Sunday, October 15

11:30am-1:00pm Educational Programs
1:15pm-2:45pm Educational Programs

Sunday, October 15 11:30am-1:00pm

Clinical & Disease Management

The New ANA Scope and Standards of Home Health Nursing Practice

This program will present an overview of the process and outcomes of the newly revised ANA ,"Scope and Standard of Home Health Nursing Practice."

Objectives:

• Discuss the updated scope of nursing practice as defined by the ANA "Scope and Standard of Home Health Nursing Practice."
• Identify the Standards of Care for Home Health Nursing.
• Describe the Professional Performance as defined by the ANA "Scope and Standard of Home Health Nursing Practice."

Faculty: Jeanie Stoker, MPA, RN, BS, Director, AnMed Health, Anderson, SC; Marilyn Harris, RN, MSN, CNAA, BC, FAAN, Executive Director, AMH Home Care - RETIRED, Abington Memorial Hospital (AMH), Hatboro, PA;

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

Financial, Leadership

How to Secure Financing for Working Capital Requirements

Banks don't understand the healthcare industry! Growing providers need access to capital for M&A and to fund working capital requirements. Many growing home care agencies need access to capital for acquisitions and to fund working capital requirements. This presentation is a plain talking, nuts & bolts description of what types of financing are available to home care providers and what is needed to qualify.

Objectives:

• Identify three major types of financing available to home care providers.
• Decide which financing options are best suited to various operating environments.
• Prepare for the application process and underwriting criteria expected by lenders.

Faculty: Jack Eskenazi, Senior Vice President , American HealthCare Capital, Los Angeles, CA;

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

Physician, Marketing & Business Development

Physician-HHA Collaboration Models in a Pay for Performance World

Home medical care visits by physicians and APNs have grown by 25% in the last five years. Many patients served need traditional home care. Physicians making house calls are therefore a new source of referrals. This session will feature three diferent models of non-employment, non-contractual collaborative arrangements between HHAs and house call providers.

Objectives:

• Explain the Washington Hospital Center/Medstar House Calls Medicaid Demonstration Program.
• Discuss ElderPAC "PACE Without Walls" Program.
• Describe VNA of Greater Philadelphia's Chronic Care Program.

Faculty: George Taler, MD, Director of Long Term Care, Washington Hosptial Center, Washington, DC; Jean Yudin, NP, Director, ElderPAC Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Karen , RN, MSN/MBA, Senior Vice President of Home Health, Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA;

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

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

Infection Control

One of the most basic but important issues related to good health care is use of proper infection control methods and equipment. As concerns about a potential pandemic in our future grow, this topic takes on new meaning and importance. This session will serve as a survey course of infection control precautions, including an update on the latest equipment available for protection of health care workers.

Objectives:

• Recount basic infection control practices.
• Identify appropriate equipment and precautions and the circumstances under which they should be used.
• Describe ways in which these precautions can be applied in the home setting.

Faculty: Cynthia J. Mueller, RN, BSN, CIC, VP of Operations, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY;

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

Marketing & Business Development, Financial, Leadership

Managing the Transitions from Hospital Affiliation to Independence to Growth

This program focuses on the current climate and rationale for hospital disaffiliation of home health agencies. The presentation includes a nuts and bolts approach to orchestrating these transitions and discussion of the human resource elements involved to maintain staff morale during a tumultuous time.

Objectives:

• Identify the most critical factors to determine viability of an agency assuming independence.
• Select appropriate processes to successfully establish and independent agency from a hospital based system.
• Identify human resource issues that will impact retention and recruitment of staff.

Faculty: Anne Rich, RN, M.Ed., CHCE, Executive Director, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, Stamford, CT; Robert Grestini, BA, Director of Finance and Reimbursement, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, Stamford, CT;

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

Telehealth & Technology, Quality & Outcomes

Point of Care Technology: The Key to Outcome Improvement

Agencies are feeling pressure to invest in systems that can help them achieve their organizational goals but need options that are affordable and cost-effective. Fortunately, point of care systems are becoming more sophisticated in terms of functionality that creates an environment for improved outcomes with integrated disease management programs, care planning and reporting. Systems today can provide greater accountability and inter-disciplinary communications that ensure that the team is working together to improve care as the presenters will show.

