Crystal Ball Not Required

The home health and hospice industries are rapidly changing. It doesn't take a psychic or a crystal ball to know that many trends are reshaping the industry dramatically, such as increased regulatory audits and a greater emphasis on cost control. While the anticipated healthcare reform is still being debated, it appears almost certain there will be an increased focus on healthcare technology and that covering the uninsured will be paid for in part by reducing reimbursements to providers. Longer-term trends indicate an increasing patient census as the baby boomers age, while nursing graduation rates are expected to remain flat at best. This indicates the need for a comprehensive and dramatic increase in efficiency.

As home care and hospice leaders, we don't have the luxury of a 'chicken little syndrome.' While it may feel like the sky is falling, it is our responsibility to determine how to prosper in this new healthcare environment. It is critical that you make the time to strategize your organization's new business model as these trends will be felt in the very near future. It is crucial to adapt to these trends to continue to successfully serve patients and their families. What changes do you need to make? What is the timeline and process to make those changes?

The services we provide to the elderly and the frail are just too important to allow the tsunami of change to drown us.

Your entire leadership team needs to be following the trends covered in the industry news and governmental communications. Armed with this information, you must lead your team to brainstorm and think strategically about issues such as:

• How will we serve more patients, under closer regulatory scrutiny, with fewer resources?
• What processes must be reengineered to increase productivity?
• What tasks can be automated to streamline the staff required?
• What technology do we need to implement to support our required increase in compliance and productivity?

The experts at Thornberry Ltd. can assist your team in determining best practices to automate tasks, increase efficiency and effectiveness while boosting staff morale. Thornberry has helped clients across the country build a strong technology platform that connects to the continuum of healthcare - and maximizes the contributions of every member of your team.

While the winds of change create tremendous challenges, they also bring tremendous opportunity to those who prepare for them. We look forward to collaborating with you in preparing your agency for success.