Home Health & Hospice Articles by Topic: Education and training
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Homecare Direction, Issue 1, January 14, 2020
A patient’s plan of care is like a road map. It provides instructions and directions on items...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 11, November 8, 2019
Amputation and prosthetic care involve issues related to rehabilitation and recovery after the...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 11, November 8, 2019
Agencies should take a close look at how they conduct competency evaluations to ensure compliance...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 4, 2019
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia with 60% to 80% of dementia being...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 4, 2019
Test staff knowledge on Alzheimer's.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 4, 2019
Check the answers after testing staff knowledge on assistive devices.
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 8, August 26, 2019
It’s going to be important that coders get familiar with what a valid diagnosis is in PDGM...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 7, July 29, 2019
There is no opioid specific education related to the revised Home Health Conditions of...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 7, July 8, 2019
Home health aides often have frequent interaction with a patient and therefore play a key role in...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 7, July 8, 2019
It’s not too early to alert your agency’s marketing representatives that an entirely...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, June 28, 2019
No. I recommend you continue with utilizing non-clinicians in intake.
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, June 28, 2019
Intake could say to the referral source, “Does the patient have any neuropathy? Does the...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, June 28, 2019
I’ve been telling people to stay in today’s world, which is PPS, while balancing moving...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 6, June 6, 2019
Strong documentation is key in home health, and implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 4, April 8, 2019
While experts agree it’s important to start preparing now for the Patient-Driven Groupings...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 3, March 6, 2019
Test staff knowledge on malnutrition.
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 2, February 25, 2019
You say that your agency just learned that according to the revised CoPs, in rehabilitation...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 2, February 5, 2019
Case conferences will take on increased importance when the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 17, December 17, 2018
If you feel pretty confident as an agency that your documentation can pass muster and the totality...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 11, November 5, 2018
Understanding the basic principles of hand hygiene is crucial for home health aides.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 11, November 5, 2018
Test staff knowledge on hand hygiene.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 11, November 5, 2018
Check the answers after testing staff knowledge on hand hygiene.
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, October 19, 2018
During an emergency, CMS has the expectation that agency staff should be able to assist in their...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 10, October 4, 2018
Test staff knowledge on falls prevention.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 10, October 4, 2018
It’s the role of home health aides to look for risk factors that could contribute to a fall...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 14, September 21, 2018
In the scenario you describe, your agency admitted a patient when she was discharged home from the...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 1, 2018
Home health aides should understand the differences between heart failure and a heart attack to...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 1, 2018
People with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and may experience pain while swallowing...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 1, 2018
Test staff knowledge on dysphagia.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 1, 2018
Check the answers after testing staff knowledge on dysphagia.
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 11, July 15, 2018
This question cannot be answered, as each eligibility is established with each particular patient.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 7, June 29, 2018
With the added time home health experts anticipate OASIS-D will take and the amount of time many...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 10, June 11, 2018
PNs - along with occupational and physical therapy assistants - aren't qualified to establish the...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 10, June 11, 2018
Diagnoses listed in M1011 (Inpatient diagnosis), M1021 (Primary diagnosis) and M1023 (Other...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 10, June 11, 2018
Agencies need to begin now to ensure that they are getting valid face-to-face documentation with...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 10, June 11, 2018
All O2 patients need to at least be assessed on a comprehensive assessment for safety.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 3, March 29, 2018
CMS’ newly posted surveyor training reiterates the need for home health agencies to ensure...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 3, March 29, 2018
By understanding what accountability means in the clini-cal setting, how to maintain personal...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, March 17, 2018
As with any position in the company, it is important to set clear expectations for the position...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 2, February 23, 2018
Dementia is an organic mental disorder involving a general loss of intellectual abilities and...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 4, February 19, 2018
Strategies and attributes of critical thinking during the treatment process include the following...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 1, January 26, 2018
Quiz
Directions: Read each question carefully, then determine the best answer.
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Homecare Direction, Issue 1, January 26, 2018
To communicate well, you need to start with learning to listen. First, prepare the environment:
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Homecare Direction, Issue 1, January 15, 2018
Between the cost of denials and additional staffing expenses to cover the time in-volved in...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 1, January 3, 2018
As new nurses work their way through the orientation process, evaluating their ability to apply...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 12, December 29, 2017
Answer key
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Homecare Direction, Issue 12, December 29, 2017
Staff trainer quiz...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 12, December 29, 2017
Though they can’t be seen, there are hun-dreds of tiny organisms living in blood and other...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 12, December 11, 2017
CMS’ long-awaited draft version of the interpretive guidelines for the revised Home Health...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 22, November 17, 2017
It is more encouraging to see orientees taking action in the clinical setting than to see them...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 43, November 13, 2017
After CMS review, The Joint Commission has finally prepublished revisions to the Emergency...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 10, October 27, 2017
Staff trainer quiz answer key
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Homecare Direction, Issue 10, October 27, 2017
An assistive device is anything that helps a homecare patient with activities of daily living...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 20, October 17, 2017
Have clinicians follow up the next day when patients have a change in pain medications or...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 0, October 4, 2017
Let them know that HIPAA can be violated through any social media app. It’s also important...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 19, October 3, 2017
This is not specifically addressed in the CoPs. The closest thing that would apply would be the...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 29, 2017
1. Which of the following is not a main risk factor for developing kidney disease, as discussed in...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 29, 2017
The kidney is a bean-shaped organ that is about the size of a fist. Everyone has two kidneys...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 36, September 25, 2017
In advance of a disaster such as a hurricane, also consider whether each patient has necessary...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 9, September 25, 2017
The rehospitalization rate for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients receiving...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 18, September 19, 2017
Nurses not only need to know what to do, but the importance and order in which things should be...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 17, August 31, 2017
Health literacy is a set of skills needed to read, understand, and act on basic health...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 25, 2017
