Private Duty
HHS takes on climate change, and home care and hospice leaders cheer
Leaders in the home care and hospice industry are hailing the Department of Health and Human Services’ new Office of Environmental Justice. Louisiana Home Care Association CEO Warren Hebert told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse the effort to protect vulnerable communities against climate change is “a very prudent move,” as hurricane season approaches and destruction from last year’s Hurricane […]
Read MoreIt’s basic: Take care of people and they’ll have better health outcomes
In the world of clinical research, it seems like there are a lot of what I’ll call “no duh” health findings. We all know about these, but I’ll give you a few examples, based on some recent McKnight’s Clinical Daily headlines (great pub, by the way): Headline: More exercise, healthy eating can prevent type 2 diabetes in older adults, study […]
Read MoreEHR Giant PointClickCare Wants to Dominate Home Care Next
PointClickCare, a major electronic health record (EHR) provider for skilled nursing and senior living providers, is making a push to gain significant market share with a home care EHR platform. The Mississauga, Ontario-based company hired Mark Tomzak last month to head up the home care division as executive vice president and general manager. Previously, Tomzak […]
Read MoreRetail Overstaffing, Rising Inflation and Disappearing Mandates: What’s Improving the Labor Crisis in Home-Based Care
In mid-May, I stumbled upon a story. I had been talking to providers for other assignments when I heard a few of them mention off hand that the staffing situation for their companies had gotten better. Some had reasons why they believed that was turning, while others didn’t offer anything but gratitude that it was. Once […]
Read MoreFeds must embrace telehealth, not overregulate it, post pandemic: expert warns
An expansion of telehealth flexibilities has been transformative for the long-term care profession and at least one expert is hoping that the federal government welcomes the changes rather than bog down telehealth programs with too many regulations. “We have to really embrace the technology. There’s going to be some regulation, granted, but we should not suffocate the […]
Read MoreLong-term care’s mortal risk
Long-term and post-acute care operators have plenty to worry about. Low Medicaid reimbursements, harsher CMS regulation, caregiver shortages and the impending end to PHE accommodations, to name a few. But fretting about all that is like obsessing over sniffles while ignoring a cancerous tumor. Something big is happening in the long-term care market at a […]
Read MoreThe solution to your staffing problems? Listen, learn, change
With more than 40 years in healthcare as a provider, and more significantly as a strategic market analyst, Irving Stackpole knows a thing or 300 about your business and the struggles you face. Doesn’t matter if you’re in long-term care or beyond. So when he talks about things like staffing problems, people tend to listen. […]
Read MoreWhy More Home Care Franchises Are Seeing Value in Company-Owned Locations
As more home care franchise companies begin to embrace company-owned or corporate-owned locations, veterans in the space are analyzing the return on investment of their long-held locations. While company-owned locations are more recent additions at a number home care agencies, BrightStar Care got its start with a handful of company-owned locations in 2002. In fact, […]
Read MoreClinician burnout? Switch them to at-home care
Hospital-at-home advocates often highlight how the care modality improves the patient experience and allows hospitals to better manage capacity. There are other key benefits — such as protecting patients from hospital-acquired infections and improving caregiver’s job satisfaction — that should be brought into the conversation as well, hospital executives say. Providers and lawmakers are pushing […]
Read MoreWhy Quality Care Begins with Quality Education
Caregiver training is a valuable tool for employee retention and satisfaction. But it is also a critical factor in improving care delivery. This can lead to other positive outcomes such as increased client satisfaction and a strong reputation. Organizations that understand the connection between training and quality care will not only serve their staff, but […]
Read MoreIllinois Amends One Day Rest in Seven Act, Adding Stricter Penalties and More Stringent Notice Requirements
On May 13, 2022, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law SB3146, amending the provisions of the Illinois One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA), which addresses both day of rest and meal break requirements for employees in the state. Fortunately for employers, the amendments do not take effect until January 1, 2023, so there […]
Read MoreHigher IRS gas mileage rates no quick fix to caregiver crisis, NAHC says
The Internal Revenue Service is giving some relief to home care workers struggling to pay higher prices at the pump. Starting July 1, it is increasing the standard mileage rate for business travel by 4 cents to 62.5 cents. Although National Association for Home Care & Hospice President William Dombi applauded the move, he told McKnight’s Home Care […]
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