: evaluation process, feasibility projections, implementation process, patients, and clients. At the end of the program the participants will have an understanding of determining the viability of starting a private pay agency and an implementation plan.

Objectives:

• Explain the viability of starting a private pay agency and an implementation plan.
• Formulate feasibility projections for your agency.
• Describe the implementation process for opening a private pay agency.

Faculty: Lucy Andrews, RN MS CHCA, CEO, AT YOUR SERVICE HOME CARE, SANTA ROSA, CA; David Berman, CPA, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Hospice

Implementing Technology to Improve Patient Care in Hospice

This session will detail the successful transition from a paper-based management system to an electronic technology solution. Saint John's installed a home care software package that improved patient quality of care while enhancing organizational and financial performance. Increasing access to critical patient data, this system allows home care and hospice workers to capture and integrate data in real-time. The presenter will outline needed components of a balanced program, and provide an outline for ensuring that technology enhancements equal better patient care.

Objectives:

• Identify the challenges hospices face transitioning from a paper-based management system to an electronic solution.
• Describe how hospices automated their management systems to improve operations and overall patient care under a case study.
• Illustrate how hospice patient care is positively affected after installing an electronic home care system.

Faculty: Kim Jule, M.H.A., Executive Director, St. John's Hospice of Indiana, Anderson, IN;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial, Clinical & Disease Management

Dancing With Your Data: All the Right Moves

The intersection of art and science is here. Learn how to waltz into the pay for performance (P4P) and disease management environment with data as your partner. Thriving under P4P and disease management will require high -level performance. You must focus on the right data and outcomes that relate to ICD-9s, risk-adjusted outcomes, adverse events, cash and patient satisfaction. Know the right steps, stay in rhythm, know your competition, and make sure that the finance and clinical field staffs can do a mean tango instead of just a tap dance!

Objectives:

• Define the key clinical, operational, and financial data necessary to thrive in a pay-for-performance environment.
• Describe the best methods by which this data can be collected, analyzed, and reported in a timely manner.
• Identify "steps" to take to ensure that clinical and financial staff are effective partners and, together, win the top 10% competition.

Faculty: Pat Laff, CPA, Principal, Laff Associates, Hilton Head Island, SC; Barbara Rosenblum, BSN, Founder, Strategic HealthCare Programs, Santa Barbara, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Leadership

Embracing the Future, Leaving the Past

This workshop will address the human responses that occur during change in the business environment. It analyzes the effects of system changes, mergers, acquisitions and changes in ownership on employees. Using the tasks of grief as a model, it proposes a process that management can facilitate to help the change proceed smoothly. It discusses the type of staff reactions and behavior as well as activities that will address staff issues. A case study is presented as an example of how one agency director facilitated change in clinical operations when clinical management was replaced.

Objectives:

• Identify the stages and process employees go through during change.
• Describe the tasks of grief.
• Discuss strategies and activities for facilitating change.

Faculty: Kate Colburn, MA, President, Strategic Options, Kings Park, NY; Denise Palsgaard, BSN, President, California Home Care and Hospice, Merced, CA;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice

Access to Care: Hospice Program Strategy for Earlier Referrals

The issue of access to hospice care concerns all of us as many programs struggle with the clinical and financial implications associated with the short length of stay. Two hospice programs will share how they have successfully broadened their admission criteria to improve hospice care and provide palliative care. Attendees will learn strategies from an established hospice and palliative care program as well as a hospice program with newly developed approaches to access.

Objectives:

• Identify specific ways to broaden hospice admission criteria.
• Discuss the organization and patient care implications of earlier hospice admissions.
• Identify components of a palliative care program as a strategy to improve access to care.

Faculty: Mary Sheehan, Chief Operating Officer, Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center, Glenview, IL; Lisa Butler, Director of Hospice, Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice, Olympia, WA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice

BEING FASHIONABLE: Recruiting and Retaining the 30-50 Something Volunteers

Baby Boomer demographics challenge volunteer leaders to design programs that will attract and maintain the 30-50 something volunteer. Every level of your hospice organization can be energized by the presence of committed and enthusiastic young adults. Join these dynamic presenters to learn successful ways to bring enthusiasm to your volunteer corps.