Objectives:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current hardware and wireless technology choices for use by the clinical field staff.
• Formulate a strategy for evaluating their agency's point of care needs, determining if their system meets those needs and what options are available now.
• Design, implement and measure a clinical outcomes improvement plan by more effectively utilizing point of care systems available today.

Faculty: Susan Freeman, RN and IT Director, Director of Information Technology, Alacare Home Health and Hospice, Birmingham, AL; April Anthony, CPA, Chief Executive Officer, Encompass Home Health Inc, Dallas, TX;

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

Marketing & Business Development, Financial

Models of Long Term Home Care: A Critical Analysis

Medicaid is the largest payor of long term home health care in the country and New York City has the largest personal care program in the country. To assist in controling Medicaid costs and delivering required services, three programs are compared; the Task Based Assessment Program, the Nursing Home Without Walls Program, and the Mananged Long Term Home Health Care Program. This presentation, aimed toward home care administrators, financial managers and policy makers compares these three programs and makes conclusions and recommendations.

Objectives:

• Differentiate between three long term home health care programs, Task-Based Assessment, Nursing Home Without Walls and Managed Long Term Home Health Care.
• Discuss the three models of long term care in terms of their degree of success in meeting patient and cost goals, as well as, meeting challenges.
• Discuss conclusion and recommendations. Expand the capitated models for long term home health care and contract the Task Based Assessment model.

Faculty: Warren Balinsky, Ph.D., Chair of the Board, Home Health Services Management Inc., Setauket, NY; Robert Shick, Ph.D., Executive Director, Retired, Home Care Program Management and Support Services, Staten Island, NY;

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

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management, Management & Human Resources

Creative Wound Care In-Services

Wound care scores low? No one showing up for the mandatory i.e. "master blast" inservices? Education should be individualized and fun. If you have a hard time with per diems attending educational programs many vendors offer web casts, on-line education or teaching days. Let us show you some creative ways to achieve those essential wound documentation outcomes you desire.

Objectives:

• List two tips to implement an effective wound staging training program.
• Discuss the financial benefits of teaching your staff to document well.
• Identify two benefits of having a wound care specialist assist in training your staff.

Faculty: Elizabeth O'Connell-Gifford, BSN, MBA, RN, ET, CWOCN, DAPWCA, Clinical Education Consultant, Medline Industries, Inc., Mundelein, IL; Mary Jo Nethaway, RN, BSN, ET Nurse, Community Health Center, Johnstown, NY;

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

Hospice, Financial

Be Proactive in Containing Drug Costs: Preferred Drug Lists and Capitation Fees

In light of rising pharmacy drug costs, a program was developed to allow close management of drug costs and keep drug costs in check. Hospice, pharmacy, and the medical director developed a comprehensive list of drug categories used by the presenter's hospice patients. Average patient drug costs were calculated based on current charges. Patient drug capitation rates were developed after comparing the existing drug rates to the rates based on using the new preferred drug list. A benchmark dollar figure was calculated to cover all of the patient drug expenses. Cost sharing was put in place so that both pharmacy and hospice would cost share the gains and/or the losses if the benchmark was not met. Collaborative efforts between hospice staff and pharmacy resulted in improved patient care and drug cost containment.

Objectives:

• Describe a method to assist hospice agencies to contain drug costs.
• Develop a tool for preparing a preferred drug list for hospice patients.
• Explain how pharmacies can interact with hospice providers to apply a preferred drug list to their hospice setting.

Faculty: Karen Truesdell, Pharmacist, Fellow American Consultant Pharmacists, Manager, Pharmacy, Genesis First Med Pharmacy, Davenport, IA;

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

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management

How to Build a Successful Wound Care Specialist Program

Treatment of wounds and ulcers, particularly in a geriatric population, is a highly specialized field. Yet home care agencies seeking to utilize wound care consultation nurses historically faced significant resource constraints. The advent of digital photography has lessened these resource constraints, as visual assessment of wounds can take place over a large catchment area. Participants will learn how to operationalize wound care consultations as part of routine care using digital photography and the impact wound care consultations can have on OASIS outcomes.

Objectives:

• Identify how to craft a wound care consultation protocol.
• Explain the impact of wound care quality on publicly reported measures and for Pay for Performance.
• Discuss the impact on OASIS wound outcomes of a wound consultation program.

