Continuing Education is perfect for a (1) designated Administrator or Alternate who must comply with TAC §558.260, and (2) a prior administrator or alternate not currently designated but maintaining compliance with TAC §558.260, and (3) anyone who wants to improve their knowledge on a broad range of topics specific to TX HCSSAs.
Continuing Education programs are added throughout the year soon after TAHC&H conferences/events conclude. All programs are à la carte, that is, you have the flexibility to browse and order programs that suit your specific needs and are applicable to your role and responsibility.
[PGM1827] Attracting & Retaining Key Staff: Recruitment & Retention Strategies
Summary: How to
differentiate your homecare and hospice agency, DIY recruitment strategies, team
involvement in recruitment & retention.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
Faculty: Smith, Sandra
Program Description: Take control of your recruitment and retention strategies by
creating organizational differentiators and creating an “army” of recruiters. This program guides you in creating a strategic recruitment
and retention plan that will cut out the middle “men” (expensive newspaper ads, boutique websites and major job boards) and help you reap
better results by arming your team with the tools, training and rewards needed to bring needed talent to your homecare and hospice organization.
With the right “walk the talk” behaviors, you can also compel top performers to “stay.”
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss how and why to embrace agency differentiators
Identify reasons to adopt a "DIY" recruitment strategy
Identify ways to practice good recruitment and retention "hygiene"
Discuss how to use Continuous Performance Improvement to fuel wanted
retention
About the Presenter: Sandra Smith has specialized in virtually every functional
area of human resources management, with a specialty in healthcare, particularly private duty and home health care sectors. Today, as
President and CEO of HRpathways+, Ms. Smith speaks at conferences nationwide on a myriad of human resources topics, from clinical
onboarding to improving organizational communication to helping clients build a culture that is viewed as "Employer of Choice". In all
cases, she develops useful tools and products to help her clients apply what they've learned easily and successfully.
Sandra is Certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the Society for Human Resources Management, and as a
Master Trainer by Development Dimensions International.
Education-Training Credits:
1.0 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM1827] Attracting & Retaining Key Staff: Recruitment & Retention Strategies
[PGM1948] Enforcement Actions and Rights of the Home and Community Support Services Agency
Summary: DADS
enforcement staff discuss IRoD and agency rights.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
Faculty: Anderson, Sue [DADS]
Program Description:
Texas DADS Regulatory Services Enforcement staff presents a Home and Community Support Services Agency's rights to an Informal Review of
Deficiencies (IRoD), DADS criteria for assessing administrative penalties and rights for appealing. Of importance to all, DADS staff
present why, when and how DADS determines a HCSSA must be reported to the National Healthcare and Integrity Protection Data Bank (NHIPDB).
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Identify Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSA) Enforcement Actions
Analyze HCSSA Informal Review of Deficiencies (IRoD) Procedures
Discuss the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services’ (DADS) Reporting of Public Information
About the Presenter: Sue Anderson is the Manager of the Survey and Certification
Enforcement Unit with DADS. She is a registered nurse with 14 years’ experience in Regulatory Services and Long Term Care. She has
regulatory and clinical experience in hospitals, nursing facilities, case management and utilization review.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM1948] Enforcement Actions and Rights of the Home and Community Support Services Agency
[PGM1953] Developing Clinical Competencies for a Pediatric Home-Based Therapy Program
Summary: All about
successful competencies for pediatric rehab therapists.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][2]development and interpretation of agency policies
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
Faculty: Baker, Cortney & Williams, Belinda
Program Description:
This programs explores the development and execution of competency programs for pediatric rehab therapists (OT, PT & ST) in a home-based setting.
You'll get a look at how two agencies have successfully met the challenge and how you can accomplish the same for your peds program.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss Rule 97.245 (b) (2) (B) regarding staff competencies in order to facilitate alignment of agency practices
Describe interview approaches that help determine experience level and overview of skill sets
Explain orientation and assessment processes to establish current competency and training needs
Compare specific competencies essential to each discipline
Discuss means of ongoing assessment to help insure competent staff are treating patients
Describe minimum documentation competencies to reflect that competent care was provided
Analyze two mentoring models that protect the agency while supporting staff during the training phase
About the Presenters: Speech-language pathologist Cortney Baker, MS, CCC/SLP,
is the owner of KidsCare Therapy, a pediatric home care agency in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Cortney has been in health care for 10
years with experience as both a clinician as well as Administrator. At KidsCare Therapy, she has been integral in building the clinical
development programs. Cortney currently oversees the daily operations of the agency and has served on the Pediatric Committee for TAHCH
since the inception of the committee.