Objectives:

• Discuss components of innovative programs that will attract volunteers, ages 30-50 years old.
• Identify 3 new recruitment sources.
• Describe innovative, effective training and retention techniques.

Faculty: Gail Rink, MSW, Executive Director, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc.-a volunteer hospice organization, Santa Barbara, CA; Cindy Skovgard, Executive Director, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, Long Beach, CA;

Course Level: TBA1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Telehealth & Technology

How to Grow your Business Using Advanced Technology of Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy

The presenting agency is one of the first organizations to introduce Mono-chromatic Infrared Photo Therapy (MIRE) - Anodyne Therapy to the Colorado Front Range. Being on the cutting edge of technology has given them an edge by providing a unique treatment modality that has produced excellent outcomes in wound healing, peripheral neuropathy, pain management, and other conditions. This presentation will outline the science behind the therapy, implementation of the program, patient and financial outcomes, and road blocks to success.

Objectives:

• Explain the mechanism of action for nitric oxide.
• Cite the modality use and outcomes of MIRE related to treatment of peripheral neuropathy, wounds,pain, edema, inflammation, and osteoblastic proliferation.
• Identify the benefits and challenges of implementing a MIRE program in your home care agency.

Faculty: Sonya Neumann, RN, BSN, Agency Administrator, Physicians Home Health Care, Colorado Springs, CO; Sharon Burt, RN, BSN, CWOCN, Wound Program Coordinator, Physicians Home Health Care, Colorado Springs, CO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Pediatric Home Care, Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Outcomes

Providing Syangis in the Home: Improving the Outcome

Synagis (Palivizumab) is a drug used to prevent serious respiratory illness caused by Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease. Cincinnati Children's Home Care Services enrolled approximately 385 patients in a home-based Synagis program last season. In order to successfully manage this patient population, a multidisciplinary team was created. This program will demonstrate how a home-based Synagis program can improve patient outcomes.

Objectives:

• Discuss RSV and identify the criteria for Synagis administration.
• Describe the components of a home care Synagis team.
• Cite an advantage to providing Synagis therapy in the home.

Faculty: Sylvia Rineair, RN, BSN, Clinical Director, Cincinnati Children's Home Care Services, Cincinnati, OH; Monica Borell, RN, Lead Synagis Coordinator, Cincinnati Children's Home Care Services, Cincinnati, OH; John , RPh, MBA, Operations Manager, Cincinnati Children's Home Care Services, Cincinnati, OH;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Monday, October 16 2:30pm-4:00pm

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Clinical & Disease Management

Federal Efforts to Assist in Provider Pandemic Preparation

The federal government has become increasingly concerned about the potential for an avian flu pandemic that would create limitless challenges for the entire health care provider network. The home care field, with its community base and its genesis in the public health model, is well-positioned to play an important role in helping to prevent, detect, and extinguish this serious threat to the nation's health and well-being. In this workshop, a representative from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide attendees with the latest guidance and government resources available to plan for and participate in pandemic relief efforts.

Objectives:

• Identify available government resources on pandemic preparedness for the public and home care providers.
• Outline steps the U.S. government is taking to prevent and ease the spread of potentially deadly viruses.
• Define the role the home care community can play in addressing issues related to the threat of a pandemic.

Faculty: Representative , U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Managed Care, Financial, Leadership

Look Before You Leap: Best Practices in Managed Care Contracting

Many home health agencies are finding that increasing numbers of their patients have enrolled in managed care plans, while others are watching the enrollment growth trends and putting forth efforts to contract with managed care organizations to provide vital home health services. As was learned during the managed care boom of the 1990s, it's important to look before you leap. This session will provide important guidance on contracting with managed care entities from a seasoned professional.

Objectives:

• Identify steps an agency should take prior to beginning discussions with a managed care organization.
• Describe key considerations for agencies in managed care negotiations.
• Explain different methods for pricing services for managed care contracts.

Faculty: Sherl Brand, VP for Business Development, Bayada Nurses, Parsippany, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Leadership, Financial

That's Why You Make the Big Bucks: How the Best Run Agencies Manage Their Outcomes Cycle

Market leading agencies are using outcomes-centered decision support tools to effectively manage their agencies. Attendees will learn how to adopt an outcomes-centered approach to management that will help you dominate your market. Attendees will also see how the Agency Effectiveness Assessment is a vital tool in keeping your agency on track.

