Annual Meeting Educational Sessions

SESSION TRACKS

Clinical & Disease Management Sponsored by:

Finance Sponsored by:

Hospice & Palliative Care Sponsored by:

Human Resources

Information Technology Sponsored by:

Leadership

Legal/Regulatory Sponsored by:

Marketing & Business Development Sponsored by:

Private Pay/Private Duty Sponsored by:

Quality Sponsored by:

Telehealth Sponsored by:

Therapy

COURSE SCHEDULES

Sunday Courses

Monday Courses

Tuesday Courses

Sunday, October 3, 2010
   100 Series: 11:30am–1:00pm
   200 Series: 1:15pm–2:45pm

Monday, October 4, 2010
   300 Series: 8:00am–9:30am
   400 Series: 2:30pm–4:00pm
   500 Series: 4:15pm–5:45pm

Tuesday, October 5, 2010
   600 Series: 8:00am–9:30am
   700 Series: 2:30pm–4:00pm
   800 Series: 4:15pm–5:45pm

Sunday, October 07, 2007; 11:30am-1:00pm

Quality & Outcomes

102–"I Made the Visit - What Else Do You Expect?" The Art of Successful Therapy Documentation

Presenters will review common tests/measures available to PT/OT/SLP and documentation expectations to support coding of therapy services, including commonly used Ògait abnormalityÓ/Òmuscle weakness.Ó Fall risk using a variation of the Berg Balance Test will be discussed along with nursing's role in identification of appropriate therapy clients.

Objectives:

• Identify three standardized measures for therapy home health services.
• Cite key components of an agency's therapy service documentation standards.
• Assess therapy documentation for supportive diagnostic coding.

Faculty: Diana Kornetti, MA, PT, HCS-D, COS-C, Administrator, Co-Owner, Integrity Home Health Care, Inc., Ocala, FL; Sparkle Sparks, PT, MPT, HCS-D, COS-C, Senior Associate Consultatnt, OASIS Answers, Inc., Redmond, WA; Wendy Boyher, BSc, OTR/L, Chief Operations Officer, Director of Rehab, Integrity Home Health Care, Inc., Ocala, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

103–Laptop Security, Be Careful Out There

Has your staff ever lost a laptop? What would you do to deal with the data loss and likely breach of patients' private health information? Real world security problems are presented along with real world solutions. Implications of data loss, organizational attitudes as threats to software security are described.

Objectives:

• Security - what is it? Identify security issues with laptops.
• Describe elements of a security plan.
• Discuss how to foster an organizational security attitude.

Faculty: Mary Beth Marciniak, RN, BSN, Supervisor of Application Development, Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; Chrissy Constant, Business Application Analyst, VNA of Wisconsin, Aurora, WI; Robert Swenson, Senior Solution Designer, Cerner BeyondNow, Kansas City, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Outcomes

104–Improving Outcomes for Patients with Heart Failure Using a Cost Effective Approach

Heart failure is the single most frequent cause of hospitalization among the elderly. Older adults are more likely to suffer from serious co-morbidities such as diabetes or renal insufficiency which further complicate their medical management if they develop heart failure. The presenter will discuss results of a pilot study using evidence-based approach, collaborating with the patient, clinician and physician to improve management of heart failure patients in the home.

Objectives:

• Discuss patient barriers to self management of chronic disease.
• List at least two outcome measures that improved overall.
• Identify the benefits of the impact of improved agency cost outcomes.

Faculty: Carmen Adams, DNSc, RNC, Performance Improvement Manager, VNS of CT, Trumbull, CT; Patricia Slavin, RN, BSN, Education Manager, VNS of CT, Trumbull, CT; Sheryl Williams, RN, BSN, Education; Coordinator/HHA Program, VNS of CT, Trumbull, CT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices

105–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Assessing Risk, Phone Monitoring and Front-Loading Visits

Patients admitted to home care often have multiple health problems that put them at high risk for hospitalization. It is essential to identify these patients at the initiation of services and to apply monitoring and scheduling techniques for high-risk patients. Risk factors, effective assessment strategies and proactive steps agencies can take to monitor at-risk patients will be addressed in this presentation.

Objectives:

• Identify causative factors that indicate the risk of hospitalization.
• Incorporate risk assessments into daily agency operations.
• Apply advanced telephone and scheduling techniques for patients identified as high risk.

Faculty: Misty Kevech, RN, MS, Training and Communications Manager, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Lori M. Metzger, MSN, CRPN, RN-C, Berwick Hospital Home Health, Berwick, PA; Barb Viola, RN, QI Coordinator, RMH Home Health Care, Harrisonburg, VA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Clinical & Disease Management

106–Developing and Using Home Care Standards of Practice to Manage Medicare Advantage Patients

A work group from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts' Clinical Directors Group embarked on a two-year process to develop standards of practice for use in a managed care environment that represent the consensus of senior home health care practitioners in the fields of nursing, rehabilitation, hospice and quality improvement. The results of the project are shared with attendees.

Objectives:

• Discuss the demographics of Massachusetts.
• Cite the environment that led to the development of standards.
• Discuss the process and highlights of standards development and utilization.

Faculty: Helen Siegel, RN, MS, MBA, Directory of Regulatory & Clinical Affairs, Home Care Alliance of MA, Boston, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Management & Human Resources, Hospice

109–Recruiting and Retaining the Gamer Generation

This program will give you a glimpse into the minds of the Gen X and Nexter ÒgamersÓ who have grown up in the world of technology. How do you interest them in your workplace? Presenters will provide tools to interview, recruit and retain the generation and interest them in a field where taking care of people is the game of the day.

Objectives:

• Identify characteristics of the gamer generation and how they affect the workplace.
• Demonstrate ways to recruit the gamer generation.
• Describe ways to retain and develop caring employees in this age group.

Faculty: Marcylle Combs, RN, BS, CHCE, President/Owner, Foundation Managment Services, Denton, TX; Brenda Beggs, RN, CHCE, Vice President Clinical Operations, Foundation Management Services, Denton, TX; Michelle Livesay, RN, BSN, CHCE, Regional Director of Telemedicine, Foundation Management Services, Denton, TX;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Telehealth & Technology

110–The Next Frontier - Pioneering Telehealth Private Pay

Learn key strategies and considerations for pioneering a private pay telehealth program within your agency. Learn how an agency has pioneered telehealth private pay by exploring pilot opportunities and engaging in creative viral marketing strategies. This session will explore key considerations when developing a private pay program, while delving into case studies.

Objectives:

• Cite key emerging market trends that will impact telehealth and home care service delivery.
• Discuss key considerations of developing a private pay telehealth program.
• Cite examples of private pay telehealth programs.

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

Course Level: Novice/Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Hospice

111–CQI Denver Investigates: Is Telehealth the Silver Bullet?

This session will discuss the challenges of telehealth program development and implementation, describe the educational strategies utilized to integrate the program into daily operations, and identify the impact of telehealth on the agency's patient population. Results of staff satisfaction surveys with the telehealth program and analysis of in-house telehealth referral patterns will be shared.

Objectives:

• Discuss challenges of telehealth program development and implementation.
• Describe the educational strategies utilized to integrate a telehealth program.
• Identify the impact of telehealth programs on the agency's population.

Faculty: Carol Conrad, RN, BSN, MEd, Quality Improvement Manager, Neighborhood Health Agencies, West Chester, PA; Stephanie Kessler, MSN, RN, Telehealth Nurse Coordinator, Neighborhood Health Agencies, West Chester, PA; Elizabeth Fuller, RN, BSN, MSN, Staff Development Coordinator, Neighborhood Health Agencies, West Chester, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice

112–Decision Making and Negotiation at the End of Life

Understand the factors that affect decision making in hospice & palliative care settings. Learn practical strategies and methods for facilitating decisions with patients and families.

Objectives:

• Discuss factors that affect decision making in hospice and palliative care settings.
• Identify practical strategies for facilitating decisions with patients and families.
• Cite methods for helping patients and families deal with uncertainty and conflicting information.

Faculty: Joseph Straton, MD, MSCE, Chief Medical Director, Wissahickon Hospice, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

113–The Hospice Medicare Benefit: The Grey Zone

This program has been designed to update hospice providers on the most current interpretations of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Using a format similar to popular trivia games, participants will have the opportunity to receive information on the 'grey zone' areas of the benefit, increase understanding of the current benefit interpretations and receive innovative education materials to take back to teach staff.

Objectives:

• Identify the purpose of innovative staff education.
• Give an overview of the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
• Describe two grey areas in the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

Faculty: Annette Lee, MS, RN, COS-C, Clinical Product Development Specialist, The Corridor Group, DesMoines, IA; Mary Ann Tsourounakis, RN, MS, Clinical Services Coordinator, Metropolitan Jewish Hospice and Home Care, Brooklyn , NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness, Leadership, Hospice

114–Business Resiliency Planning: How to Prepare for the Next Katrina or Major Catastrophe

In the event of a disaster, how can you deliver seamless service to your customers and ensure patient safety and uninterrupted care? The presenter will discuss the industry's current level of preparedness to meet the challenges of an ever-increasing reliance on technology and the threats of our world based on a survey conducted during the 25th NAHC Annual Meeting in 2006. Learn survey results as well as tips on preparing a comprehensive business continuity plan and program.

Objectives:

• Identify key variables in business resiliency.
• Describe the development of an agency-specific recovery plan.
• Discuss management's role in championing business resiliency.

Faculty: Keith Crownover, President and CEO, Delta Health Technologies, Altoona , PA; Thomas J. Kristofco, Senior Vice President, Paradigm Solutions International, Altoona, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate/Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

115–A Pointed Look at Your Role in Needle Stick Prevention in the Community

Changes in health care delivery have created a dangerous situation for the community and environmental services workers. Patients treating illnesses at home through self-injection are offered limited needle disposal solutions. Community disposal of sharps is subject to little or no regulations outside the health care setting, even though these sharps pose the same health risks as those used inside the health care setting - and the case can be made that there are more risks. Find out the solution. What important role can you play?

Objectives:

• Define the problem and glossary of terms related to needle disposal.
• Identify the six fundamentals that support safe needle disposal.
• Identify how needle disposal policy and protocols fit into your organization's safety initiatives.

Faculty: Jennifer Schumann, Executive Director , Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal, Houston, TX; Tina Marrelli, MSN, MA, RN, President, Marrelli & Associates, Inc., Boca Grande, FL; Mary Carr, RN, Associate Director for Regulatory Affairs, National Association of Home Care and Hospice, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

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

116–Successful Technology: Building the Bridge from Acute to Post Acute Care

This program will present winning technology strategies to successfully transition patients across the continuum of care from the acute to the post acute setting. The technology transformation with a computerized patient record system and field automation for POC documentation, bridged with a discharge planning application, resulted in significant clinical, operational and financial gains for the agency.

