Care Coordination – CareThreads

Out With the Old: Comprehensive Nursing Systems’ Transition

March 7, 2019

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations, Post-acute Care

Comprehensive Nursing Services is unique in many ways, which makes its journey from paper to electronic an interesting one. While on paper, clinicians would scratch out notes and struggled to keep track of paper documentation, which meant health information often was not updated in a timely manner, and the potential for alteration of medical records was possible. While the agency was still providing excellent care, coordination was a challenge because it relied solely on paper. However, all of this will…

Telehealth: Virtual Care at Your County’s Fingertips

March 1, 2019

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations, Human Services

Telehealth is gaining momentum across healthcare by providing more convenient access to care, creating clinical efficiencies, enhancing provider satisfaction and increasing service utilization. The mobile, web application can be used for either on-demand or scheduled services, linking consumers to high-quality behavioral health and substance use treatment providers. Telehealth provides counties with new and innovative ways to connect with individuals, creating a new level of engagement to improve healthcare outcomes while driving down delivery system costs. Telehealth builds connections to county…

Clinician Satisfaction for Overall Success

February 28, 2019

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations, Human Services, Post-acute Care

It’s no secret that healthcare is, by its own nature, stressful. There’s a lot of responsibility when some decisions literally can result in a life or death situation. It’s not for everyone, but those who choose healthcare as their career path want to ultimately help others. What unites clinicians and other healthcare professionals is their desire to help others live their best lives possible. That’s why it’s so important for organizations to recruit and retain the best talent available. But,…

When Disaster Strikes

February 6, 2019

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations

Covenant Care is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Northwest Florida and South Alabama for more than 35 years. We offer care to individuals during all stages of life ranging from memory and companion care to home health and hospice. I’d like to regale you with a tale regarding our experience with emergency preparedness and what it means to have a holistic partnership. Like thousands of others, Covenant Care lay in the direct path of Hurricane Michael in…

A Person-Centered Approach for Success in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services – Part II

September 11, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, Human Services, Thought Leadership

In a recent CareThreads post, we began exploring principal factors to consider when providing the best care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Like all of healthcare, it’s important to keep the unique needs and desires of an individual central to meet desired outcomes through coordinated care efforts. What else should be addressed for person-centered care? Let’s explore. Comprehensive Assessment and Planning Person-centered care requires the ability to plan and provide the right type of services that can…

A Person-Centered Approach for Success in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services – Part I

September 6, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, Human Services, Thought Leadership

It’s no secret that limited resources and funding have historically been a challenge for providers of Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) services. That’s why it’s important for healthcare providers to break down information silos and work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes possible. With the introduction of value-based care payment models, it will be even more important for providers to find effective and efficient ways to manage resources across the healthcare continuum to deliver the right care for every individual’s…

Flourishing in Post-Acute Care With a Single Unified System

August 21, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations, Post-acute Care

Regulatory pressures, complex reimbursements and staff shortages in healthcare are not going away. Post-acute care providers need to be nimble and agile enough to easily prove outcomes, measure results and integrate clinical and financial information to succeed in the modern landscape. Having one unified system to manage it all should be on your “must-do” list. Here’s why: It helps create more efficient care transitions. Transitioning care settings should be smooth and efficient for everyone involved. The right platform consolidates patient…

The High Cost of Comorbidities – What Can You Do About It?

August 14, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, Human Services, Interoperability, Value-based Care

There is often a correlation between behavioral health issues and comorbid, or co-occurring, medical conditions. In fact, mental health and substance use disorders are leading factors contributing to the aggravation of co-occurring conditions. It’s common for someone with a behavioral health condition to have one or more physical conditions. Take baby boomers, for example, by 2020 nearly 25 million of them are expected to have multiple chronic conditions. Left unaddressed, an individual’s behavioral health challenges can exacerbate comorbid conditions, leading…

Value-Based Care Journey to Continue Under Azar

August 9, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, Value-based Care

Although couched as an opportunity, the final words in a speech from the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to the Federation of American Hospitals sound more like a wakeup call to healthcare providers. “Change represents opportunity, and I exhort all of you to take advantage of the opportunities represented by what I’ve discussed today,” said Azar. “Because I assure you: change is possible, change is necessary and change is coming.” Azar’s address zeroed in on the…

Creating a Preferred Post-Acute Partner Network

July 24, 2018

Netsmart Blogs

Care Coordination, EHR Solutions and Operations, Interoperability, Partnerships and Collaboration, Post-acute Care

It takes a village to care for an individual with health needs. From primary to acute to post-acute care and beyond, managed care organizations and health systems across the country are looking to create valuable strategic partnerships to achieve the best possible outcomes for all individuals. These systems look to their preferred provider network to improve quality of experience and cost of care and collaborate to make it happen. A critical decision for these organizations to make is to determine…