Objectives:

• Discuss how successful home care agencies manage using outcomes-centered decision support tools.
• Explain how to use data from outcomes-centered decision support tools to drive major agency decisions and direction.
• Review the primary concepts: Outcomes-centered decision support, Circle of Refinement, Agency Effectiveness Assessment.

Faculty: Jeff Lewis, President/CEO, Lewis, Inc, Baton Rouge, LA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

CMS Quality Improvement Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is focusing ever-increasing attention and resources on improving the quality of care delivered by Medicare home health and hospice providers. During this session representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will provide the latest available information about CMS quality initiatives. The presentation will focus on, but will not be limited to: a P4P update; up-to-the-minute results from the QIO 8th SoW including resultant collaboratives and initiatives; and current special projects such as the "Hospice Quality Improvement," "Transitions of Care," "Home Health STAR," and "Care Management Across the Continuum." A look into plans for future work on home health quality, including stakeholder partnerships, will also be presented.

Objectives:

• Identify CMS plans for implementing P4P in home health.
• Describe the QIO 8th Scope of Work.

Faculty: Debbra Hattery, Deputy Director, Quality Measurement and Health Assessment Group, CMS, Baltimore, MD; LT. David Dietz, Government Task Leader, Home Health Quality Improvement, Quality Improvement Group, CMS, Baltimore, MD; Cynthia , Home Health/Nursing Home Quality Improvement Specialist, Quality Improvement Group, CMS, Baltimore, MD;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Management & Human Resources

Latest Research on Benefits Designed for Limited Wage and Part-Time Workers

Don't know what to offer your low wage workers that they can afford? This session will help HR professionals and business owners better understand their workers' situation relative to being one of the 43 million working Americans who don't have health insurance. This session will share the results of research done in 2006 by HealthAllies and the Center for Health Access Solutions that includes studies with ineligibles to determine who they are, whether they are uncovered and what they want to buy. It will also share the results of studies with eligible actives who opt out to determine why they opt out, wether they're uncovered and what they want to buy.

Objectives:

• Cite current research to profile service workers, their health care insurance needs and preferences.
• Demonstrate the business case for offering either eligibiles or ineligibles low cost alternative.
• Discuss the relevance to the session's attendees.

Faculty: Cathy Cather, Sr. Vice President, Health Allies, A United Health Group Company, Lake Forest, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

How to Sell and Market Hospice Services

Sales and marketing tactics proven to drive more hospice referrals & get them earlier. This is a fast paced session packed with practical methods used nationally by successful hospices. Differentiating the hospice by distilling a clear story that can be used in the community will cement referral relationships. Crafting a message that will resonate in the community is important to successful marketing program development. Tracking and calculating results is the next step in the process, including calculating return on investment (ROI). Attendees will build a plan to implement upon return to their hospice.

Objectives:

• Distinguish between sales and marketing; and define the importance of each.
• Identify the nuances of building the sales team and arm them with top notch collateral materials.
• Describe successful ways to work with skilled nursing facilities to build strong referral relationships.

Faculty: Michael Ferris, Home Care Marketing Solutions, Chapel Hill, NC; Elizabeth Brennen, MSBA, Business Development, Treasure Coast Hospices, Jupiter, FL;

Course Level: Novice; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development, Financial

Develop & Market Live-In Aide Services to Grow Your Private Pay Business

Saint Francis Home Care Services, Inc., made a conscious effort to develop a new private pay service line of live-in aide & respite services in order to meet the increasing needs of the aging population. A business plan was developed that included policy development, program design, recruitment strategies, marketing plans and day to day operational management insuring compliance with labor laws. Within three years of initiating live-in services the agency has increased private pay lines from 10% to over 75% of current business (60% of which is live-in). Effective marketing, financial and employee management and ability to deliver quality care and services (with a patient satisfaction rate of over 99%), set us apart from the competition in the private pay arena.

Objectives:

• Demonstrate how to develop live-in aide program budget.
• Describe how to develop marketing and recruitment plans that will result in business growth.
• Identify key clinical components and RN role that assure exceptional patient care and satisfaction in addition to providing support to live-in aides.