Objectives:

• Describe two continuum of care challenges facing a multi-system home care provider.
• Identify electronic implementation strategies to bridge acute care with post acute care.
• Discuss positive operational, financial, and clinical outcomes from implementation of electronic systems.

Faculty: Cindy Vunovich, RN, BSN, Administrator, Cleveland Clinic Home Care, Independence, OH; Darlene Zakrajsek, MS,PT, Executive Administrator of Post Acute Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland , OH; Musood Prizada, MS, BS, Director Information Technology, Post Acute Medici, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Sunday, October 07, 2007; 1:15pm-2:45pm

Quality & Outcomes

202–Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About OBQI Outcomes Data (and Risk-Adjustment)

This session will provide a clear overview of official CMS calculations behind the OBQI Outcome Reports - a brief history of the risk models developed for the publicly reported outcomes; the risk-adjustment formulas used for the OBQI Outcome Reports and Home Health Compare; which patients are included/excluded in each outcome measure; and common myths as well as misunderstandings about the data will be discussed. Discover how one agency has proactively managed and incorporated their outcome reports within all levels of their organization.

Objectives:

• Recognize the impact of OASIS coding on risk-adjustment and outcome rates.
• Demonstrate valuable local, statewide, and national outcome benchmarking using available CMS data.
• Incorporate OBQI outcomes into organizational performance goals.

Faculty: Sean Hunt, Lead Data Analyst, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Debra Studeny, RN, Administrator, Celtic Homecare, Mars, PA; William Gammie, VP of Business Services, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Financial, Hospice

203–Provider Enrollment: Are You Ready?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made major changes to the provider enrollment process last year that affect both new and existing home health agencies & Hospices. This program will furnish clear guidance regarding WHAT and WHEN to file, and WHY you need to file accurate information.

Objectives:

• Identify occurrences that require filing full applications, changes of information and changes of ownership.
• List the information that needs to be furnished.
• Discuss the fraud and abuse aspects of these filings.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Clinical & Disease Management

204–Patient Education: The 800-Pound Gorilla in Disease Management

Home care is key to disease management. However, the 800 Pound Gorilla is patient education. Learn how one agency reduced services by seven visits per episode for COPD, Diabetes and CHF clients using telehealth and patient education booklets.

Objectives:

• Describe the importance of effective patient education in disease management.
• Review opportunities for visit reduction, marketing and program development with an effective program.
• Describe use of a Patient Education Program in traditional homecare, Telehealth and Disease Management.

Faculty: Stephany Bauff, Visiting Nurse Services, Inc., Indianapolis, IN; Joan Haizlip, RN, CS, MS, Program and Education Consultant, VNA First, Naperville, IL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices, Hospice

205–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Patient Emergency Plans and Teletriage

Every home health agency has some system in place for triaging and responding to patient emergencies. However, these systems are often not effective in meeting patient emergency needs and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations. This session will illustrate how to assess deficits in existing agency systems, and implement state-of-the-art emergency planning and teletriage practices.

Objectives:

• Determine key assets and deficits in your agency's emergency plans and teletriage system.
• Design and advance your agency's teletriage system to assure optimal patient outcomes.
• Link emergency plans and teletriage system to predict and prevent emergent care and hospitalizations.

Faculty: Eve Esslinger, RN, BSN, MS, Project Manager, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA; Trina Grove, RN, Clinical Education Coordinator, Lutheran Home Care Services, Chambersburh, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Financial

206–Costing Out and Pricing Home Care Services for Managed Care

One of the most serious mistakes a home care agency can make is underestimating the value (and cost) of the services it provides. Accurately determining the cost of providing services can be particularly thorny when an agency contracts with a managed care entity by the visit, but otherwise delivers care (and views expenses) on an episodic basis. This session is designed to provide in-depth guidance on methods to accurately determine costs for providing care.

Objectives:

• Discuss how to cost-out and price your agency's services.
• Describe methods to accurately determine costs for providing care.

Faculty: Donna M. Gouveia, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Visiting Nurse Service of Greater RI, Lincoln, RI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Management & Human Resources

207–Wage and Hour Law Issues in Home Care: Minimum Wage, Overtime Compensation and Beyond

A perennial concern for home care businesses is the complex world of compliance with state and federal laws regulating employee compensation. Can you pay on a per visit basis? If so, how can you account for in-service and documentation activities? When do you have to pay overtime? How are you required to count Òhours worked?Ó These and many other questions will be answered in this ADVANCED version of the ever popular program on home care employee compensation law.

Objectives:

• Identify federal and state law standards for employee compensation.
• Discuss the options available for compensation to home care professionals and non-professionals.
• Describe the documentation requirements to track time worked by employees.

Faculty: John Gilliland, Esq., Partner, Gilliliand, Markette, and Milligan, LLP, Indianpolis, IN;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial, Quality & Outcomes

208–OASIS Integrity: The Battle for Accuracy and Managing Case Mix Weight

Since the introduction of OASIS assessments to Home Health, our industry has responded with training, teleconferences, auditing and leadership seminars conducted internally and attended externally. This presentation will share what worked and didn't work over the three years the agency has engaged in the battle for OASIS integrity.

Objectives:

• Discuss the relationship between OASIS integrity and achieving financial goals.
• Discuss case mix weight as the ultimate executive benchmark and financial barometer.
• Describe the critical spread in case mix weighting.

Faculty: H. Kenneth McNulty, Vice President Finance, VNA of Boston, Charlestown, MA; Rhonda Will, RN, BS, Assistant Director of OASIS Integrity Institute, Fazzi Associates, Inc, Northampton,, MA; Melanie Duerr, RN, MS, ANP, Vice President for Certified Services, VNA of Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, NY;

Course Level: Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Management & Human Resources

209–Moving from Contract to In-House: Strategies for Building and Managing a Successful Therapy Program

This session provides proven strategies for those who supervise therapists. Tools for monitoring the effectiveness of the program will be shared and discussed and will outline proven recruitment strategies for securing therapists to work directly for agencies. Real life examples and lessons learned that will assist therapists and non-therapists alike.

Objectives:

• Discuss strategies for recruiting and retaining therapy staff at the appropriate level.
• Explore data analysis needed to maintain a high-quality therapy program.
• Identify leadership skills needed for effectively managing a therapy team.

Faculty: Cindy Krafft, MS, PT, COS-C, Consultant, Independant, Peoria, IL; Lisa Sholts, OTR, Rehabilitation Manager, OSF Home Care, Peoria, IL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development

210–Integrating Care Management Services with Private Pay Home Care

Adding care management services can facilitate future success for your private pay agency using a strengths-based, consumer-centered approach to chronic care. The discussion will also include some of the emerging technologies that will enable you to provide a broader array of services through an empowerment model.

Objectives:

• Compare care management and home care case management.
• Describe the benefits of an interdisciplinary team to deliver home based services.
• Plan for integration of a medical and social model of service delivery using interdisciplinary team skills.

Faculty: Rona Bartelstone, LCSW, BCD, CMC, C-ASWCM, CSW-G, QCSW, CEO, Rona Bartelstone Care Management & Home Healthcare, Fort Lauderdale, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice, Financial

212–Our Hospice Raised $235,000 with this Free Event - You Can Too!

Ministry Home Care joined with Grammy-nominee Karen Taylor-Good to create a powerful celebration for the company's Wisconsin hospices. Experience the event and learn how to replicate it in your area.

Objectives:

• Identify the impetus for developing this model of fundraising and outreach.
• Describe the model for the Gift of Hospice event including planning and follow up activities.
• Articulate the short- and long-range outcomes of this model of fundraising and outreach.

Faculty: Liz Sheahan, BSW, MA, Community Outreach Coordinator, Ministry Home Care, Inc., Marshfield, WI; Karen Taylor-Good, Karen Taylor-Good Enterprises, Nashville, TN;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice

213–Avoid Hospice Emergency Calls with a "Comfort Pack" Protocol

Presenters will share their ÒComfort PackÓ protocol developed to manage symptoms of an emergent nature common in end-of-life care. Attendees will learn how the program was cost effectively implemented, resulting in greater customer satisfaction for patients, families, physicians and staff.

Objectives:

• Discuss development and purpose of a Comfort Pack protocol.
• List contents of a Comfort Pack.
• Cite the benefits of a Comfort Pack protocol.

Faculty: Dodie Brown, Director, Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice, Rapid City, SD; Brandi Tackett, RPh, PharmD, Pharmacist, Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, SD;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

214–State Quarantine Laws and the Pandemic Threat: The Challenges of Preparedness Planning to Home Health Care & Hospice

The possibility of an influenza pandemic faces the nation and includes challenges to the field of home health care & Hospice. Questions raised are 'What are quarantine laws,' and 'To what extent are home health care agencies & Hospice administratively and clinically prepared for a pandemic flu and the imposition of quarantine laws?'

Objectives:

• Discuss illustrative state quarantine laws.
• Identify government and multisector roles and preparedness for a pandemic flu.
• Identify potential administrative and policy recommendations.

Faculty: Darryl Crompton, JD, MPH, Healthcare Policy Consultant, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate/Advanced; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

215–Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice

This session presents the 2006 Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice. Selected Standards will be discussed within the context of home care with emphasis on the latest research and evidence. Recommendations for home health agencies to ensure knowledge, competency and documentation for home health nurses will also be shared.

Objectives:

• Describe the purpose of the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice.
• Discuss selected standards applicable to home care.
• Identify areas of practice where nursing knowledge and competency should be assessed.

Faculty: Lisa Gorski, MS, APRN, BC, CRNI, FAAN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Wheaton Franciscan Home Health & Hospice, Milwaukee, WI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development, Financial

216–Sales and Marketing Strategies for Maximum Success in the New World of PPS

Will PPS reform be good or bad for referrals? Find out from one of the leading experts in the field of home care and hospice sales and marketing. This dynamic session focused on how to adapt your sales and marketing programs for maximum results. You undoubtedly have studied the financial impact and clinical adjustments needed to succeed Ð have you determined how to tweak your sales and marketing? This interactive session will delve into the sales and marketing strategic considerations for agencies wishing to grow and profit under the proposed PPS rule.

Objectives:

• Cite the impact of PPS reform on your referrals
• Discover how to proactively refine your strategies for maximum success
• Discuss optimal structure of incentive and bonus programs
• Prepare a list of three strategies for immediate implementation

Faculty: Michael T. Ferris, Managing Principal, Home Care and Hospice Marketing Solutions, Chapel Hill, NC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Monday, October 08, 2007; 10:30am-12:00pm

Prospective Payment

301–The New Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System: An Overview

The beginning of 2008 will mean the initiation of a significantly reformed and revised Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS). The new system will include radical changes in the case mix adjustment standards along with reforms in the structure of the payment methodology. It is expected that the 2008 HHPPS will mean major shifts in payment rates and trigger behavioral changes in response. This program provides a detailed overview of the new HHPPS.