1. Why is it important to practice infection control?
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 25, 2017
As an HHA staffer or nurse, you care for people in vital ways—bathing, grooming, feeding...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 8, August 21, 2017
Coding an arterial ulcer requires a minimum of two codes: one for the specific condition that...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 29, July 31, 2017
The introduction of the Home Health Groupings Model (HHGM) into the proposed rule means preparing...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 7, July 21, 2017
Review emergency preparedness policies and procedures at least annually, and make sure they...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 14, July 17, 2017
The CoPs make clear that the plan of care will continue to be based on the comprehensive...
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Homecare Direction, Issue 7, July 10, 2017
Your agency has gone through the quality assessment piece of QAPI and identified areas that need...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, August 3, 2016
To start, define unprofessional behavior for them. Most employers consider some behaviors...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 14, July 17, 2016
Teaching and training plays a significant role in homecare and is addressed in the Medicare Benefit...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 26, July 11, 2016
The American Hospital Association (AHA) Coding Clinic has clarified the proper way to code...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 13, July 3, 2016
To motivate staff for any necessary change, start with orientation. All staff should know what the...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 8, April 19, 2016
As a Medicare-certified homecare agency, I historically hired aides that have completed the CNA/HHA...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 12, March 21, 2016
When nurse experts are asked to review a medical record in preparation for a legal case, they rely...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 7, February 15, 2016
CMS intends to start a Medicare Probable Fraud Measurement Pilot for home healthcare services...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 2, January 11, 2016
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice organizations should...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 2, January 11, 2016
When working with stroke patients, you are responsible for several types of observations. First...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 1, January 3, 2016
There are a number of things an aide should be observing and reporting for a patient who has cancer
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 1, January 3, 2016
To be an effective member of the home health team, a certain level of autonomy is necessary. The...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 23, December 4, 2015
Yes. Maintaining, cleaning, and caring for the assistive device can be done by the home health...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 47, November 30, 2015
Assisted- and independent-living centers can be attractive places to do business for the home...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 22, November 17, 2015
How can we prepare for staff interviews during a survey?
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Homecare E-News, Issue 44, November 9, 2015
Before you can work toward achieving accountability, you need to ensure that you understand what...
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Homecare E-News, Issue 40, October 19, 2015
Care delivered according to infection control guidelines is the most effective tool available for...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 20, October 16, 2015
What are some approaches patients may try to implement themselves to overcome swallowing...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 20, October 16, 2015
Can you explain the IMPACT Act and what home health agencies need to do in regard to it?
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 19, October 2, 2015
Can we provide two home health aides to provide care for a quadriplegic patient?
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 19, October 2, 2015
Can you please explain what specifically needs to be under the supervisions of licensed...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 19, October 2, 2015
We are having an issue with noncoverage for therapy. What are the rules for therapy services to be...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, August 3, 2015
There are very few times that a clinician will admit a patient and not complete some teaching...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, August 3, 2015
Changing an ostomy bag, even if the patient can’t do it and there’s no caregiver...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, August 3, 2015
You won’t find any mention in the Medicare coverage criteria about chronic or nonhealing...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 15, August 3, 2015
Telemonitoring or telehealth is one technology that can help a patient in the home. It cannot...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 14, July 16, 2015
Because there is no requirement to conduct
case conferences, agency policy should...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 13, July 2, 2015
AA best practice should identify clinical actions—assessment, teaching, procedures...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 13, July 2, 2015
July 3, 2015
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 12, June 15, 2015
What about goals, rehabilitation potential, and discharge plans? What are some key points we need...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 12, June 15, 2015
What is the proper way to enter in orders for disciplines and treatments on the 485?
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 8, June 9, 2015
First, let’s review for everyone reading what the current CoP is and what is being...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 11, June 3, 2015
Can we accept orders from a physician’s secretary or office nurse who is communicating with...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 11, June 3, 2015
What are some tips when evaluating our documentation system?
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 10, May 17, 2015
What should you do about a tardy recertification assessment?
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 7, April 3, 2015
Unfortunately, when a fall occurs in the presence of agency staff, people assume that it...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, March 17, 2015
Effective teams need leadership. By using the term “case manager,” the home health...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 6, March 17, 2015
What you are looking for is a nonpunitive, “just” culture for your agency, or a...
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Homecare Q&A, Issue 5, March 3, 2015
We spend a tremendous amount of time in meetings. Many of them are boring, nonproductive, and...
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Homecare Insider, Issue 1, January 5, 2015
Will home health remain exempt from overtime compensation in most circumstances like it has for 40...