Faculty: Dana Pavelock, BA, Director / Home Care Operations, Saint Francis Home Care Services, Inc., Poughkeepsie, NY; Maya Jackson, RN, CHPN, RN Supervisor, Saint Francis Home Care Services, Inc., Poughkeepsie, NY;

Course Level: Novice; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Leadership, Telehealth & Technology, Management & Human Resources

Don't Pull Your Hair Out: Implementing Technology and Process Change

Successful introduction of new technology in the operation of a home care organization is dependent upon three key factors. The organization must apply the principles of change management, address the organizational culture change required by the technology initiatives, and plan an implementation that addresses both the technology and the process changes throughout the organization. In this presentation, home care leaders intending to implement major change initiatives, particularly those involving information technologies, will learn basic change management principles, and key elements of the model used by the presenter to successfully apply these principles.

Objectives:

• Identify change management principles that impact technology application in a home care setting.
• Describe and discuss the activities that are essential to preparing an agency's culture for large-scale technology implementation.
• Provide a case study and discuss the project management approach that resulted in a successful technology implementation.

Faculty: Linda Scott, MSHA, RN, BSN, General Manager, Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., Annandale, VA; Kate Jones, MSN, Principal, Health Care and Human Resources, MSC Consulting, Inc., Laurel, MD; Wanda , BSN, CHPN, HCS-D, COS-C, Director of Performance Improvement Program Development, Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., Annandale, VA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Fraud Detection, Deterrence, and Prevention: Are You Really Doing Enough?

Post-Sarbanes/Oxley, most financial executives are keenly aware of the risks of fraud. But are they doing enough to actually prevent it? Learn how to mitigate the likelihood of fraud in your organization to prevent loss of shareholder value, reduce reputation risks, and personal liability.

Objectives:

• Discuss fraud control strategies that mirror the COSO framework and create a culture of fraud awareness.
• Identify fraud risk assessments that encompass activities at the entity and process levels.
• Describe methods for mitigating fraud risk, including tools and processes for monitoring and responding to potential occurrences of fraud, and effective use of internal audit.

Faculty: Jeffrey G Blumengold, FHFMA, CPA, Partner and Leader, Health Care Forensic & Dispute Services, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP, New York, NY; Bruce J. Gavioli, Jr., Partner, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, New York, NY; Stephen G. , Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, New York, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management

Clinical Documentation: Magic Wands and Improvement Strategies

Documentation reflects the quality of care provided. One agency decided that pain needed to be a focus area for documentation and OBQI/OBQM efforts, and that the agency needed standards to support OASIS case mix items. They initiated an evidenced-based approach to staff education that included interrater reliability for pain rating scales and alternative approaches to pain management. Speakers will share useful strategies, and participants will evaluate documentation in relation to pain management, best practices, and OBQI/OBQM.

Objectives:

• Identify the benefits of using a quality improvment action plan for documentation.
• Discuss the key components of a successful quality improvement action plan for documentation.
• Involve participants in documentation review that focuses on pain management.

Faculty: Karen Martin, RN, MSN, FAAN, Health Care Consultant, Martin Associates, Omaha, NE; Leslie Larsen, RN, Home Care Supervisor, Polk County Home Care, Balsam Lake, WI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Outcomes

The Team Approach to a Urinary Incontinence Program

Home health care agencies can successfully develop and implement an interdisciplinary team approach to treating urinary incontinence. There are multiple resources available in the home care industry to aid an agency in proper planning, training and implementation of a urinary incontinence program. Learn how one agency utilized a physical therapist consultant specializing in women's health services to educate and train the nursing and rehab staff, resulting in a competent team of clinicians successfully providing positive patient outcomes and improvements in quality of life for the home care patient.

Objectives:

• Discuss the scope of urinary incontinence problems within the home health setting.
• Identify the educational requirements needed to develop and implement an interdisciplinary urinary incontinence (UI) program.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide cost-effective utilization of services with the UI program, incorporating assessment data directly onto the OASIS.