Objectives:

• Identify the differences between the existing and new HHPPS.
• Explain the changes in the case mix adjustment system.
• Recognize the behavioral changes that Medicare expects in the new HHPPS.

Faculty: Mary St. Pierre, MGA, BSN, RN, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Inc, Washington, DC; William A. Dombi, Esq., Vice President for Law, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Inc., Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Outcomes, Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

302–Pharmacy Program in a Home Health Care Agency - a Win-Win Proposition

This program will describe how one urban home care agency identified a need for a pharmacist in the home health care setting and will discuss an innovative concept of a pharmacist in the home to improve medication reconciliation. Program operationalization and benefits to the patients and clinicians are included.

Objectives:

• Identify reasons for a pharmacist in the home health care setting.
• Describe the role of a pharmacist in a home health care agency.
• Discuss the Pharmacy Program Outcomes.

Faculty: Virginia Tritschler, RN, MHA, Director Risk, Quality & Regulatory Affairs, Visiting Nurse Association of Boston, Charlestown, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

303–Antifraud Programs and Controls - Why the Time is Right

In recent years regulators, investors and clients have lowered their tolerance for corporate bad behavior. Determine if your organization is doing enough to prevent fraud and unethical behavior. The session will be interactive from polling questions to the use of case studies to building an antifraud program.

Objectives:

• Discuss the current compliance environment.
• Identify and discuss ethics and compliance programs.
• Recognize principles for effective design and implementation of an antifraud and control program.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Best Practices, Hospice

305–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Physician Relationships

Home health patients often are sent to the hospital unnecessarily because of a breakdown in communication between health care providers. Physician communication and relationships are key to best practice for prevention of avoidable hospitalization. The presenters will describe strategies and systems to support optimal and consistent communication with physicians.

Objectives:

• Assess your agency's relationship with your key physicians.
• Design a system to support optimal and consistent physician relationships.
• Integrate physician communication strategies into your agency orientation, competency assessments and reward/recognition programs.

Faculty: Eve Esslinger, RN, BSN, MS, Project Manager, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA; Chris Bernes, RN, CPHQ, Project Coordinator, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA; Lori M. Metzger, MSN, CRPN, RN-C, Berwick Hospital Home Health, Berwick, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Financial

306–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, RN, BSN, CCM, President & CEO, The Home Care Association of New Jersey, Princeton Junction, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Marketing & Business Development

307–The Care and Feeding of Your Referral Base: Using Outcomes Data to Become the Provider of Choice

Differing needs of referral sources provide home care agencies with the opportunity to offer a variety of data. Strategic use of outcome-based data can positively effect your position as provider of choice. This session will help agencies compete in an increasingly challenging arena of competition.

Objectives:

• Identify differing key referral sources and their differing needs.
• Differentiate between effective OASIS outcomes and agency customized supplemental outcomes.
• Demonstrate effective outcomes presentations that will win over referral sources.

Faculty: Laurie Salmons, RN, BSN, Principal Consultant, OUTCOMELogics, Inc., Knoxville, TN; Lamar Jackson, BS, Account Executive, Amedisys/Housecall Home Health, Knoxville, TN; Keri Ruffell, BS, MBA, Director of Business Development, Strategic Health Programs, Santa Barbara, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial, Leadership, Hospice

308–Winning Strategies for Managing the Billing Process

Home care agencies cannot continue to provide services to the community without effective cash flow management. This session will cater to agency directors, billing department managers, financial managers and other agency leaders looking to improve the quality of billing process management. The session will target such ideas as identifying the leadership qualities needed to effectively manage the billing process, identifying ideal billing staff aptitude, measuring the key indicators of successful billing procedures and assessing billing effectiveness by comparing to industry benchmarks.

Objectives:

• Identify leadership qualities needed to effectively manage the billing process.
• Explain the personal traits of ideal billing staff and assess billing staff aptitude.
• Identify key indicators of effective billing procedures and measuring process performance.

Faculty: M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Consultant, BKD Health Care Group, Springfield, MO; William Gammie, VP of Business Services, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Management & Human Resources, Hospice

309–Hiring Practices: Safely Navigating the Immigration Laws

The quota for immigrant workers has already been reached for the entire year before 2007 even began. Coupled with the ongoing nurse and therapist shortages, the need for talent is at its most dire state. This seminar introduces managers who want to grow their workforce's organically to the opportunity to hire non-U.S. citizen workers.

Objectives:

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

Faculty: Lee Webster, SPHR, JD, MBA, Vice President Human Resources, Professional Healthcare Resources, Annandale, VA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

310–Increase Referral Results from Your Web Site: Proven Techniques in Text, Design and Interaction

Adult Internet users now turn to the web to learn about health care. Use your Web site to attract and educate potential clients, families and referral sources, as well as enhance sales. This session explores what works using case studies comparing good and bad Web sites and how they impact marketing efforts.

Objectives:

• Explain the need for a private pay home care business to develop and maintain an effective Web site.
• Implement the elements of a good Web site design for a private pay home care business.
• Design your Web site as a brand component.

Faculty: Merrily Orsini, MSSW, Managing Director, corecubed, Louisville, KY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology

311–Telehealthcare: Cost to Deliver Is the Bottom Line

The presenters will discuss a model developed within a home care agency that is designed to accurately collect, report and aggregate statistical data and associated technology project costs. Once reliable, actual project costs are calculated and understood, agencies can effectively engage in cost-point negotiations with payers, policy-makers, and legislators.

Objectives:

• Identify a standardized methodology to capture clinical outcomes.
• Identify a standardized methodology to capture telehealth costs.
• Discuss strategy to effectively present data.

Faculty: Laurie Neander, MS, RN, CEO, At Home Care, Inc., Oneonta, NY; Mark Tsiames, CPA, CVA, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice, Marketing & Business Development

312–Raising Your Community Profile Through Grief Support

Learn how Pathways Volunteer Hospice has become a high-profile ÒGo-to ResourceÓ for bereavement and crisis in southern Los Angeles County, responding to more than 250 community requests every year.

Objectives:

• Discuss three factors of clinical excellence in a bereavement program.
• Apply four steps to becoming a grief support coach/mentor/advisor.
• Describe a method for connecting with and evaluating the quality of mental health service partners.

Faculty: Bill Hoy, DMin, FT, Bereavement Coordinator, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, Long Beach, CA; Cindy Skovgard, BS, Executive Director, Pathways Volunteer Hospice, Long Beach, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Marketing & Business Development

313–How to Tap into Community Referral Sources: Hospitals, Assisted Living Facilities, Physicians and the Public

As the number of hospices continues to grow, competition is naturally increasing. This workshop will present successful techniques from three different parts of the country for different community audiences on how best to work with potential referral sources. Attendees will learn how to develop mutually beneficial relationships with hospitals, assisted living facilities, physicians and the public.

Objectives:

• Discuss ways to work with hospitals to increase referrals.
• Describe how to establish a working relationship with ALFs.
• Identify examples of winning techniques with physicians and the community.

Faculty: TBA

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness, Hospice

314–Pandemic flu Tabletop Exercise

Home care & Hospice must prepare for the next pandemic influenza! The presenters will address the home care industry's weakness in inadequate drilling regarding emergency plans and procedures. This workshop will provide attendees the opportunity to hone critical thinking skills and learn from each other while having fun. Suggestions and problem solving expertise will be shared from small work group activities.

Objectives:

• Cite components of the Incident Management System.
• Differentiate between paper plans and real-time planning.
• Compare and contrast solutions.

Faculty: Barbara Citarella, RN, MS, CHCE, CHS-III, President, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY; Eugene Lucchese, BS, DMAT, MEP, Drill Coordinator, New York StateDepartment Of Health, Troy, NY; Patricia Tulloch, RN, BSN, MSN, HCS-D, Senior Consultant, RBC Limited, Staatsburg, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development, Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

315–How to Maximize Census and Quality Outcomes Through Delivery of a Dementia Specialization Program

The number of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia is rapidly rising and 75 percent of these individuals live at home. Gain the evaluation and treatment skills to serve this growing population.

Objectives:

• Identify functional hallmarks and behavioral characteristics consistent with early and middle stage dementia.
• Demonstrate how to use the Adapted FAST to determine cognitive level.
• Identify goals and treatment interventions for early and middle stage dementia.

Faculty: Kim Warchol, OTR/L, President, Dementia Care Specialists, Hillsborough, NC; Chris Ebell, OTR/L, Care Manager/Occupational Therapist, FirstLantic, Lake Worth, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Financial, Leadership

316–Dancing with Your Data: The Tango Continues

Focus on the right data and risk-adjusted outcomes related to diagnosis, best practice resource utilization and patient satisfaction to assure high-level performance and successful disease management. In this continuation of last year's entertaining program; you will learn the right steps, stay in rhythm, know our competition and make sure the finance and clinical field staffs can do a mean tango instead of just a tap dance.

Objectives:

• Identify the new vision of clinical, operational and financial data necessary to optimize superior performance.
• Identify diagnostic data for analysis, reporting, and benchmarking for best practice.
• Assure clinical and financial staff are effective partners to win the competition.

Faculty: Pat Laff, CPA, Managing Principal, Laff Associates, Hilton Head Island, SC; Barbara Rosenblum, BSN, MA, President & CEO, Strategic Healthcare Programs, LLC, Santa Barbara, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Monday, October 08, 2007; 2:30pm-4:00pm

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

403–Avoiding the Fall - A Fall Prevention Program

How do the elderly remain in their homes safely? Are the available fall assessment tools valid in the home setting? And how is a fall prevention program implemented? The answers may surprise you.

Objectives:

• Describe the impact of falls upon health care costs in today's health care environment.
• Discuss factors that contribute to fall risk in the home care environment.
• Describe implementing a fall prevention program in the home care agency.

Faculty: Jeremy Pain, BS, Rehabilitation Supervisor and Physical Therapist, At Home Care, Inc., Oneonta, NY; Shannon Ericson, MS, PT, Senior Solution Designer, Cerner BeyondNow, Overland Park, KS; Kim Wipf, MS, RN, CCRN, Solution Manager, Cerner BeyondNow, Overland Park, KS;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management

404–A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Diabetes Education for the Home Care Client

The presence of multi-disciplinary team members in the home care setting poses a challenge to provide coordinated and comprehensive care and education to the home care client with diabetes. Presenter will provide a multidisciplinary diabetes education pathway for home care patients.

Objectives:

• Relate the challenge of providing coordinated care for the home care client with diabetes.
• Identify the critical components of diabetes education.
• Describe a diabetes education pathway.

Faculty: Janet Morrison, RD, CDE, Registered Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator, HealthEast Home Care, St. Paul, MN; Lori Callahan, Clinical Director, HealthEast Home Care, ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices, Hospice

405–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Medication Management

Medication management and patient teaching are vital to the outcomes of a home care patient. The need for management is noted on assessment, but is often the most difficult part of the care plan to implement with success due to polypharmacy, non compliance and ineffective patient education. This program will help agencies improve patients' knowledge about their medications and the relationship to disease conditions so that they become confident partners in preventing avoidable hospitalizations.