Belinda Williams, OTR, has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of health care settings including psych, geriatric, acute and
pediatric. To date she has specialized in pediatric care for more than 15 years and still enjoys evaluating and treating.
Belinda recently completed certification in AOTA’s Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program and is matriculating toward a double MBA
in Leadership and Healthcare Administration. She has facilitated trainings for Texas OT Association, TOTA Trinity North District,
TWU, the Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference, school districts and numerous organizations purposed for the betterment of children’s
physical and mental health.
As Executive Director of Education and Quality Assurance for THERAPY 2000, she has developed an advanced care team to enhance rehab
services by direct care, peer mentoring and implementation of a competency driven education program which supports the core objective
of quality care.
Education-Training Credits:
1.25Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM1953] Developing Clinical Competencies for a Pediatric Home-Based Therapy Program
[2009] Bigger and Better Customer Service: Winning and
Keeping Clients in Today's Market
Summary: Understanding
a concierge mentality and implementing a concierge approach to win & keep clients.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Orsini, Merrily
Program Description:
Today’s home care market has competitive and economic challenges that require new tactics and tools to succeed. Providing excellence in
both the quality of the care provided and the way it is delivered necessitates a concierge mentality from initial contact through service
provision. How do you build it into the agency as core values? Learning about a concierge approach is key to having staff understand and
practice customer service in each and every client and employee contact.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Identify the concierge approach: what it is and how it looks
Develop a plan to add in a concierge mentality for staff at all levels
Identify any issues and/or barriers to developing this approach to excellence
About the Presenter: Merrily Orsini, Managing Director of Corecubed,
is an expert marketing strategist, multiple award-winning business leader, community activist and serial entrepreneur based
in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a pioneer in the home care industry, creating a geriatric care managed model for non-medical
long term in-home care in 1981. After selling that business in 1996, Ms. Orsini followed her passion for communications and
design and started building Corecubed, a full service internet marketing company specializing in home care.
Education-Training Credits:
1.25Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2009] Bigger and Better Customer Service: Winning and
Keeping Clients in Today's Market
[PGM2010] Inbound Marketing: The Skinny on Social Media
Summary: Understand the
role social media plays today, what's out there and how to integrate in your
agancy marketing.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Orsini, Merrily
Program Description:
Technology is changing how people find and choose home care providers. One of the biggest changes is
the interactive component achieved through social media. From blogging to Facebook, from LinkedIn to
Google+, Twitter to Pinterest, this program teaches you how to integrate traditional agency marketing into today’s strategy.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss social media strategy and best practices
Determine who your social media target is
Evaluate how to reach your social media target(s)
Describe popular platforms and how to use them
Explain how to work social and traditional marketing together
About the Presenter: Merrily Orsini, Managing Director of Corecubed,
is an expert marketing strategist, multiple award-winning business leader, community activist and serial entrepreneur based
in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a pioneer in the home care industry, creating a geriatric care managed model for non-medical
long term in-home care in 1981. After selling that business in 1996, Ms. Orsini followed her passion for communications and
design and started building Corecubed, a full service internet marketing company specializing in home care.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2010] Inbound Marketing: The Skinny on Social Media
[2011] Owning and Operating a PAS from the Ground Up
Summary: What you need
to know to open and operate a PAS agency.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Salter, Jeffrey
Program Description:
This program walks you through the steps necessary to open a PAS business from beginning to end.
It covers market research, pricing, caregiver pay, marketing, sales, software, equipment and management.
The presenter also provides many helpful answers to audience questions based on his 21 years experience in private duty home care.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss reasons to open a personal assistance service agency
Determine the steps to take when opening a PAS
Understand the pitfalls and how to avoid them
Understand special considerations and additional items that must be
addressed
About the Presenter: Jeff Salter began his career
in senior care in 1991 working for a home health care agency in Odessa, TX. He started his own company 4
months later serving seniors that needed additional non-medical care to remain at home. Jeff expanded the
business to include other locations in Texas - Midland, McAllen, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin.