Faculty: Marilyn Hecker, BSN, MSNAdmin, MAEd, Vice President, Staff Development, Metropolitan Jewish Health System, Brooklyn, NY; Eliot Fishman, Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Policy, Metropolitan Jewish Health System, Brooklyn, NY;

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

Management & Human Resources, Financial, Leadership

Thriving Agency: Combining Staff Recruitment/Retention with Strategic Planning to Build Success

By allowing clinicians to use their clinical skills and judgment in providing individualistic, progressive care, staff satisfaction will increase and clinician visits per episode will decrease by as much as 25% as the presenters will report. With consumers expecting comprehensive, holistic care, the challenge exists for agencies to find the delicate balance between reimbursement options and generalist versus specialist care delivery models. Tailored marketing strategies will also assist in promoting overall agency success with the new, innovative programs and progressive practice patterns.

Objectives:

• Discuss successful strategies for recruitment and retention of staff and the opportunities this provides an agency.
• Identify the therapy related financial components that can increase operating margin such as case mix and productivity.
• Describe how to prepare your agency for the future in designing new and creative therapy focused programs and approaches.

Faculty: Lisa Anderson, PT, Director of Rehabilitation, Trinity Home Health Services, Novi, MI; Barbara Samson, RN, BSN, MS, CRRN, Professional Services Manager, Mercy Homecare/Trinity Health, Bloomfield Hills, MI;

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

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

Hiring Practices: Safely Navigating the Immigration Laws

Workforce shortages in health care have lead to increase use of foreign staff. Nurses from the Philippines, Ireland, and other far off locations have been a significant resource to the home care community. At the same time, with the influx of illegal immigrants, personal care service providers may be tempted to hire low cost caregivers. This program provides the essential knowledge to safely navigate the complex rules when hiring immigrants-legal and nonlegal workers.

Objectives:

• Identify federal laws applicable to hiring immigrant workers.
• Explain standards to follow when hiring a foreign worker with a proper visa.
• Recognize the consequences of hiring an illegal immigrant .

Faculty: TBD ;

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

Hospice, Clinical & Disease Management

Beyond Opioids: Adjuvant Drug Therapy

Approximately one in five adults or 48 million Americans suffer from chronic pain and over 30 million Americans suffer from chronic, non-malignant pain. Untreated pain can cause detrimental effects on a patient's social and spiritual well-being. Pain is a subjective experience and it is whatever the patient says it is. Choosing a pain management regimen should include adjuvant therapy whenever possible if it can maximize total pain relief. Adjuvants can be used to manage neuropathic, bone and visceral pain syndromes. By the end of the course, each participant should be able to recognize the effects of untreated pain and ineffective pain management; describe how pain is classified, and recommend appropriate adjuvant therapies based on the suspected pain etiology, type of pain and various patient specific factors.

Objectives:

• Recognize the effects of untreated pain and ineffective pain management.
• Describe how pain is classified.
• Recommend appropriate adjuvant therapy.

Faculty: Rebecca Lewis, PharmD MBA, VP, New Business Development, Excellerx, Philadelphia, PA; Nippa Doshi, RPh, PharmD (c), Assistant Director, New Business Development, Hospice Pharmacia, Philadephia, PA;

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

Sunday, October 15 1:15pm-2:45pm

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development

Targeting the Baby Boomers: Try These Innovative Private Pay Services

The baby boomer generation has influenced American society throughout their adult lives. The marketplace across all industries has developed products and services to meet their needs and desires. Now they need to take care of Mom & Dad who are aging. This presents an opportunity for you to connect directly with the decision makers who will look to private pay providers to take care of Mom & Dad. This workshop will first explore the demographics of the baby boom generation; then how to market to them effectively; and finally introduce several innovative types of services that baby boomers will be looking to obtain for their parents.

Objectives:

• Evaluate how the demographic trends presented by the baby boom generation will impact private pay home care.
• Employ marketing and communication techniques to reach baby boomers who are making care decisions for their parents.
• Create an implementation plan for at least three new types of home care services targeted to baby boomers as the customer.

Faculty: Patricia Drea, VP Operations, Visiting Angels, Havertown, PA; Mike Ferris, Principal, Home Care Marketing Solutions, Chapel Hill, NC; Panel of providers offering innovative services. ;

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

Clinical & Disease Management, Financial

ICD-9-CM Basics: Coding for Compliance

Correct ICD-9-CM coding is critical for accurate outcome measurement and payment. This program will provide a basic overview of diagnosis coding purposes and principles for home health agencies. Guidance will be given on how to develop and maintain a coding compliance/reference manual to ensure up-to-date and accurate primary and secondary diagnosis coding including manifestation codes and V-codes. Advice on how to code accurately for PPS case-mix will be provided. New information on ICD-9-CM coding changes effective 10/1/06 that impact home health will be presented.