Objectives:

• Identify the factors needed to move your medication management beyond assessment and into action.
• Understand the role of therapy and medication management.
• Discuss medication management with your managed care organization and demonstrate value.

Faculty: Bonnie Kerns, RN, BSN, Community Practice Manager, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Donna Anderson, PhD, RN, Project Coordinator, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Janelle Shearer, RN, BSN, CPHQ, Program Manager, Stratis Health, Bloomington, MN; Nadine Paitich, RN, Clinical Director, HealthEast Home Care, St. Paul, MN;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

406–The Fine Print: Legal Issues in Contracts with Managed Care Organizations

One of the final challenges in navigating the contracting process with a managed care organization is ensuring the best interests of the agency are protected. Some ÒboilerplateÓ language could seriously threaten the financial viability of your organization for years to come. This session will explore the "Fine Print" of the contracting process, with particular emphasis on essential elements to include in contracts, as well as clauses to watch out for.

Objectives:

• Discuss legal issues in contracting with managed care organizations.
• Identify essential elements to include in contracts.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

407–Administrators are from Mars, Marketing Liaisons are from Venus - How to Communicate and Develop a Marketing Plan and Commission Structure

Management & marketing staff have different perspectives. Learn how one agency broke the communication barrier and designed a marketing plan and commission structure that motivated their sales force.

Objectives:

• Identify key elements in the development of a revenue and marketing budget.
• Develop a collaborative process that results in a successful commission plan.
• Demonstrate the key elements in ÒsellingÓ a commission plan to the staff.

Faculty: Terry Cichon, CPA, Senior Manager, Director of Healthcare Operations, FR&R Healthcare Consulting, Inc., Deerfield, IL; Debra Muffoletto, RN, BSN, MBA, Adminstrator, Family Home Health Services, Inc., Addison, IL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Financial, Hospice

408–Current Trends in Home Care & Hospice Mergers and Acquisition

The home care & Hospice merger and acquisition market continues to evolve. In this session attendees will learn what's hot, what's not and why, as well as recent and anticipated changes in valuation the Òtop tenÓ attributes of ideal Home Care & Hospice acquisition candidates and Òtop tenÓ issues providers should consider when contemplating a sale.

Objectives:

• Identify the key factors driving M&A activity.
• Identify recent and anticipated trends in valuation for home care & Hospice providers.
• Identify specific characteristics of a provider that enhance (or detract) from a firm's value.

Faculty: Dexter Braff, MBA, MS, BS, President, The Braff Group, Pittsburgh, PA; Steven Braff, MBA, Managing Director, Home Health and Hospice, The Braff Group, Palm Springs, CA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Management & Human Resources, Hospice

409–Build It and They Will Stay: Retention Strategies that WORK

Learn strategies to stop the revolving door and boost long-term commitment. This session is designed for businesses committed to success through learning about innovative methods to influence retention and keep talent from leaving your organization and going to your competition. This session reveals proven strategies for retention of your most valued asset (your employees).

Objectives:

• Identify the components of a culture for retention.
• Deal with problems to enhance growth, not departure.
• Describe strategies to keep the rookies and provide growth for the experienced.

Faculty: Patricia Jump, RN, BSN, MA, COS-C, President, Acorn's End Training & Consulting, Stewartville, MN; Kristy Bourassa, RN, Manager of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, HealthEast Home Care, St. Paul, MN; Catherine Barr, RN, BSN, MBA, Senior Director, HealthEast Home Care , St. Paul, MN;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

410–Profitable Niches in Private Pay Home Care

Find out proven techniques to grow your private pay home care business by focusing on profitable niches. In this high-impact, interactive session, Stephen Tweed will share the results of his extensive research into referral sources, marketing methods, and specialty programs for private pay home care.

Objectives:

• Identify profitable niches in private pay referral sources.
• Utilize private pay marketing techniques to tap profitable niches.
• Describe private pay specialty programs that could serve as profitable niches.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Hospice

411–Electronic Solutions for Your Business Needs: Choosing the Right Vendor

Selecting and implementing the right electronic solution represents a significant investment. This presentation will address the process to identify the appropriate solution for your organization's electronic medical record.

Objectives:

• Articulate the driving forces that define the need to purchase a new electronic solution.
• Describe the role of the project manager and the required critical behaviors to ensure success.
• Discuss the various phases and key requirements associated with the selection process.

Faculty: Linda Brown, RN, BSN, Home Health Director, Ministry Home Care DBA Affinity Visiting Nurses, Neenah, WI; Janet Manderscheid, CPHIMS, Healthcare Consultant, Virchow, Krause and Company, LLP, Milwaukee, WI; Jaime Potopinski, RN, BSN, MBA, Home Health Supervisor, Ministry Home Care DBA Affinity Visiting Nurses, Neenah, WI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice, Quality & Outcomes

412–Mind, Body, Spirit: Integral Components of Excellent, Comprehensive End-of-Life Care

This program will highlight the importance of incorporating psychological care, as well as massage and spiritual support, into routine hospice services.

Objectives:

• Describe the importance of incorporating psychological and spiritual care, as well as massage, into routine hospice care.
• Cite the reasons why hospices need to have a psychologist on-hand to attend IDT meetings and to consult on every patient.
• Identify the benefits received from massage and spiritual care.
• Describe the difficulties in diagnosing psychological disorders in patients.

Faculty: Tom Moreland, MHSA, CHCE, President & CEO, Iowa Hospice, Johnston, IA; Eric Barlow, MD, Medical Director, Mind Body Spirit Program, Iowa Hospice, Johnston, IA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Quality & Outcomes

413–Meet New Hospice CoPs with NAHC's QAPI Quality Measures

With the emphasis on quality of care in the proposed Hospice Conditions of Participation, NAHC and its Hospice Association of America Advisory Board chose development of resources to assist in measuring quality of care as the priority for its Hospice QAPI Collaborative Project. The objective was to test and/or develop measures that could facilitate quality improvement of hospice care, fulfill the QAPI CoP requirement, and provide standardization to allow for comparisons within a hospice and/or with other hospices. Presenters will share the data collection and reporting tools developed and tested and how they were used to measure hospice quality of care.

Objectives:

• Describe the testing, evaluation, and recommendations from the collaborative
• Discuss the recommended quality measures and patient assessment items
• Describe the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence project activities and progress

Faculty: Karen Beckman Pace, PhD, RN, Project Leader, NAHC Hospice QAPI Collaborative Project, Washington, DC; Janet E. Neigh, Vice President for Hospice Programs, National Associaton for Home Care & Hospice, Washington, DC; Anna P. Schenck, PhD, MSPH, Director of Research, The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence formerly Medical Review of North Carolina, Cary, NC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness

414–Swarms, Storms, and Waves, Oh MY! The Latest Info on Avian and Pandemic Flu

The prospect of a flu pandemic is frightening. This program provides the latest information on avian and potential pandemic flu viruses including: mutation, worldwide spread, current outbreaks, transmission, personal protective equipment, medication to prevent or treat and social actions to control.

Objectives:

• Discuss transforming fear as a normal human response into preparation and action rather than avoidance.
• Describe the latest information about avian and potential pandemic flu strains and social actions to prevent spread.
• Describe personal and professional preparation to protect yourself, family, patients and agency.

Faculty: Sharon D. Martin, MSN, APRN, BC, Associate Professor of Nursing, Saint Joseph's College, Standish, ME;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Emergency/Disaster/Pandemic Preparedness, Hospice

415–Home Care & Hospice Emergency Disaster Preparedness and Planning: New Jersey Update

This presentation will describe, from New Jersey's Home Care Association perspective, the role that home care & Hospice can play in state wide planning for emergency preparedness. Recommendations for emergency preparedness plans for home care agencies will be reviewed and discussed. Resources for staff education about emergency preparedness will be presented.

Objectives:

• Describe the steps for planning statewide everyday preparedness for homecare, Hospice.
• Discuss the role of homecare in emergency disaster.
• Discuss the elements of an emergency preparedness plan.

Faculty: Josephine Sienkiewicz, RN, MSN, Director of Education and Clinical Practice, The Home Care Association of New Jersey, Princeton Junction, NJ; Joe G. Abrams, Executive Vice President, Apex Innovations, Inc., Olathe, KS;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Outcomes

416–Outcomes Centered Management: Tuning Up for the Long Haul

The presenter shows you how market leaders are tuning up their agencies by using outcomes-centered decision support tools to position their agencies for success in the long haul. Learn what will be required of an agency to make it successful under pay for performance.

Objectives:

• Discuss how successful agencies manage using outcomes-centered decision support tools.
• Utilize data from outcomes-centered decision support tools to drive major agency decisions and direction.
• Cite trends from national home care data.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

418–Insights from Phillips National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care: There is No Place Like Home (Co-sponsored by Philips; the National Association for Home Care & Hospice; and Fazzi Associates)

This is the largest study in the history of home care; it addressed the role of technology and telehealth in service delivery to over 4.2 million seniors each year and exposed the incredible growth, impact and acceptance of telehealth and technology in home care. Study results substantiated the business and health opportunities that are quietly emerging in agencies in cities and towns across the United States, proving Dorothy was right: There is no place like home. Note: This is the first time the results of the study will be presented

Objectives:

• Describe the role of telehealth and technology in home care today.
• Cite examples of growth and impact of telehealth and technology for the future of home care.
• Discuss the significance and impact of the study results for your agency.

Faculty: Robert Fazzi, PhD, founder, President and Managing Partner of Fazzi Associates, Fazzi Associates, Northampton, MA; Time Ashe, RN, MS, MBA, Partner and Director of Operational Consulting, Fazzi Associates;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.0 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Monday, October 08, 2007; 4:15pm-5:45pm

Prospective Payment, Financial

501–The New Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System: Financial Implications

The greatest impact of the new Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) is expected to be the financial outcomes for thousands of home health agencies across the country. HHPPS is likely to lead to a wholesale redistribution of Medicare revenue as the system reforms align payment more closely to resource use. This program provides an in-depth evaluation of the new HHPPS from purely the financial perspective, including anticipated revenue impact, alterations in revenue recognition, and potential strategies to achieve financial stability and success.

Objectives:

• Identify methods to calculate anticipated changes in Medicare revenues for providers under the new HHPPS.
• Evaluate strategies for implementing financial adjustments to achieve success under the new HHPPS.
• Describe modifications in financial systems that are necessary to accommodate the new HHPPS structure.

Faculty: Representatives of the Home Care & Hospice Financial Management Association. ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes

502–Integrating the 2007 ANA Scope and Standards for Home Health Nursing into Practice

The 2007 ANA Home Health Nursing scope and standards are now published and ready to be incorporated into daily practice. The new standards, as well as day to day examples, will be presented.