Faculty: Theresa Gates, PT, Director of Professional Services, Home Care Advantage, Jacksonville, FL; Cynthia Neville, PT, Corporate Director of Women's Health Rehabilitatio, Rehab Institute of Chicago, Jacksonville, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Enhance Hospice Care While Preparing for the New COPs

With the new Hospice Conditions of Participation (COPs), America's hospices now confront a need for better information about all phases of their operations, including costs, service utilization, clinical aspects of care and outcomes. Evaluating the outcomes of the domains of self-determination, comfort, safety, and effective grieving is simplified using systematic methods of information collection and retrieval. Participants will gain insight into information required by the new COPs, how to collect the information and how to use it to enhance patient care.

Objectives:

• Discuss the continuous, integrated health care process that a patient/family experiences across all aspects of hospice care.
• Incorporate outcome-oriented quality assessment and performance improvement.
• Facilitate flexibility in how the hospice meets performance expectations.

Faculty: Teresa Craig, CPA, CEO, Suncoast Solutions, Largo, FL; Betty Oldanie, RN, Vice President of Planning, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, Clearwater, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Management & Human Resources

Employment Law Update 2006: Understanding Unions, Employment Discrimination, and Federal Wage and Hour Laws

Health care is viewed as one of the most fertile areas for unionization. It also is an area that requires ongoing attention to the various federal laws that impact on hiring, firing, and compensation. This program explores the forces that drive unionization and the laws that regulate collective bargaining-the rights and responsibilities of employees and management. In addition, the workshop will cover developments in federal employment law under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Essential information for all employers is offered.

Objectives:

• Identify recent developments in employment discrimination law.
• Recognize home care-specific concerns in employee compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Identify basic rights and responsibilities of management and labor with respect to unionization under the National Labor Relations Act.

Faculty: Joseph Maddaloni, Esq., MPA, Partner, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC, Morristown, NJ; John Buck, Executive Director, Visting Homemaker Service of Hudson County, Jersey City, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Leadership, Quality & Outcomes

Innovative Methods for Patient Comfort and Caregiver Satisfaction

This workshop will focus on skills and techniques for implementing integrative therapies within the confines of the routine home care or hospice visit; improved outcomes for patient pain and symptom management when patients are unable to tolerate or more traditional methods fail to be effective; And improved outcomes of caregiver satisfaction in managing patient symptoms using a combination of traditional methods of pain and symptom management along with CAM methods. Workshop participants will be guided through hands-on experiential exercises to determine how they may broaden the scope of their practice to include these valuable tools in daily practice.

Objectives:

• Identify five to seven integrative therapies appropriate to use in their own setting and who may provide them.
• Cite three reasons why integrative therapies are an effective method to use along with traditional pain and symptom managment stategies.
• Identify clinical applications of at least three integrative therapies that can be implemented within 10 - 15 minutes during a routine home visit.

Faculty: Esther Johnson, RN, BSN, PHN, Hospice Nurse Case Manager, Integrative Therapies , Pathways Home Health, Hospice & Private Duty, Sunnyvale, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Pediatric Home Care, Quality & Outcomes

Precious Outcomes: Measuring Quality in Pediatric Home Care

Benchmarks derived from OASIS data and other standardized sources since the introduction of the prospective payment system have become commonplace when evaluating the quality of care delivered by home health agencies. Established assessments and metrics address the experience of adult patient populations receiving home health services. In this session, presenters will speak to the development of assessments and metrics that address the experiences of pediatric patients or their families.

Objectives:

• Describe the value of measuring quality outcomes for pediatric home care population.
• Discuss the steps to develop an online pediatric data entry and reporting tool to produce quality outcome reports and inform performance improvement plans.
• Describe how key components of OCS-Pediatric, an online data entry and reporting tool, can inform performance improvement plans.

Faculty: Tina Schwien, MN, MPH, Senior Data Consultant, Outcome Concept Systems Inc., Seattle, WA; Dale Valentine, Vice President of Compliance and Quality, Pediatric Services of America, Norcross, ID; Jeff , Director of Data Consulting, Outcome Concept Systems, Inc., Seattle, WA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Monday, October 16 4:15pm-5:45pm

Quality & Outcomes, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Bad Ideas for OASIS Accuracy

This session will highlight a number of strategies and practices that some agencies have implemented in efforts to improve OASIS data accuracy. In some cases, these practices to "improve accuracy" are in fact inefficient and counterproductive, and in some cases down-right noncompliant. Attendees will be introduced to a model to analyze OASIS data collection practices for effectiveness and compliance. A review of current problematic industry practices will be exposed and resolved.