Objectives:

• Discuss coding principles and OASIS coding guidance that are the basis for primary and secondary diagnosis codes.
• Describe components of a coding compliance manual.
• Identify appropriate case mix diagnoses and their impact on case mix weight calculation.

Faculty: Ida Kay Blevins, RHIA, Supervisor, Reimbursement and Information Management, St. John's Hospital Home Health Services, Springfield, IL;

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

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management, Telehealth & Technology

Guaranteed or Your Money BackHow to Reduce Rehospitalization

In this session you will learn about a system guaranteed to reduce rehospitalization and emergent care. Audit tools, risk assessments, telehealth protocols, best practices, TelephonicVisits SM/Care Calls components, and team communication methodologies will be presented that have proven to produce dramatic results in improving these critical outcomes for one home care company. All home care providers are focused on improving acute care hospitalization and emergent care outcomes. As pay for performance and disease management loom closer, that focus becomes vital to survival in tomorrow's home care environment.

Objectives:

• Discuss and identify national and organizational goals for reduction of acute care hospitalization.
• Describe specific areas of focus common to most home health agencies.
• Identify best practices to achieve best outcomes.

Faculty: Lynda Laff, BSN, Chief Operating Officer, Island Health Care, Inc., Savannah, GA; Ellen Bolch, MSN, MHA, President & CEO, THA Services and Island Health Care, Inc., Savannah, GA;

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

Managed Care, Financial

A Primer on Medicare Advantage

With the onset of the new Medicare drug benefit and the increase in financial support from Congress, the Medicare Advantage program is taking on a new role in the life and times of home care. Increasing enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) has home care rethinking how to do business with the various types of plans. This program provides a primer on the MA program: the variety of MA plan types, the scope of the home health benefit, provider qualifications, provider payment rate requirements, provider contracting requirements, beneficiary cost-sharing standards, notice and appeal rights, MA marketing limitations, enrollment/disenrollment standards, and more.

Objectives:

• Identify the types of Medicare Advantage plans available.
• Describe the responsibilities of MA plans with respect to the scope of the home health benefits that must be part of the plan.
• Explain the nature of the discretion that MA plans have on establishing provider payment rates and beneficiary cost-sharing.

Faculty: Christine C. Rinn, Esq., Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, DC;

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

Emergency & Pandemic Preparedness, Financial, Management & Human Resources

Business Resiliency: The Key to Surviving a Disaster

This seminar will focus on effective business continuity and resiliency planning skills. Agencies need to be prepared for any and all types of disasters. This means having the ability to resume business as usual, as quickly as possible. Statistics show that 80 percent of businesses that are not up and running within one to two weeks after a disaster will most likely go out of business. Topics to be discussed in this session are communications, notification systems, financial reserves, insurance, and much more.

Objectives:

• Identify the key variables in business resiliency.
• Develop an agency specific recovery plan.
• Discuss management's role in business resiliency.

Faculty: Barbara Citarella, RN, BSN, MS, CHCE, CHS-III, President, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY;

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

Marketing & Business Development, Telehealth & Technology

Marketing Telehealth: Top 10 Practices Revealed!

An emerging technology, telehealth is increasingly being evaluated and implemented by home care providers as a tool to increase revenue, decrease costs, and improve patient outcomes. While there are many dimensions to implementing a telehealth program successfully, marketing strategy is critical. Attendees will learn specific strategies that will help them grow patient referrals, gain new referral relationships, generate positive PR in their communities, and increase the return on investment.

Objectives:

• Describe the context for telehealth marketing.
• Cite the top 10 methods for marketing telehealth.
• Discuss a case study of the VNS of the Northwest, and their effort to market telehealth to private payors.

Faculty: Heather Rooney, President, H2 Marketing, Seattle, WA; Patricia Mulhern, RN, MN, Vice President, Patient Services, Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest, Mountlake Terrace, WA;

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

Marketing & Business Development

How to Win Accounts from Your Competitors without Saying Anything Bad about Them

Mediocre service benefits no one! Learn how to get the competition fired! Participants will discover how to win new business by getting your prospects to see they are being underserved without saying anything bad about the competition. Learn the selling strategies of how to drive a wedge between your customer and your competitor.

