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Hospital case managers and social workers are in a perfect position to help patients and family members come to terms with end-of-life decisions before they are in a crisis situation, asserts Catherine M. Mullahy, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM.
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Failure to adequately prepare for the advent of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) will have a significant impact on provider reimbursement, says Beth Keith, CHAM, senior management consultant for ACS Healthcare Solutions.
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Health care professional who work with dying patients should be protective of themselves, take comfort in how they have helped patients and families, and seek support from their coworkers in dealing with the emotions that death and dying stir up, says Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, based in Washington, DC.
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Summa Health System in Akron, OH, takes an interdisciplinary approach to the care of terminally ill patients, providing seamless support across the continuum of care, says Diane Siddall, RN, CHPN, case manager with Hospice of Summa.
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A palliative care program has resulted in better symptom control and pain management, decreases in length of stay for patients, and potential cost savings for Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, TN.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded coverage for preventive services such as diabetes screening. Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, CMS is increasing payments for services that affect people with diabetes.
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has posted potential 2008 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) requirements and implementation expectations for field review by home care agencies.
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A pilot program under way in Tucson, AZ, aims to direct uninsured patients who show up for care in the hospital emergency department to a nearby primary and specialty care clinic where they can find an ongoing medical home, says Nancy Johnson, RN, PhD(c), executive director of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic.
