The Ultimate Guide For Home Care Providers
A Checklist to Help Your Home Care Agency Scale
The demand for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) is continuously increasing. However, home care providers looking to scale their businesses have several challenges to overcome with the continuous evolution of healthcare regulations, care requirements outpacing the availability of qualified caregivers, and a growing, competitive market.
FOCOS Innovations is a provider of EVV software solutions and we understand first-hand the challenges of managing a home care agency. That’s why we put together this guide on how to scale your business so you can increase productivity and efficiency while still maintaining a consumer-centered approach to healthcare.
Improve Productivity
With the increasing demands being placed on HCBS providers, it’s more important than ever to make positive changes that allow you to do more, and do it effectively, in less time. Improving your productivity is a direct benefit to your bottom line, but more importantly, it allows caregivers to have more time providing care instead of spending time tracking down information and filling out paperwork. Here are some of the things you can do to improve your productivity:
- Streamline documentation functions
- Provide caregivers with a mobile app to access information and document services
- Simplify reporting and gain full visibility by maintaining electronic records
- Embrace a system that allows you to track KPIs and compliance metrics electronically
- Use the right tools to track mileage, bill rates, and caregiver overtime
Enhance Communication
Effective communication is essential when you’re in the business of caring for other people. Caregivers need accurate and up-to-date information to deliver the proper care and managers and agencies need quick access to reports for compliance and auditing purposes. Providing consumers and approved family members or friends with healthcare information empowers them to be proactive in contributing to their desired life outcomes.
- Adopt web-based software that can be easily accessed
- Ensure documentation is accurate and timely
- Provide everyone in the circle of support with real-time access to information
- Use permission-based software to regulate access
Improve Employee Retention
As the need for quality care continues to rise, retaining experienced caregivers becomes increasingly important for the viability and success of agencies and care providers. Working in healthcare is already challenging and many caregivers struggle with balancing workload with care quality. That’s why agencies need to focus on employee retention strategies, such as employing the use of software that can make their lives easier. Here are a few other ideas for boosting employee retention:
- Provide an efficient way to manage paperwork and documentation tasks
- Empower caregivers with the information they need, when they need it
- Adopt technology that allows caregivers to fill out documentation at the time of service
- Use real-time communication methods such as texts and emails to keep everyone in the know
Ensure Compliance
Electronic visit verification is required by Medicaid-funded providers of Personal Care Services (PCS) and is soon to also be required for home health care service (HHCS) providers. Meeting this requirement is necessary in order to continue to receive government funding, but EVV is about more than just that. It’s the best way to ensure people are receiving the care they need and deserve. The following are some considerations with regard to EVV software.
- Adopt EVV software that captures all of the federally required information
- Make sure the technology you use aligns with MITA and HIPAA regulations
- Be able to quickly verify when and where caregivers have provided services
- Maintain one central location for easy access to all documentation
Simplify Scheduling
Scheduling is a full-time job and a complex one. It can be difficult to manage the schedules of multiple caregivers especially when their availability changes and the needs of consumers frequently change. For those that want to scale their business, a fail-proof way to simplify scheduling is a necessity.
- Use a system that will make it easier to track caregiver schedules
- Assign caregivers based on proximity and consumer needs
- Provide real-time alerts of scheduling changes
- Track caregiver and consumer notes in one system
Provide Elevated, Person-Centered Care
Those who choose to work in the healthcare industry do so because they want to help people. As a business grows, it’s easy to become caught up in the day-to-day tasks, communications, and reports, and that’s why it is necessary to remain steadfast in the ultimate purpose — to provide person-centered solutions that contribute to the best possible outcomes. The following are some ideas to consider when working toward a system that is designed to empower independence and positive health outcomes.
- Manage by exception by tracking services that fall outside of the normal care plan
- Reduce errors by utilizing one location for documentation and consumer care plans
- Use GPS-enabled software that tracks when and where services have been provided
- Allow caregivers and consumers to make informed decisions about healthcare services
- Empower individuals to manage their own healthcare with the help of technology
Grow Your Business With an All-In-One EVV Software System
For more information about the EVV software solutions from FOCOS Innovations, or to see how it can help solve many of the items on your checklist, contact a member of our team to schedule a free demonstration.