Objectives:

• Identify how to drive a wedge between your prospect and inferior providers.
• Identify the research you need to win: find your winning difference, competitors' vulnerabilities, and identify your powerful competitive advantage.
• Discuss the six steps of the Wedge Sales Call and the five money-making activities of sales people.

Faculty: Judy Wilson, RN, BSN, Vice President Business Development, Restorative Health Care, San Antonio, TX; Greg Mazick, RN, BSN, Director of Pediatric Services, Restorative Healthcare, San Antonio, TX;

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

Private Pay, Financial

27 Techniques to Boost Your Private Pay Revenues Overnight

This interactive program will deliver to attendees 27 high growth strategies that have been proven to deliver results at agencies across the country. The presenters will offer the participants an interactive program designed only for those agencies that are serious about growing their business dramatically. The 27 strategies encompass real world sales and marketing tactics that include: advertising, direct mail, collateral materials, sales strategies, closing techniques, intake processes, leveraging the investment in sales and marketing, tracking systems, and much more!

Objectives:

• Identify the best strategies to grow hours and census.
• Recognize marketing techniques to make the phone ring.
• Utilize sales training for all agency staff.

Faculty: Michael Ferris, Managing Principal, Home Care Marketing Solutions, Chapel Hill, NC; Heather Rooney, President, H2 Marketing, Seattle, WA;

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

Telehealth & Technology, Quality & Outcomes

Incorporating Telehealth into Standard Clinical Practices

Telehealth is gaining prominence as a highly practical and economic solution to overseeing a growing population with fewer and fewer nurses. Two home health agencies, through lessons learned, barriers, and best practices, will demonstrate how telehealth can be successfully incorporated into the best nursing practices. Proven telehealth models will be discussed in detail, including patient selection, staffing, costs, level of effort, implementation, training, return on investment, and improved outcomes.

Objectives:

• Identify best practices for implementing a telehealth program into existing nursing practices.
• Formulate a return on investment equation for a telehealth program.
• Recognize the ways in which telehealth improves quality of care and patient outcomes.

Faculty: Gina Petersen, RN, MSN, CPHQ , Chief Information Officer, Neighborhood Health Agencies, Inc., West Chester, PA; Amy Peck, RN, Clinical Project Manager, McKesson, Springfield, MO; Karen McAndris, RN, MSN, CPHQ, Director of QI / Staff Education, Valley Home Care, Inc., Paramus, NJ; Ellen McAndris, RN, MPA, CNA,C, Director Professional / Clinical Services, Valley Home Care, Inc., Paramus, NJ; Elaine Davis, RN, Manager, Telemedicine, Valley Home Care, Inc., Paramus, NJ;

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

Management & Human Resources

Health, Humor and Harmony in Home Care

This program will get everyone singing about Home Care for the Health of it! A TeachSING method will be utilized involving the participants in de-stressing while recognizing that the therapeutic use of humor can be just what the doctor ordered for the client and the caregiver. Learn how to decrease your stress while finding opportunities to meet the many challenges you face in home care.

Objectives:

• Explain the significance of the Holms-Rhae Social Readjustment Ratings Scale on illness, identifying stressors and the effect of "change" on one's health.
• Identify at least two physical and psychological benefits that can be derived by using or receiving humor.
• Demonstrate participant's current use of humor and its perceived effect on self and others.

Faculty: Lawrence Brennan, BSN, MS, RN, Administrative Supervisor, Community-General Hospital of Greater Syracuse, Syracuse, NY; Rosa Cunha, BSN, RN, Performance Improvement Manager, Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, Englewood , NJ;

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

Financial

Cost Report 101A: How to Complete a Medicare HHA Cost Report

Cost reports provide critical information for rebasing PPS payments. Yet more than 20% of home health cost reports are improperly prepared, with unusable cost data. This program is designed to demonstrate to the participant the basic structure and understanding of the Medicare cost report. The program will explore in depth the various worksheets that make up the cost report, along with the CMS 339 questionnaire and other required attachments. This session will also help participants understand what information can be developed from an accurate and completed cost report.

Objectives:

• Explain the basic structure and understanding of the Medicare cost report.
• Examine the various worksheets that make up the cost report along with the 339 questionnaire and other required attachments.
• Assess what information can be developed from an accurate and completed cost report.