Objectives:

• Describe the extent of the scope of home health nursing practice.
• Distinguish between the ANA Standards of Practice and the ANA Professional Standards.
• Give specific examples of how at least two of the professional standards can be incorporated into daily practice.

Faculty: Marilyn Harris, RN, MSN, CNAA, BC, FAAN, Hatboro, PA; Jeanie Stoker, MPA, RN, BC, Director of Home Care Services, AnMed Health, Anderson, SC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

503–Risk Management for the Home Care Provider

Recent growth in home care, hospice and medical staffing industry has spurred an increase in legal liabilities related to patient care. Consumers are taking home care agencies to court over quality of care concerns and liability insurance premiums are rising as a result. Find out how a well designed risk management program can help you control these emerging liabilities and maintain your positive reputation for quality of care while limiting increases in your insurance premiums.

Objectives:

• Identify high risk/high liability areas in home care, hospice and medical staffing.
• Discuss the value and content of a quality of care risk management program.
• Recognize the importance of front-end preventative steps to controlling patient care liabilities.

Faculty: Marie Gaudette, CIC, CPIW, National Sales and Underwriting Manager, Smith , Bell and Thompson, Inc, Burlington, VT; Fred Satink, BS, National Program Risk Manager, Smith, Bell and Thompson, Burlington, VT; Additional faculty representatives from AIG and JCAHO TBD. ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Clinical & Disease Management

504–The Upward Spiral of Rehabilitation: A Disease Management Program for COPD

This session will teach you what you need to know to implement a Rehabilitation-based COPD Disease Management Program in your agency. The focus of the program is to reverse the downward spiral of COPD through dyspnea management including controlled breathing and lung clearance strategies, exercise and endurance training, mobility training, energy conservation and dysphagia management. The benefits of collaborating with nursing, social service and home health aides will be highlighted with emphasis on patient education materials.

Objectives:

• Describe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
• Explain the role of rehabilitation services for patients with COPD.
• Identify positive outcome measures for patients with COPD.

Faculty: Jeanne Ryan, MA, OTR, CHCE, Manager, Rehabilitation Services, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Staten Island, NY; Yelena Nemtsova, BS, PT, Rehabilitation Supervisor, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Staten Island, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices

505–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Patient Self-Management and Disease Management

Disease management by clinicians has been demonstrated to be an effective approach to care of individuals with multiple co-morbidities, as found in home health patients. However, a critical component of effective disease management is self-management by patients and their caregivers. This program will help agencies understand how to employ these two important patient management approaches to effectively reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.

Objectives:

• Describe disease management across the continuum.
• Determine strategies for patient self-management.
• Assess your agency's disease management program and apply strategies to advance operations and outcomes.

Faculty: Donna Anderson, PhD, RN, Project Coordinator, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Kim Kranz, RN, BSN, MS, Vice President of Operations, Home Nursing Agency and VNA, Altoona, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Managed Care, Financial

506–The Bottom Line: Keeping Care Costs in Line under Managed Care

Under Medicare Advantage managed care, agencies are driven to maximize care efficiencies in order to remain financially viable. Learn how one agency responded to managed care pressures and, in doing so, created a whole new approach to the care delivery process that increased effectiveness and efficiency.

Objectives:

• Identify pressures inherent in contracting with Medicare Advantage organizations.
• Recount the changes an agency's care delivery model went through as the result of managed care.
• Discuss ways that managed care-type efficiencies can be incorporated in caregiving, regardless of payor source.
• Demonstrate how assessment of home health care work flow processes can reveal opportunities to reduce expenses and introduce an information strategy for a sustained competitive advantage.

Faculty: Arnold Burchianti, MPT, Chief Executive Officer, Celtic Healthcare, Inc., Mars, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Leadership, Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

507–Determining Value and Organizational Outcomes of Achieving Magnet Recognition

The awarding of Magnet Status by the American Nursing Credentialing Center is acknowledged as the achievement of Excellence in Nursing. The presenters will describe their achievements and the value of Magnet designation, and will show how quality clinical and financial outcomes can be achieved and result in increased staff satisfaction.

Objectives:

• Describe the journey and outcomes of Magnet designation.
• Discuss the principles of Magnet nurse leaders to serving the workforce and quality outcomes.
• Relate qualitative and quantitative Magnet indicators to return on investment.

Faculty: Shirley Righi, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, Associate Director of Home Health and Nursing Service, Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale, AZ; Donna Egnatios, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, Manager Home Health Services, Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale, AZ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Financial

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

Get a complete understanding of one of the most difficult filing procedures ... Cost Reports! This program is designed to demonstrate the basic structure and understanding of the Medicare cost report.

Objectives:

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

Faculty: Thomas Boyd, BA, MBA, Principal, Boyd and Nicholas, Inc., Rohnert Park, CA; Vern Peterschmidt, BS, Chief Executive Officer, Family Home Health Care, Colorado Springs, CO;

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Management & Human Resources, Leadership, Hospice

509–Clinician Recruitment and Retention: Changing Organizational Culture

Presenter will share a threefold strategy that includes implementation of service standards, staff-driven hiring processes and a graduate nurse internship that reduced staff turnover from 40 to 2.1 percent, strengthened accountability, improved quality of care (9 of 10 outcomes met or exceeded national benchmarks) and patient satisfaction (2nd to 70th percentile), and strengthened collegial relationships. The program's success can be measured in the 100 percent retention of enrollees since it's inception!

Objectives:

• Discuss strategies to improve quality of care, the practice environment and RN retention.
• Describe best practice interview techniques.
• Develop a plan for successful implementation of a Home Care Graduate Nurse Internship program.

Faculty: Vickie Cunningham, BSN, RN, BC, Clinical Director, Lehigh Valley Home Health Services, Allentown, PA; Charlene Bergstresser, BSN, RN, Director Planning and Program Development, Lehigh Valley Home Health Services, Allentown, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

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

This in-depth session 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 session, the participants will have an understanding of determining the viability of starting a private pay agency and an implementation plan.

Objectives:

• Discuss 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; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Hospice

511–Finally, On the Road Again - With Your EHR

Make your home care workforce truly mobile. Maximize productivity and access to care by providing your staff with the most up-to-date mobile technology, broadband wireless and tablet computers.

Objectives:

• Identify the key home care business needs for developing wireless capabilities.
• Discuss current available mobility technologies.
• Describe how to set up a wireless pilot and implementation plan.

Faculty: Debby Ramundo, RN, BSN, MSIT, Senior Project Manager - Home Care, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Leadership

512–Effective Interdisciplinary Team Meetings

Participants will learn how to achieve a higher degree of personal and professional satisfaction while minimizing the amount of time needed to hold an effective interdisciplinary team meeting. Presenters will share their success in professionalizing and maximizing the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary team's objectives of updating and revising the patient's plan of care.

Objectives:

• Discuss goals and how they inter-relate and change.
• Describe how to identify strengths and teach expected outcomes.
• Explain how to communicate and negotiate conflict.

Faculty: Trisha Arnold, RN, BS, RT (R), Hospice Manager, Intermountain Hospice, Ogden, UT; Janet Gillespie, LCSW, Intermountain Hospice Social Work Consultant, Intermountain Healthcare, Ogden, UT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice

513–Introducing the Value of Patient-Level Data Analysis in Hospice

With increasingly sophisticated information systems and the advance of hospice outcome measurement, hospices are beginning to utilize patient-level data analysis to target performance improvement and strategies to increase access. This presentation will illustrate some powerful analysis that is possible with even basic patient-level volume and demographic information.

Objectives:

• Determine how to approach accessing patient level data from current systems.
• Identify valuable patient data reports to utilize for management decision-making.
• Describe how to prepare for benchmark analysis of patient-level data.

Faculty: Martha Tecca, MBA, Senior Director, Hospice and PeerForum, OCS, Inc., Lyme, NH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Pediatric Home Care, Quality & Outcomes

514–A Pediatric Home Care Infection Control Surveillance Program: Implementation to Outcomes

Children's Homecare has collected four years of surveillance data in three different areas of the agency: Private Duty Nursing, Intermittent Nursing and the Infusion Pharmacy. Currently, the BSI Benchmark Program includes a dozen pediatric home health agencies that collaborate regularly to institute best practices in the prevention of infections.

Objectives:

• Describe the development of a pediatric home care Infection Control Surveillance Program.
• Describe how to use outcomes of a pediatric Infection Control Surveillance Program.
• Discuss the outcomes achieved by implementing a national benchmarking project.

Faculty: Wanda Stackpole, RN, Clinical Director, Children's Homecare Services, Columbus, OH; JoAnne Fogel, RN, MSN, Intermittent Skilled Nursing Patient Care Coordinator, Columbus Children's Hospital, Powell, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Management & Human Resources, Hospice

515–Preventing Workplace Violence in Home Care - A Risk Reduction Model

The presentation will provide home care agencies with skills to replicate a workplace violence risk reduction model into their practice. The model includes collaboration with members of local safety and security organizations to determine community risk; the use of off the shelf software programs for data analysis; the development and coordination of an escort security team, and the appropriate preparation and education of staff for field based services.

Objectives:

• Discuss the development of a data driven decision making tool to evaluate visit associated risk.
• Discuss the development and condition of an escort security team.
• Describe safety preparation and competency for staff whose workplace is the community.

Faculty: Susan Wade Murphy, RN, BSN, Senior Clinical Director, Home Care Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; Ronald J. Morris, MA, CPP, CHPA, Senior Director, Protective Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; Dan Yaross, MSM, CPP, Manager, Protective Services, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Tuesday, October 09, 2007; 10:30am-12:00pm

Quality & Outcomes, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

602–Rolling Out the Home Health P4P Demonstration

Abt Associates of Cambridge, Mass., was awarded a contract by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to design and implement a Home Health Pay-for-Performance (P4P) demonstration project. The goal of the demonstration is to determine the impact of offering incentive payments to Home Health Agencies (HHA) as a reward for improving the quality of care to Medicare beneficiaries who receive home health services. This program will provide an up-to-date overview of the P4P demonstration, the status of home health agency recruitment efforts, and concrete examples of how participating agencies will be rewarded. Examples of performance reports on which incentives will be awarded will be included.

Objectives:

• Describe the current status of the home health P4P demonstration project.
• Explain how agencies are recruited for the demonstration.
• Discuss details of the reward system as available.

Faculty: Henry Goldberg, Senior Associate, Abt Associates, Cambridge, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

603–Successful Compliance Strategies: Clinical & Legal Aspects

Participants will be provided with clinical and legal compliance strategies that have been proven successful for providers. Discussion will include hot regulatory topics and clinical and legal risk areas. It is crucial that home health providers continue to modify their compliance programs in order to adapt to the ever changing regulatory landscape. This program will help home health providers to implement strategies in order to be successful in maintaining compliance with government regulators.

Objectives:

• Discuss the hot regulatory topics and current government activities, including the OIG Work Plan.
• Identify government enforcement authorities and discuss state and/or federal sanctions.
• Discuss clinical and legal strategies for risk areas identified by the OIG and other government regulatory agencies.