Objectives:

• Identify examples of operational strategies and practices that may unintentionally have unfavorable effects on OASIS data accuracy.
• Identify opportunities and strategies to improve OASIS accuracy and compliance.
• Describe a process for critically evaluating data accuracy efforts for effectiveness and compliance.

Faculty: Linda Krulish, PT, MHS, COS-C, President, OASIS Answers, Inc., Redmond, WA; Patricia Sevast, BSN, RN, Nurse Consultant, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Financial

Lessons Learned: Agencies' Experiences with Managed Care

Implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit has granted new opportunities for health maintenance organizations to expand and market their Advantage plans. As enrollment goes up, an increasing number of home health agencies are facing numerous financial, operational, and clinical challenges that accompany contracting with managed care organizations (MCOs). This panel of home care leaders will share their agencies' experiences and challenges, and the insights and perspectives they have gained, from their recent dealings with MCOs.

Objectives:

• Identify financial challenges that accompany contracting with MCOs.
• Describe operational changes that agencies implemented to better manage their managed care patients.
• Discuss adaptations to clinical practice that agencies have employed for managing patient care under managed care plans.

Faculty: Kristy A. Wright, President/CEO, VNA of Western Pennsylvania, Butler, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Marketing & Business Development, Management & Human Resources

Selecting, Hiring, and Managing Home Care Sales Professionals

Many home care executives have been frustrated by the process of selecting, hiring, and managing individuals to sell home care services. Many times, the person selected for the position does not have the needed selling style, motivation, or skills to bring in new referrals. Grow your home care business by selecting, hiring, and managing your home care sales representatives more effectivley. The presenter will provide research-based evidence to increase your referrals.

Objectives:

• Define the behavioral styles of highly effective home care sales representatives.
• Define the workplace motivators of highly effective home care sales professionals.
• Define the sales experience of highly effective home care sales professionals.

Faculty: Stephen Tweed, CSP, CEO, Leading Home Care ... a Tweed-Jeffries Company, Louisville, KY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Leadership, Marketing & Business Development, Management & Human Resources

The Three Faces of Satisfaction: Patients, Referral Sources, and Staff

Satisfaction surveys are the single, best tool for helping agencies assess the perceptions of their key customer groups and target specific areas for improvement. Learn from a national leader who has created three of home care's most respected and used satisfaction survey tools. Learn how agencies use these tools to increase patient satisfaction, increase referrals and increase staff satisfaction and retention.

Objectives:

• Review the three major satisfaction tools used by home care and hospice leaders thoughout the country.
• Describe strategies for using findings to improve patient, referral source and/or staff satisfaction.
• Identify real life examples for how agencies can successfully use patient, referral source and staff satisfaction surveys for improved outcomes.

Faculty: Carleton Townsend, BA, M. Ed. and Ed.D., Principle and Director of Quality Measurement, Fazzi Associates, Northampton, MA; Susan Faris, R.N,, M.P.H. and C.H.C.E., President and CEO, VNA Community Healthcare, Hampden, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Management & Human Resources

Know the Research When Addressing Home Healthcare Nurse Job Satisfaction and Retention

Experts predict an increased demand for home care services in the future and a concomitant increase in the demand for nurses to provide those services. Little has been previously examined about the variables that affect nurse job satisfaction and intent to stay in home care. The purpose of this federally funded study was to measure job satisfaction of home health care nurses and to identify the variables of the job and individual nurse characteristics that affect intent to stay.

Objectives:

• Describe what the evidence shows about the factors that account for variability in nurse job satisfaction.
• Outline what the evidence shows about strategies to influence nurse intent to stay and job retention.
• Discuss implications for management practices and policy strategies to enhance nurse retention and how they are suitable for different work environments.

Faculty: Carol Hall Ellenbecker, RN, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA; Linda W. Samia, RN, PhDc, Project Director, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA; Margaret J. , RN, MSN, MS, FHHC, FAAN, Research Assistant, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Maintaining the Lifeline: An Employer's Legal Guide to Worker Protections and Exposure

Risks of exposure to biological agents and other harmful substances must be guarded against at all times; the threat could increase substantially when caregivers are part of disaster recovery or pandemic treatment efforts. This workshop will provide clear guidance on a home care and hospice organization's obligations and options for maintaining optimum health and safety for these important workers.