Faculty: Thomas Boyd, BA, MBA, Principal, Boyd & Nicholas, Inc., Rohnert Park, CA; Vern Peterschmidt, BS, President, Reimbursement Specialist, Peterschmidt & Associates, Albuquerque, NM;

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

Quality & Outcomes, Management & Human Resources

Investing in Staff Performance for Higher Returns in P4P

Agency leaders are striving to find ways to enhance staff accountability as they prepare for pay for performance (P4P). The agency competency assessment and performance evaluation are excellent vehicles that, if revised, can be used to achieve new standing. Today's competency assessment and performance evaluation tools are primarily subjective, and not often designed to achieve this end. These tools need a fresh, new design to support home health leadership as it prepares to transition to an outcomes-based culture necessary to succeed in a pay for performance environment. Attendees will be shown concise steps for revising their existing tools. Take-home examples will be provided.

Objectives:

• Describe how staff competency and performance can affect care quality and affect agency financials.
• Integrate agency's best practices and clinical outcomes into staff competency and performance.
• Determine the financial impact of employee performance on agency financial outcomes.

Faculty: Melinda Huffman, MSN, CCNS, Principal Consultant, OUTCOME Logics, Inc., Winchester, TN; Sherry Taylor, AD, CHCE, Director, Homecare Operations, Quorum Health Resources, Brentwood, TN;

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

Clinical & Disease Management

Treating the Whole Patient: Detecting and Managing Depression

Ithaca-New York-based Cornell University's Weill Medical Schooil has been engaged in a projectg with three home health agencies in Westchester County, NY, to address mental health issues of home health patients. The project is called the Cornell Homecare Research Partnership. Depression is a condition that frequently goes undetected but can have a significant impact on the well-being and recovery of patients. Participants will learn about late life depression in home care, its impact on service utilization, and general strategies for depression detection and care management by non-mental health clinicians that were found to be highly successful during the project.

Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of late life depression in home care and impact on service use and outcomes.
• Identify core symptoms of depression in the context of OASIS assessment.
• Describe the five core components of effective antidepressant medication management.

Faculty: Martha L. Bruce, PhD, MPH, Professor of Sociology in Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY; Thomas Sheeran, PhD, ME, Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY; Amy , MS, LMSW, Research Coordinator, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY;

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

Hospice

LifeWorks: A Planetree Palliative Care Model for a Rural Outpatient Population

Palliation of mind/body/spirit distress and discomfort is often helpful when patients continue seeking curative therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. An interdisciplinary team is used to respond to patient needs, provide pain management, facilitate end-of-life care planning, and maxamize quality of life/patient vitality. The team also works to prepare the patient, his or her family, and physician for the transition to hospice in keeping with patient readiness, eligibility, end of life care planning, and physician orders. Availability of private/public funding partnerships will also be shared.

Objectives:

• Describe the LifeWorks Palliative Care Program Model.
• Discuss integrative medicine approaches to pain and symptom management.
• Discuss patient outcomes and highlight plans for the future.

Faculty: Joyce Stone, RN BSN, RN Case Manger, MidColumbia Medical Center, The Dalles, OR; Susan Shipman, RN, M.Div, Director of Spiritual Care, MidColumbia Medical Center, The Dalles, OR; Kathleen , MSW, LCSW, Social Worker, MidColumbia Medical Center, The Dalles, OR;

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

Hospice

Bereavement Care in Hospice

In order to understand the complexities of bereavement, concepts and theories of grief and loss will be explored, focusing on Kubler-Ross and Worden's theories. Hospice professionals and volunteers who support patients, families, and survivors will be educated on the normal expressions of grief, the different styles of grieving, disenfranchised grief, and grief in the workplace (particularly the hospice setting). The hospice bereavement program will be discussed, including a comprehensive bereaved risk assessment upon which the plan of care is based, and methods of supporting survivors, both in hospice and in the community.

Objectives:

• Define two concepts of grief and loss.
• Identify three manifestations of grief.
• Identify three aspects of a hospice bereavement program.

Faculty: Susan Blakeslee, MA, LMHC, Clinical Associate, UHSA, Inc., Atlanta, GA; Melanie Gossard, RNC, Director of Nursing, UHC, Inc., Bellefontaine, OH;

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