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To tackle presenteeism, assess it first, and then use the information wisely. Take these three steps:
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The problem with presenteeism is proving that money is saved by decreasing it. "It's not impossible, but it's very, very difficult, to show this," says Joseph Fortuna, MD, co-chair of the Health Steering Committee of the Automotive Industry Action Group.
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Lapses in personal protective equipment and training could soon become a lot more costly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a "clarification" of rules, including the respirator protection and bloodborne pathogen standards, that give it authority to magnify fines for employers.
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The fact that employees exposed to a toxic chemical at a St. Louis plant drove themselves to the emergency department reinforces one of the key lessons learned from the Tokyo sarin gas attack of 1995, says Robert Emery, DrPH, assistant vice president of safety, health, environment and risk management at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
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Hospice staff members in areas directly affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike knew to prepare for gasoline shortages or the inability to access gasoline due to power outages, but when you are 800 miles away from the hurricane's landfall, your emergency plans typically don't plan for gasoline shortages.
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Complementary. Integrative. Alternative. These three words often have been used interchangeably to describe non-traditional therapies to relieve pain or stress and reduce anxiety and heart rates. Before including these therapies in your home health services, be sure to know how to describe them.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating its fraud detection efforts; strengthening its oversight of medical equipment suppliers and home health agencies; and launching the national recovery audit contractor (RAC) program.
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Patient safety and quality of care are improved with the use of telehealth, according to a recent report by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).
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Laptops and other point-of-care documentation systems have greatly increased the efficiency of hospice clinicians.
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There is nothing like a real emergency to test and evaluate your hospice emergency preparedness plan. Although hospices and home care agency managers interviewed by Hospital Home Health came through Hurricanes Gustav and Ike with flying colors, they all identified additions that will enhance their plans.