After operating for 12 years he began offering franchises in 2003, and today Caring Senior Services is in
14 states with nearly 40 locations. Jeff’s company continues to add locations through addition of franchises
and corporate locations, and his existing offices benefit from focused efforts in marketing and sales.
Caring Senior Service was named one of the top 500 franchises in the United States, by the Entrepreneur
Magazine's Franchise 500 as well as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States as
named by Inc. Magazine.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2011] Owning and Operating a PAS from the Ground Up
[PGM2012] Discover the BIG Secrets of Successful Leaders in Private Duty Home Care
Summary: Discover the
key initiatives and metrics that separate the "leaders" from all others.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Marcum, Aaron
Program Description:
What does it take to become a “Leader” in the private duty home care industry? This program answers
this question by exploring the 2012 Private Duty Home Care Benchmarking Study completed by Home Care
Pulse. The program presents and breaks down 5 key areas “Leaders” tend to excel at and why. Learn how
to think more like a Leader and win BIG in your market place.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss leaders’ strong client satisfaction standards
Describe how leaders focus on relationship building
Explain how leaders drive employee satisfaction
Discuss leaders’ techniques to staff efficiently
Describe how leaders consistently adhere to a solid sales strategy
About the Presenter: Aaron Marcum is a former successful
private duty home care owner and the founder and CEO of Home Care Pulse, the leading organization specializing in
capturing and measuring client and employee satisfaction for the private duty home care industry.
Home Care Pulse works with hundreds of home care agencies improve quality, increase client referrals, and promote
and drive more business. Aaron’s company, Home Care Pulse is also responsible for conducting and administering the
2010, 2011, and 2012 Private Duty Home Care Benchmarking Studies, in partnership with the National Private Duty Association (NPDA).
Since 2004, Aaron has been a popular national speaker in the home care industry due to his knack for measuring
performance and his hands on experience as a private duty home care owner.
Education-Training Credits:
1.0 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2012] Discover the BIG Secrets of
Successful Leaders in Private Duty Home Care
[PGM2015] Empowering Your
Caregivers to Best Care for People with Dementia
Summary: Critical
knowledge on dementias and skills to best communicate with clients with
dementias.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
Faculty: Larkin, Carole
Program Description: Communication problems can make or break the
best care techniques for clients with dementia. This program teaches powerful communication skills
for successfully working through common problems arising in dementia care. In addition to information on the biology of
dementia communication, you gain insightful knowledge of critical communication tips you can employ and share with your staff.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Distinguish between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Discuss what Alzheimer’s disease does to the brain
Identify techniques that foster smooth communication with persons with dementia
About the Presenter: Carole Larkin, MA, CMC, CAEd, QDCS, EICS is an expert in Alzheimer’s and
related dementias care. She has a Master’s of Applied Gerontology from the University of North Texas, is a Certified Alzheimer’s
Educator, is a Qualified Dementia Care Specialist, and an Excellence in Care Specialist at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America,
as well as a Certified Trainer/Facilitator of the groundbreaking dementia care training tool, the Virtual Dementia Tour Experience.
Carole is one of the editors of the largest blog on Alzheimer’s caregiving in America;
The Alzheimer’s Reading Room. She is a Certified Geriatric Care Manager who specializes in helping families with Alzheimer’s and
related dementias issues. She also trains caregivers in home care companies, assisted livings, memory care communities, and nursing
homes in dementia specific techniques for best care of dementia sufferers. Her company, ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.
Education-Training Credits:
1.00 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2015] Empowering Your
Caregivers to Best Care for People with Dementia
[PGM2170] Hospice Clinical Documentation: Painting the Picture for Payment
Summary: A focus on
proper documentation for hospice.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][2]development and interpretation of agency policies
§558.260[a][5]quality improvement
Faculty: Markland, Susan
Program Description: Documentation is
crucial to a hospice agency’s success. How does one paint the picture, but not the house? Complete
and concise documentation provides smooth, accurate and timely payment to your hospice agency. This
program presents and discusses documentation standards including an overview of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF),
for each discipline, enabling viewers to comply with the documentation standards and presents an overall
picture of documentation for ease in reimbursement for the hospice client.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
List the 5 rights that are guiding principles of the Medicare Coverage Policy.