Faculty: Robin Seidman, RN, MSN, MBA, LNCC, Director, Simione Consultants, LLC, Westborough, MA; Connie Raffa, JD, LLM, Partner, Arent Fox LLP, New York, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Outcomes

604–Addressing the Challenges of MS: Guidelines & Recommendations for Quality Care

This workshop will discuss how to effectively address the unique clinical and psychosocial challenges that MS presents. The National MS Society recently published a guidelines and recommendations document specifically for home care providers that focuses on best practices in symptom management, assessment, daily care, rehabilitation, psychosocial and family issues, and community integration and wellness. This workshop will highlight the content of these guidelines.

Objectives:

• Identify the unique clinical and psychosocial implications of MS.
• Discuss how clinical and psychosocial implications impact the delivery of home services.
• Explain how to promote self-direction and optimum independence when dealing with nursing and daily care issues.

Faculty: Dorothy Northrop, MSW, ACSW, Senior Director, Clinical Programs, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York, NY; Kent Griswold, PhD, President, Griswold Special Care, Erdenheim, PA; Dawn Seibel, RN, BSN, HCS-D, Manager of Continuing Care, Englewood Hospital Home Health Services/Hospice, Dumont, NJ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices

605–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Care Transitions

Home health agencies often find themselves in the difficult position of feeling pressured to accept patients that are not appropriate for home care, on one hand, and sending patients to the hospital unnecessarily, on the other. Engaging in care transition strategies is an important step toward reducing agency hospitalization rates. This program will give attendees the information needed to employ effective care transition strategies with other providers, such as hospitals and physicians.

Objectives:

• Understand the concepts of care transition and the programs in place to support transitions.
• Apply the concepts of care transition to advance your agency's operations and quality of care.
• Recognize the care transition strategies to help your agency partner with hospitals, physicians and managed care organizations.

Faculty: Marian Essey, RN, BSN, Director Health Care Quality Improvement, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Home Health Provider Representative: TBD. , Colorado Foundation for Medical Care;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Leadership, Quality & Best Practices

606–Creating a New National Framework for Geriatric Home Care Practice

In order to influence the future direction of geriatric home care, a consensus-based national framework needs to be constructed. In this session, attendees will participate in a dynamic, interactive program geared at identifying gaps in the existing evidence base and achieving a national consensus on the most critical areas that need to be addressed to yield sustainable results. Discussion will include identification of operational, training and payment issues that affect the business case for delivering and sustaining state of the art geriatric care.

Objectives:

• Identify different stages of the consensus building process.
• Describe information gaps and resource needs to improve care for older home care patients.
• Cite operational, training and payment issues that affect the business case for delivering and sustaining state of the art geriatric care.

Faculty: Penny Hollander Feldman, PhD, Vice President, Research and Evaluation, Director, Center for Home Care Policy and Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY; Annette M. Totten, MPA, PhD, Director, Geriatric Frameworks Project, Center for Home Care Policy and Research Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Managed Care, Management & Human Resources, Hospice

607–The Right Staff Incentives for Real Outcomes

CMS defines P4P as a purchasing effort for improving health care quality by rewarding measured improvements of quality, efficiency and outcomes. Providing similar incentives to staff is not a new idea and several models have been presented since P4P became a household name. This session will provide solutions to sufficiently minimize the risk of unintended consequences without relying on chart audits for proof of process. An incentive program will be described that will cultivate clinical reasoning instead of allowing software to draw clinical conclusions.

Objectives:

• Name three unintended consequences of a staff incentive program.
• Describe one solution to minimize the risk of rewarding unintended performance.
• Identify strategies for monitoring incentives.

Faculty: Karen Vance, OTR, Supervising Consultant, BKD Health Care Group, Springfield, MO; Alexandra Davis, RN, BSN, MPA, CPM, Administrator, Home Health Services Wooster Community Hospital, Wooster, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Financial

608–Monitoring the Financial Aspects of Home Care

This session is designed specifically for managers and supervisors of financial department staff members in home care. It includes descriptions of staff responsibilities in the billing and collections positions, specific reports that need to be reviewed on a weekly, monthly and annual basis, and accounts receivable. Agencies will find this session a must in trying to establish a basis for monitoring staff in the financial department and reports that should be monitored on a consistent basis, including the cost report.

Objectives:

• Identify appropriate responsibilities for billing and collections staff.
• Discuss reports required for consistent review each week, month and year.
• Calculate key data used to monitor financial life of agency from Medicare cost report.

Faculty: Melinda Gaboury, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc., Nashville, TN; Michael Horsley, RPT, Vice President of Business Development, All Coast Therapy Services, Lady Lake, FL;

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Marketing & Business Development

609–The Right to Age-in-Place ... Home Care's Stand in America's Last Great Civil Rights Struggle

In the near future, due to increased longevity coupled with 78 million aging baby boomers, half the U.S. population will be suffering from chronic disease. Our current home care model must change radically to accommodate these burgeoning numbers. Learn about a new service delivery model that will allow the home care industry to ensure every American's right to live, age and die in their own home. Become the ÒIntegratorÓ of home care.

Objectives:

• Discuss and identify U.S. trends and value shifts.
• Define the new service delivery model for home care.
• How to successfully implement the new service delivery model.

Faculty: Ellen Bolch, President and CEO, THA Group, Inc., Savannah, GA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Hospice

610–Implementing Private Pay Lessons Learned After Two Years

As part of their private pay program redesign, the presenters will discuss the educational needs of staff to differentiate the components of a private pay service versus a certified agency and the results achieved. The presenters will also discuss the demand-side mindset required to make a new product line successful. Experience the two year path that this revived private pay program took before hitting the financial benchmarks that were set for success.

Objectives:

• Identify reasons why the initial entry into the private duty market failed.
• Discuss the redesign of the private duty department which strengthened its functioning.
• Identify the financial implications of the changes made to properly develop the program.

Faculty: Andrea Devoti, RN, MSN, MBA, VP/ Executive Director, Neighborhood Health Agencies, Inc., West Chester, PA; David Berman, CPA, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology

611–The 5 Key Points for Agency Success During Point of Care Technology Implementation: One Success Story

A structured approach to system choice, project planning and implementation is critical to success. The speakers will discuss five keys to agency success during this implementation. Key management areas will be discussed with potential solutions to maximize resources during implementation.

Objectives:

• Describe critical issues and decisions relating to agency investment in Point of Care Technology.
• Identify conceptual and operational framework for successful Point of Care planning and implementation.
• Describe five key points of successful agency management during Point of Care implementation.

Faculty: Timothy Ashe, RN, MS, MBA, Assistant Director of Home Care Consulting, Fazzi Associates, Northampton, MA; Elaine Stephens, RN, MPH, FHHC, President/CEO, Visiting Nurse Service of Greater Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI;

Course Level: Novice/Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice, Financial

612–Hospice Financial Management as a Strategic Planning Tool

Do you know your market penetration? How do you compare with your competitors? Attendees will learn how to use the hospice cost report as a strategic management tool to find the answers. Emphasis will also be placed on developing the hospice side of your agency to equal your home health business.

Objectives:

• Discuss the value of the hospice cost report as a management tool.
• Cite an example of how hospice programs can measure market penetration.
• Recognize how to benchmark your agency with the competition.

Faculty: Robert J. Simione, BS, Principal, Simione Consultants, LLC, Hamden, CT; Diane Poole, Vice President of Finance, Hocpice Life Care, Holyoke, MA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Hospice, Quality & Outcomes

613–Best Practices for Providing Hospice Services in Nursing Facilities

Hospice services provided for residents of nursing facilities are under close scrutiny by the Office of Inspector General. This workshop will cover the regulatory requirements for hospices to provide this care such as coordinating the plan of care, training facility staff, contractual issues, separate hospice and facility responsibilities, negotiating contracts and payments and related issues.

Objectives:

• Recognize how to meet the regulatory requirements for providing hospice services in a nursing facility.
• Review how to identify and implement a patient-centered hospice plan of treatment in a nursing facility.
• Identify service recovery opportunities and strategies to promote service excellence.

Faculty: Mary Sheehan, RN, MSN, MBA, President and CEO, Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center, Glenview, IL; David Miller, Senior Director of Clinical Services, Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center, Glenview, IL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Pediatric Home Care, Hospice

614–Pediatric Hospice Care: A Light in the Darkness ... a Story of Hope

Cincinnati Children's StarShine Hospice gives an overview of program services including nursing, perinatal, psycho/social/spiritual care, bereavement, child life and volunteer services. Family stories will be shared during this session.

Objectives:

• Identify services that could support families with end of life issues.
• Discuss StarShine bereavement and volunteer program.

Faculty: Susanne Cassidy, RN, BSN, Clinical Director, Cincinnati Children's StarShine Hospice, Cincinnati, OH;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Best Practices

616–Going Beyond Diagnosis: Alzheimer's Disease and Behavioral Disturbances

The utilization of a specific service, by a given patient-caregiver pair, is influenced by its availability and the existence of health care resources to pay for the care. This presentation will describe Palmetto GBAÕs use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to help decision-making and documentation associated with the provision of home health services to Medicare beneficiaries with AlzheimerÕs disease and behavioral disturbances. Dr. Feliciano will describe how providers can apply skilled nursing Ôteaching and training activitiesÓ to utilize Medicare home health with a unique beneficiary-centered care plan directed at teaching the family or caregiver to manage patients with AlzheimerÕs disease and related behavioral disturbances.

Objectives:

• Discuss skilled nursing care teaching and training activities to manage patients with AlzheimerÕs disease under Medicare home health services.
• Describe how the ICF can be used to continuously improve your organizationÕs documentation and decision-making process.
• Discuss how to help Medicare providers understand coverage of Òteaching and trainingÓ for caregivers of beneficiaries with AlzheimerÕs or behavioral disturbance.

Faculty: Harry Feliciano, MD, MPH, Director, Part A Medical Affairs, Palmetto GBA, Camden, SC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Prospective Payment, Clinical & Disease Management, Leadership

618–The New Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System: The Impact on Clinical Services, Management and Operations

The implementation of a new Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) promises to alter the care planning and delivery process comparable to the original HHPPS in October 2000. With significant revisions in the MO825 therapy thresholds likely, clinical behavior will be challenged to balance care plans with dramatically altered payment incentives. All other areas of clinical practice will be affected as well with the completely changed ÒscoringÓ system for calculating payment. Management will be called upon to coordinate all aspects of strategic planning around clinical, financial and IT changes that are needed with HHPPS 2008. This program will present recommendations on how to achieve management success in clinical services and operations to be ready for the January 2008 implementation of the new HHPPS.

Objectives:

• Identify payment factor influences on clinical practice under HHPPS.
• Explain changes in payment rate scoring triggered by changes in the clinical, functional, and service utilization domains.
• Identify the issues that must be addressed by management in implementing the new HHPPS.
• Describe strategies for planning timely and accurate implementation of HHPPS 2008.

