After months of battling COVID-19, healthcare workers were hopeful that vaccinations would offer some much-needed light in a long pandemic tunnel. Unfortunately, the process has often been rocky. “When I went to receive my first COVID vaccination, I was brought back to reality fast,” shared one ER nurse in a rural hospital in West Virginia. […]
In many areas of our lives, mobile apps have become integrated into our daily routines. We order groceries, coordinate curbside pick-up of lunch, track our fitness, schedule dinner with friends, navigate to our destination – all powered by a smartphone and apps. Mobile staffing and scheduling apps that deliver the same level of convenience are […]
What does the time leading up to each shift look like within your hospital? • Is there a frantic scramble to find staff who might be available to pick up critical open shifts? • Are patients backed up in the ER or PACU, waiting for staffing issues to be resolved so they can be admitted […]
Now that COVID-19 vaccinations are available, providers across the care continuum are dealing with the same question: How will I be reimbursed for administering the vaccine? As you likely know, the COVID-19 vaccinations are being provided at no cost to patients or providers. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to lose money for administering […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking the final step in eliminating up-front payments for services rendered across the healthcare industry. A new No Pay RAP (Request for Anticipated Payment) policy for home health providers begins January 1, 2021. While CMS has relaxed the criteria for RAP submission, many home health agencies remain […]
For many practices, a successful transition from in-person to online care is about much more than finding the right virtual care platform. It’s also critical to consider updated regulations regarding telehealth, patient access to and literacy of technology, and building webside manner skills. “Webside manner” is the technology-conscious approach to meeting with patients online. It’s […]
Healthcare facilities have often relied to some degree on traveling nurses and visiting physicians or specialists. Especially in locations where full-time positions aren’t necessary or realistic, from a budget and personnel standpoint, those healthcare professionals will spread their hours across multiple locations. Widespread healthcare staffing shortages, coupled with the potential for calamities like the pandemic, […]
In an environment where the expectation is quickly becoming “anytime, anywhere” access to data, the need for mobility in staff scheduling has never been greater. For starters, consider the prevalence of smartphone usage: More than 80% of Americans own a smartphone, and they aren’t using it solely to make calls or send text messages. In […]
Has your skilled nursing facility been diligent in tracking infection control and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, your facility could be eligible for a portion of the $2 billion in relief funds being distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additional details on how SNFs can receive incentive payments […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) resumed Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) and Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) medical review audits in August. Here’s what you need to know and how to prepare your skilled nursing facility in the event of an audit. RACs and MACs are back The ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) […]