Objectives:

• Define an employer's obligations relative to worker protections in the home and other care settings.
• Outline potential employer educational efforts to limit harmful exposure of workers.
• Identify various items of equipment that must/should/could be made available to increase worker protections against harmful agents.

Faculty: William A. Dombi, Esq., Director, Center for Health Care Law, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice

Hospice QA/PI: A Business-Savvy Approach to Quality

Section 418.58 of the proposed Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs) would require a hospice to develop, implement, and maintain an effective, ongoing hospice-wide data-driven quality assessment and performance improvement (QA/PI) program. The new CoPs will not require a specific QA/PI program; rather, a hospice will be required to document quality improvement projects conducted and the measurable progress achieved. The QA/PI program must reflect the complexity of a hospice's organization and services performed by staff and personnel who are under contract or arrangement, focus on indicators related to improved outcomes, and demonstrate improvement in hospice performance.

Objectives:

• Identify the new QA/PI requirements under the revised hospice CoPs.
• Discuss how the revisions differ from the current requirements.
• Identify different options for meeting the new requirements.

Faculty: Martha Tecca, MBA, President, Perforum-The OCS Performance Institute(a division of Outcome Concept Systems), Lyme, NH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Leadership

EMR/EHR: A Case Study for Implementation/EHR: An Overview of the HL7 Specification

Citizens Memorial Healthcare, named the Organizational Davies Award Recipient for 2006 by HIMSS and the Most Wired Small and Rural Hospitals and Most Wireless Hospital lists in 2005, has created one electronic medical record (EMR) that crosses the continuum of care, including home care, hospital, long term care and physician offices.Topics include the background and planning for the EMR, the functionality of the EMR, and the value the EMR brings to patient care.This session will also provide an introduction to the HL7 draft Electronic Health Record (EHR) standard, its functional specifications, and how it might be applicable to a home care agency.

Objectives:

• Formulate an implementation strategy for an EMR system.
• Recognize the value that an integrated EMR brings to patient care.
• Explain how the HL7 EHR functional and content standards apply to home care agencies.

Faculty: Denni McColm, Chief Information Officer, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Bolivar, MO; Valerie Noblitt, RN, BC, Clinical Manager, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Bolivar, MO; Rob Swenson, BS, CCP, Sr. Solution Designer, Cerner BeyondNow, Overland Park, KS; Peter Kress;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial

Identifying Opportunities for Medicare Home Health Revenue Recovery

This session will provide participants with a practical examination of the primary causes for Medicare home health payment errors, tactics for identifying past billing errors and potential revenues available for recovery, strategies for initiating the recovery process and practical approaches to preventing future billing errors. Participants will be shown actual examples of billing errors, highlighting both the clinical and technical issues that can result in payment errors. Additionally, benchmarking data will be examined along with instruction on how to apply the information to agency-specific data.

Objectives:

• Identify the top three factors resulting in Medicare home health payment errors.
• Implement tactics to identify payment errors.
• Articulate strategies for initiating a recovery process.

Faculty: M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Consultant, BKD Health Care Group, Springfield, MO; Ruth Castellano, RN, BSN, MPH, Vice President/Administrator, BJC Home Care Services, St. Louis, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Clinical & Disease Management

Congruence of Care for Heart Failure Patients

Almost 50% of heart failure (HF) patients are readmitted within six months of discharge and many of these hospitalizations may have been preventable with early intervention. The role of family has been identified as important but few studies actually include family members' perceptions of HF symptoms. A current pilot study with the purpose of examining congruence and associated factors between HF home care patients and family members as they relate to symptom management will be described in this program. Examples of potential managerial and nursing interventions to improve patient outcomes will be given during the presentation.

Objectives:

• Define three variables in the context of symptom management that should be assessed when caring for heart failure patients.
• Define and describe the term "congruence" when assessing symptom management with heart failure patients and their family caregivers in the home health setting.
• Apply heart failure patients and family caregivers demographic, clinical, and symptom management processes to home health nursing interventions which may improve symptom management and health care outcomes.