Faculty: Mary St. Pierre, MGA, BSN, RN, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Inc, Washington, DC;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Tuesday, October 09, 2007; 2:00pm-3:30pm

Quality & Outcomes, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

702–PPS: An Inside Perspective on the Data

Walk away with a new understanding of not only what the new PPS model is, but how different types of organizations might fare under the new model. Get the inside story of how specific patient diagnoses, conditions, and risk factors may will affect your agencyÕs reimbursement.

Objectives:

• Identify and discuss the past and current reimbursement models.
• Discuss impact of the changes on your therapy patients.
• Explore real PPS Case studies at the agency nad patient level.
• Identify Strategies your agency should implement to be ready for the new PPS reimbursement program

Faculty: Amanda Twiss, President and CEO, OCS, Inc., Seattle, WA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

703–Whistleblowers: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Agency

The health care industry has become the whistleblower's favorite target, and last year saw significant whistleblower action against home care & Hospice organizations. This program will present an overview of whistleblower actions under the False Claims Act.

Objectives:

• Identify the legal basis of a whistleblower case and the process of a whistleblower lawsuit.
• Recognize home care & Hospice risk areas, whistleblower's rights and actions providers can take to deter whistleblowers.
• Discuss recent whistleblower cases against the home care & Hospice industry.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Best Practices

705–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Telemonitoring

Many home health patients are medically fragile individuals who require more extensive clinical observation than is available during scheduled home visits. Preventable hospitalizations often result without this service. Telemonitoring provides home health agencies with the ability to keep an eye on their high-risk patients around the clock. This program will provide those participants new to telemonitoring with guidance on establishing telemonitoring programs and those with programs already in place with insights into how to advance existing programs.

Objectives:

• Discuss the basic components of telemonitoring that help reduce avoidable hospitalizations.
• Assess your agency's telemonitoring systems.
• Apply strategies used by successful agencies to advance your telemonitoring program.

Faculty: Bonnie Kerns, RN, BSN, Community Practice Manager, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Marie Ruhland, BSN, Director, Hilo Medical Center Home Care, Hilo, HI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development

706–Sharing the Good News: Strategic Value of Home Care and Community Based Services

Home care leaders are constantly faced with the need to clearly articulate the value that home care has to an organization, the community at large or in the political arena. This presentation will offer you a format and proven strategies for the communication of this information. The speakers will share their insights on how to develop a group of highly engaged executives within a system that supports home health care.

Objectives:

• Identify several areas that readily identify the strategic value of home and community based services.
• Identify the key topics that describe the value of home care and should be included in your message.
• Identify the key components to use in your presentation for senior level executives.

Faculty: Catherine Barr, RN, BSN, MBA, Senior Director, HealthEast Care System, St. Paul, MN; Kristy Bourassa, RN, Manager of Compliance/Regulatory Affairs, HealthEast Care System, St. Paul, MN;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Quality & Outcomes

707–A Home Care Clinical Challenge in Wound and Ostomy Management: Its Rewards, Inspiration and Positive Outcomes

This clinical scenario presents the problems, management and outcomes of a home care patient who has undergone two complicated surgeries which eventually resulted in a permanent colostomy. The clinical challenges presented are the management of a retracted stoma and a large midline abdominal wound. This session will also discuss managing the patient's physical and emotional needs, while attempting to control costs.

Objectives:

• Identify altered colostomy function and problem solve colostomy management.
• Identify wound healing parameters and wound management using negative pressure wound therapy.
• Discuss home health care team approach regarding emotional instability to improve self-esteem.

Faculty: Susan L. Appleby, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CURN, Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse, Banner Home Care, Loveland, CO; Mary H. Eberhard, BSN, RN, Primary Nurse Case Manager, Banner Home Care, Loveland, CO; Margaret A. Spears, RN, Primary Nurse Case Manager, Banner Home Care, Loveland, CO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

708–Marketing and Public Relations for Community Based Agencies

Leaders of a community based agencies must ensure the public understand who they are and what services they provide. Presenter will share new and successful marketing ideas.

Objectives:

• Identify three marketing strategies that will set your agency apart from others.
• Discuss satisfaction as a tool for public education.
• Describe how building relationships within the community is paramount to the success of community based agencies.

Faculty: Donna L. Grimm, RN, BA, MS, CHCE, Past President/Consultant, Community Health Professionals, Inc., Van Wert, OH; Brent Tow, BS, MBOL, President/CEO, Community Health Professionals, Inc., Van Wert, OH; Elaine Stephens, RN, MPH, FHHC, President/CEO, Visiting Nurse Service of Greater Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

709–When Consumers Call: How to Turn "Just an Inquiry" into an Admission!

Close to 15 to 20 percent of referrals are never even documented because they're considered Òinformation only!Ó This session will cover all the necessary components of an effective consumer service response system: the talent on the phones, how to respond to requests, communicating with the doctor and hospital, developing alliances with private duty and other agencies and making service calls pre-admit. Valuable data will be provided to convince your team of the payoff.

Objectives:

• Create scripts and worksheet tools to help reps identify key patient and caregiver needs.
• Overcome internal concerns about non-clinical staff managing referrals and follow-up with referral sources.
• Build preferred provider alliances with other home care providers.

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

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Private Pay, Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

710–Private Pay Client-Caregiver-Agency Relationship - Structured for Success

Caregivers working outside of care plans ... clients privately hiring caregivers ... amily member conflicts ... just who IS paying the bill? Sound familiar? Learn how to structure the agency to add value while minimizing caregiver and client issues in the private pay world. This session covers policy, procedures and best practices for avoiding problem situations.

Objectives:

• Create an agency-caregiver-client relationship model for success.
• Identify best practices for the agency client relationship.
• Develop policies and procedures to better handle a variety of agency-caregiver-family dynamics.

Faculty: Pat Drea, RN, BSN, MPA , Vice President, Visiting Angels, Havertown, PA; Suzanne McNeely, MSW, RG, CCF, President, Senior Planning Services, Santa Barbara, CA; Linda Kadan, CEO, Kadan Homecare, Atlanta, GA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

711–Best Practices for EHR Implementation in Home Care

The implementation of an Electronic Health Record in the home care setting can be a stressful and trying time for an agency. This presentation will include real ideas and processes that one agency used to achieve success.

Objectives:

• Describe the planning processes for successful implementation of a new EHR in home care.
• Explain how process evaluation, training and implementation affect project success.
• Discuss how an EHR can be successfully rolled out to an agency.

Faculty: Melody Lahann, MS, MHCA, Education Coordinator, St. John Home Health & Hospice, Tulsa, OK; Robert Swenson, Senior Solution Designer, Cerner BeyondNow, Kansas City, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Leadership

712–Optimizing the Home Care-Hospice Continuum through Integrated Management

Case studies of three different providers who have blended their home care & Hospice organizations illustrate the benefits and challenges of moving to an integrated approach. In a facilitated panel presentation and discussion, the provider leaders will share their operating models, highlighting similarities and differences, and will respond to questions and suggestions from session attendees. There will be an opportunity for attendees to share their own experiences in managing the home health-hospice continuum of care.

Objectives:

• Recognize the value of integrating home health & Hospice care to meet patient and family needs.
• Identify challenges of a blended organization.
• Describe structures and processes to overcome challenges and optimize the blended organization.

Faculty: Martha Tecca, MBA, Senior Director, Hospice and PeerForum, OCS, Inc., Lyme, NH; Representatives from Providence Home Health and Hospice, Oregon , Kno-wal-lin Home Health and Hospice, Maine, Alacare, AL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

713–What's New in Hospice Medical Review

Expansion in the provision of hospice services has resulted in increased medical review of hospice claims. Attendees will learn from a fiscal intermediary medical director what types of claims are drawing attention and how to properly document to ensure payment. The medical director and a hospice provider will discuss specific case examples to clarify billing for appropriate levels of care.

Objectives:

• Identify types of hospice claims attracting medical review.
• Discuss effective documentation of care provided.
• Describe examples of appropriate level of care billing.

Faculty: James Cope, MD, Medical Director, United Government Services, Milwaukee, WI; Timothy Boon, RN, BS, CRNH, Vice President for Hospice and Palliative Care, Connecticut VNS, Wallingford, CT;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

714–Reducing Falls: A Benchmarking Project that Works

Need a way to improve outcomes, benchmark your efforts and not overwhelm your staff? This workshop will give you definitions, data collection methods and assessment tools needed to track/trend falls.

Objectives:

• Define what constitutes a fall.
• Identify assessment and measurement tools used to assess patients and track falls.
• Describe the steps to track and trend fall incidents and collect resulting data.

Faculty: Mary Calys, PT, MS, BSW, Coordinator, North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, MO; Rebecca Murrell, RN BSN COS-C, Supervisor, North Kansas City Hospital Home Health, North Kansas City, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management

715–CMS Sponsored Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration: First Year Outcomes

Under this Demonstration, Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health may be eligible to receive adult day care services as a substitute for a portion of home health services that would otherwise be provided in the beneficiary's home. The purpose of the demonstration is to test an alternative approach to the delivery of Medicare home health services.

Objectives:

• Identify parameters of the Medical Adult Day Care Demonstration
• Explain how the various models are applied at the five demonstration sites
• Discuss impact of the Demonstration on patient outcomes

Faculty: Judith A. Bellome, RN, BSNEd, MSEd, Chief Executive Officer, Douglas County VNA & Hospice, Lawrence, KS; Billie L. Barry, RN, 703 Demonstration Coordinator , Doctor's Care Home Health OLFF, Inc., dba, San Antonio, TX; Anna Briskman, RN, BSN, C, Case Management Coordinator, ADHC Demonstration Project, Metropolitan Jewish Home Care, Inc., Brooklyn, NY; Mollie Bartelt, BS, MS, Adult Day Services Manager, Demonstration Project Coordinator, Aurora VNA of Wisconsin, Inc.; Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, WI; Kimberly Delp, RN, BSN, Director of Business Development, Landmark Home Health Care Services, Inc., Allison Park, PA;

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes, Hospice

716–Accreditation the ACHC Way!

ACHC is nationally recognized by CMS and is a viable alternative for accreditation. Learn about our easy to understand standards and consultative approach to the accreditation survey process. Attendees will walk through the specialized ACHC accreditation process, learning about CMS deeming authority, Medicare COP's as well as licensure rules.

Objectives:

• Discuss regulatory requirements related to home health & Hospice.
• Discuss ACHC process and standards.
• Discuss QI and Emergency Preparedness plans and application to specific standards.

Faculty: Sherry Hedrick, RN, BSN, MPH, Director of Clinical Compliance and Accreditation, Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Raleigh, NC; Teresa Harbour, RN, BSN, MPH, Director of Home Care Services, Surrry County Health Department, Mt. Airy, NC;

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Prospective Payment, Telehealth & Technology

717–The New Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System: Is Your IT System Ready?

The Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HHPPS) triggered a new era in October 2000, where the need for and use of information technology greatly increased. The 2008 version of HHPPS will further demonstrate the value of comprehensive IT within a home health agency. This program addresses the IT changes that are needed to accommodate the new HHPPS, steps to ensure proper implementation of IT strategies prior to 2008, and the new dashboard indications that will be required to properly manage HHPPS Version 2008.

Objectives:

• Identify necessary IT system changes for HHPPS 2008.
• Describe process for ensuring proper operations of IT modifications internally and externally by 2008.
• Recognize steps required for training of all staff on HHPPS IT modifications by 2008.

Faculty: Representatives of the Home Care Technology Association of America. ;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Tuesday, October 09, 2007; 3:45pm-5:15pm

Financial, Hospice

801–Financial Managers Open Forum

The NAHC Annual Meeting closes the final day of workshops with the Open Forum of the Home Care & Hospice Financial Managers Association (HHFMA). The Open Forum offers the opportunity for CFOs, CEOs, consultants and anyone else interested in the financial management issues of home care & Hospice to get updates from the nation's leading experts, raise questions on matters of concern and to provide comment on the direction needed for home care & Hospice.

Objectives:

• Identify current issues and trends in home care & Hospice financial management.
• Explain policy positions and strategies of HHFMA and NAHC regarding financial management issues.
• Identify anticipated changes in Medicare and Medicaid rules that would impact the financial management of home care & Hospice.

Faculty: William A. Dombi, Esq., Vice President for Law, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, Inc., Washington, DC; Representatives of the Home Care and Hospice Financial Managers Association 2007 Workgroup ;

Course Level: N/A; 0.0 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 0.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Quality & Outcomes, Clinical & Disease Management

802–Providing Nursing Home Level Care at Home

The presenter provides comprehensive home health and supportive services to Florida elders through a blend of Medicare Certified and Long Term Division (Medicaid Waiver) services, designed to keep Ònursing home eligibleÓ persons at home. Case studies and program data will be presented to demonstrate the improved quality of life for elders and decreased cost to the state.

Objectives:

• List steps for design of comprehensive long term home health program for Ònursing home levelÓ of care at home.
• Identify clinical assessments and strategies to address barriers to returning hospitalized elder patients to home.
• Discuss communication techniques for coordination of acute and supportive components.

Faculty: Marjorie Reid, RN, BSN, MA, CHCE, Corporate Director Quality Improvement, American Eldercare, Delray Beach, FL; Debbie Lynott, BA, Vice President Managed Care, American Eldercare, Delray Beach, FL;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

803–Newest Innovation: Re Invent the Primary Care Model - Use Home Health, Hospice Clinicians as Partners in the Medical Clinic Setting with Amazing Results

Learn how your agency via the medical clinic setting can connect patients more timely with community resources, home health & Hospice, with higher patient compliance to treatment management and cost reduction for the agency.

Objectives:

• Discuss how this program can be implemented in your community.
• Describe the effectiveness of the program.
• Describe how to build this type of program in your community.

Faculty: Joan Copeland, RN, BS, CHPQI, Director of Business Development, Providence Hospice & HomeCare of Snohomish County, Everett, WA; Velda Filzen, RN, BSN, Manager Partners in Palliative Care Program, Providence Hospice & HomeCare of Snohomish County, Everett, WA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Clinical & Disease Management, Hospice

804–The Infamous Nurses' Bag: Infection Control and Evidence Based Practice

This program presents an update on the latest information in infection control in general and provides recommendations for home health care practice related to infection control. An observed clean home could be highly contaminated. Patient care articles contained within a bag do come into contact with patients, making safety considerations a priority concern. Primary research on nursing bags will be presented.

Objectives:

• Describe current trends in human infectious disease pertinent to home healthcare practice.
• Explain general infection control and prevention practices for home health care.
• Identify optimal infection control and prevention practices for the care and handling of nursing bags.

Faculty: Irena Kenneley, PhD(cand), APRN-BC, CIC, Infection Control Consultant, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Elizabeth Madigan, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH;

Course Level: Novice; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Quality & Best Practices

805–HHQI National Campaign Best Practices: Immunizations

Every year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications. One of these major complications is pneumonia. Mortality from influenza and pneumonia is highest in persons with medical conditions and the elderly - the home health population. According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the single best way to prevent the flu and pneumonia is through vaccination. This program will provide home health agencies with information that will help them take an active role in the national immunization initiative.

Objectives:

• Describe the strong relationship between immunizations and avoidable hospitalizations.
• Apply techniques to jump-start your agency's immunization program.
• Use immunizations to build partnerships with your community: physicians, hospitals and managed care organizations.

Faculty: Lee Krumenacker, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; Elizabeth Fuller, RN, MSN, Director, Staff Education, Neighborhood Health Agencies, West Chester, PA; Cynthia Walton, RN, Quality Improvement Director, Holy Redeemer Home Care, Philadelphia, PA;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

806–CAHABA GBA: Meet Your Medicare Regional Home Health Intermediary

CAHABA GBA will host an informative session to provide an update on the latest Medicare information for home health & Hospice providers. This is a wonderful opportunity for providers to present their questions and concerns directly to the intermediary.

Objectives:

Faculty: Janna Arndt, MPA, Education Coordinator, CAHABA Government Benefit Administrators(r), LLC, Des Moines, IA; Deanna Whitlock, RN, Manager, CAHABA GBA, LLC, Part A Provider Outreach and Education Department and Manager of Provider Contract Center, Des Moines, IA;

Course Level: Not Applicable;

Leadership, Marketing & Business Development

807–Case Management: Strategies and Tools for Success

Learn how to implement or improve a case management model in your agency. You will receive tools and strategies to use to improve productivity, outcomes and customer and patient satisfaction.

Objectives:

• Identify, define and develop a case management system to meet individual patient needs, increase patient outcomes and manage revenues and expenses per patient.
• Demonstrate types of tools to manage productivity, profit per patient using benchmarks, key indicators and excel spreadsheets.
• Demonstrate a transition to a case management model from a visit model.

Faculty: Sharon Litwin, RN, BSHS, MHA, President, 5 Star Consultants, LLC, Ballwin, MO; Linda Hoge, Principal, 5 Star Consultants, LLC, Ballwin, MO; Mary J. Zagajeski, MS, RN, Executive Director, VNHS of Atlanta, 5 Star Consultants, LLC, Ballwin, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

808–Palmetto GBA: Meet Your Medicare Regional Home Health Intermediary

Palmetto GBA will host an informative session to provide an update on the latest Medicare information for home health & Hospice providers. This is a wonderful opportunity for providers to present their questions and concerns directly to the intermediary.

Objectives:

Faculty: Krisdee A. Schmale, BS, Ombudsman, Palmetto GBA, Columbia, SC; Kim Campbell, Manager of EDI, Palmetto GBA;

Course Level: Not Applicable;

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

809–Key Compliance Issues Facing Hospice Providers

Hospice providers face a unique set of compliance risks. Presenters will address the compliance risk areas specific to hospice providers. This presentation will identify proactive compliance strategies a hospice should implement as part of its risk management plan.

Objectives:

• Identify the primary compliance risk areas facing hospice providers.
• Describe potential consequences if a hospice program neglects to adopt and implement effective compliance measures.
• Discuss proactive compliance strategies a hospice should adopt as part of its comprehensive risk management plan.

Faculty: Andrew Wachler, Esq., Principal, Wachler & Associates, P.C., Royal Oak, MI; Karen Dropping, Senior Vice President of Program Integrity, Continuum Hospice Care, New York, NY;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Private Pay, Marketing & Business Development, Hospice

810–Build Your Private Pay Referral Base through Elder Law Attorneys

One key to expanding your private pay business is expanding your client referral sources. Elder law attorneys are already helping potential clients who might also need home care. Establishing relationships with this valuable referral source is another avenue to increase private pay business.

Objectives:

• Describe why elder law attorneys have potential to generate client referrals to your private pay home care agency.
• Develop marketing and recruitment ideas including elder law attorneys.
• Implement a long term relationship plan with elder law attorneys.

Faculty: Bradley J. Frigon, JD, LLM (Tax), CELA, CELA, Law Offices of Bradley J. Frigon, Englewood, CO; Marcia Gutierrez, MS, Manager, Private Duty Division, Best Care, Inc., Englewood, CO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending); 1.0 CPEs (NASBA/SKA);

Telehealth & Technology, Hospice

811–Continuum of Care: Grant Yields Insights into Integrated Technology Approach

Presenters will share their case study and share positive experiences of telehealth funded by a federal grant. Using this unique program, physicians can manage their patients' telehealth alerts by using the EMR. Pharmacists can review medication sheets for accurate list of meds prescribed and new prescriptions to identify contradictions or adverse effects.

Objectives:

• Describe the processes needed to implement a telehealth program.
• Identify different ways to fund telehealth programs including grant writing.
• Discuss the case study of CMH and the results achieved by having physician involvement in using an EMR and pharmacist consulting.

Faculty: Valerie Noblitt, RN, BC, Clinical Manager, CMH Healthcare, Bolivar, MO; Jennifer Earl, Specialist, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Bolivar, MO;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Quality & Outcomes

812–Telehospice: Uses and Best Practices

This session will address how telehospice can enhance the end-of-life experience for patients and families and will focus on overcoming the barriers to successful implementation.

Objectives:

• Identify the benefits of telehospice technology.
• Discuss the barriers to successful implementation.
• Discuss one agency's successes in implementing telehospice.

Faculty: Amy Peck, RN, Clinical Project Manager, McKesson Corporation, Springfield, MO; Rhonda Perrin Oakes, RN, CHPN, Director of Clinical Care, Caris Healthcare, Knoxville, TN;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Hospice, Leadership

813–Dream to Reality: Hospice House Design, Construction and an Owner's Perspective One Year After Opening

This program will give an architect's overview of the steps in the design and construction of a Hospice House with an emphasis on good design principles for patients, family, staff and an owner's perspective one year after completion of their facility.

Objectives:

• Explain the approach and critical paths for the design and construction of an Inpatient Hospice House.
• Identify good Inpatient Hospice House design principles for patients, family and staff.
• Discuss an owner's perspective one year after opening and operating their Inpatient Hospice House.

Faculty: James Faulkner, AIA, NCARB, President, Matrix Architects, Dayton, OH; Raymond Clark, RN, BSN, MA, Vice President, Universal Health Services, Fort Worth, TX;

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.5 nursing CEs (MNA Approval Pending);

Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management, Hospice

814–National Government Services: Meet Your Medicare Regional Home Health Intermediary

National Government Services will host an informative session to provide an update on the latest Medicare information for home health & Hospice providers. This is a wonderful opportunity for providers to present their questions and concerns directly to the intermediary.

Objectives:

Faculty: Jeanine Bourchard;

Course Level: Not Applicable;

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