Faculty: Christina Quinn, RN, DNS, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Marketing & Business Development

Start a Chronic Disease Management Program

Home health agencies can play a central and pivotal role in leading the nation's efforts to manage the needs of the chronically ill. Learn how to develop a home care disease management program including the essential components required of a disease management program, the successful implementation of services, and the tools necessary to facilitate service provision and reporting needs.

Objectives:

• Describe the components of a chronic disease management program and agency experience in CDM pilot program.
• Identify policy changes needed and benefits of facilitating home care's role in CDM.
• Describe technology's role in provision of CDM services.

Faculty: Cindy Clark, RN, BSN, COS-C, Chief Information Officer, Visiting Nurse Association of Western PA, Butler, PA; Kim Wipf, RN, BSN, CCRN, Solution Manager, Cerner BeyondNow, Overland Park, KS;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Creative and Innovative Approaches to Hospice Operations and Finances.

This session will assist hospice organizations' senior management teams in developing the tools necessary to operate cost effectively while still providing quality care. It will cover such issues as shorter lengths of stay, staffing shortages, cost of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and DME, per diem reimbursement, internal cost and breakeven analysis and the need for fund raising. The program will address how hospices need to address increasing competition; measure market share, and open access.

Objectives:

• Cite the key financial performance indicators necessary to operate both a quality and financially viable hospice program.
• Describe key clinical performance indicators to operate a quality hospice program efficiently.
• Develop a process by which to analyze their competition and market share and the need to develop a marketing plan.

Faculty: Robert Simione, Principal, Simione Consultants LLC, Hamden, CT; Carla Braveman, BSN, RN, MEd, CHCE, Executive Director, VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, Northampton, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Leadership, Quality & Outcomes, Management & Human Resources

Corporate Culture: The Six Sigma Approach

This program will describe how a multi-product line organization changed from a silo oriented focus to one of interdisciplinary collaboration through systematic change in the corporate culture and leadership style. By shifting from a traditional culture to a Six Sigma/Lean culture focusing on quality at all levels, the organization produced significant results in employee empowerment, customer service focused outcomes, quality and integration of services, and a shift in thinking from "we-they" to "us". As a result, the organization experienced a $1.5 million dollar turnaround in 18 months.

Objectives:

• Describe the difference between traditional culture and Six Sigma/Lean Culture.
• Illustrate the impact of using a talent management system.
• Identify the leadership role in organizational change.

Faculty: Nancy Martin, MSN, RN, President & CEO, VitalCare, Cheboygan, MI; Shari McLennan, BSN, RN, Director of Quality Improvement, Vitalcare, Cheboygan, MI;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management

Braden Scale versus OASIS: Pressure Ulcer Prediction and Prevention

A collaborative initiative between the University of Kansas School of Nursing and Cerner Beyond Now proposes to examine risk factors for pressure ulceration in elder home patients from OASIS data and develop a computerized decision support system that links risk to prevention by triggering needed interventions from identified risk factors. Research suggests that computerized decision support systems at the point of care significantly improves evidence based clinical practice. Agency specific participation in the study and implementation of process improvement protocols also will be described.

Objectives:

• Describe current evidence for prediction of pressure ulcer development in the home care setting.
• Identify needed direction for systematic prevention practices.
• Discuss a collaborative initiative for "state of the science" practice of pressure ulcer prevention combining research methodology and information systems.

Faculty: Kathleen Dodd, CRNI, COS-C, Director of Clinical Services, At Home Care, Inc., Oneonta, NY; Sandra Bergquist-Beringer, RN, PhD, CWCN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS; Kim , RN, BSN, CCRN, Solution Manager, Cerner BeyondNow, Overland Park, KS;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development

Exciting Things are Happening in Adult Day Services!

On a national basis, adult day services are partnering with home health providers to meet the same goals of keeping individuals and their families together in their homes and communities. This workshop will provide information about a variety of programs including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' demonstration program that partners home health and adult day service providers. An update of the activities of adult day service providers will be covered by the director of the National Adult Day Services Association.

Objectives:

• Distinguish partnership opportunities between adult day services and home health.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the adult day services industry.
• Discuss models of partnership and start-up opportunities.

Faculty: Judith Bellome, RN, BSNEd, MSEd, Chief Executive Officer, Douglas County VNA & Hospice, Lawrence, KS; Angela Heath, National Director, National Adult Day Services Association, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Novice; 1.8 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);