Analyze documentation concepts that "Go Beyond the Diagnosis" to clearly support the patient’s decline in structure and function.
Discuss the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS).
About the Presenter: Susan Markland, RN, BSN is currently the Regional Director of Clinical Services
for Scott and White Home Care and Hospice. Susan has 20+ years nursing experience with 12 years’ experience in Hospice Administration. More recently she
has entered the Home Health and PAS arenas as well. She is a passionate advocate for quality patient care and a leader in demonstrating Home Care services
can be profitable even within the not for profit organizations. Susan serves on the Board of Directors at TAHC&H, is a member of the Education Committee
and a member of the Hospice Committee. Having survived the teenage years of 6 daughters, she faces Health Care reform with calm, humor, and a resolve to
not become entrenched in the drama.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2170] Hospice Clinical Documentation: Painting the Picture for Payment
[PGM2173] Coordination of Care in a Pediatric Private Duty Nursing Program
Summary: Solutions for
solving coordination of care deficiencies.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][2]development and interpretation of agency policies
§558.260[a][5]quality improvement
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
Faculty: Mazick, Greg; Brooks, Lynne; Williams, Belinda
Program Description: Coordination of care is #5
on the Texas HCSSA Top 10 survey deficiency list. This program presents how to show and provide effective
and comprehensive care coordination by ensuring that all service providers are on the same page.
Private duty nursing, community care and therapy providers are highlighted; you will
get solutions to address coordination of care in your policies and the "Do's & Don'ts" in the home.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Define “coordination of care” related to pediatric Private Duty Nursing.
Describe components of an agency coordination of care policy.
Discuss Coordination of Care policy and procedures that comply with Texas Administrative Code (TAC) rule 97.288.
Identify Personal Assistance Services (PAS) documentation methods to maintain compliance with TAC rule 97.288.
Discuss coordination of care standards for pediatric therapy.
Compare 2 case studies with opposite outcomes due to coordination of care received.
About the Presenters: Greg Mazick, RN, BSN
is the Director of Pediatric Services for Restorative Health Care. He has managed pediatric programs over the past
11 years with as many as 220 licensed nurses and therapist in the program. He has created and implemented processes
related to safety, skills competency, nurse and therapist recruitment, compliance, QAPI, and risk management in pediatrics programs.
Lynne Brooks, RN, CPHRM
is a Registered Nurse and Certified Professional Healthcare Risk Manager with more than 25 years of health care management experience with
Adult, Pediatric and Community Care Home Care programs in Texas. She has owned her own Home Care Agency and now operates a large non-profit
Agency with 10 offices across the state and its subsidiary For-Profit Agency with 14 offices across the state, along with a CDS operation.
Belinda Williams, OTR
has more than 25 years experience in healthcare including psych, geriatric, acute and pediatric. To date, she has more than 15 year
pediatric experience and still enjoys evaluating and treating. Over the years, her passion for assessing and treating children with
sensory related dysfunction lead her to develop a private handwriting training program, group treatment programs and to facilitate
numerous professional and parent trainings. As Executive Director of Education and Quality Assurance for THERAPY 2000, she monitors
and facilitates regulatory and ethics compliance and performance improvement initiatives for the Agency.
Education-Training Credits:
1.00 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2173] Coordination of Care: Ensuring Effective Communication with ALL of Your Clients' Service Providers
[PGM2175] Pain Assessment in Persons with Dementia: Are They in Pain?
Summary: A closer look
at pain recognition and assessment in persons with dementia.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][5]quality improvement
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
Faculty: Shega, Joseph
Program Description: Pain assessment is the lynchpin to adequate pain treatment in
persons with and without dementia. This program reviews the epidemiology of pain followed by a physiologic-based
discussion to debate whether or not persons with dementia experience pain differently than cognitively intact
individuals. Viewers will be able to develop tools to comprehensively assess pain in persons with dementia adapting
an integrated approach that includes self-report (when possible), consideration of co-morbid conditions, pain behaviors,
proxy report, and an empiric analgesic trial. These tools are followed by a series of patient cases that reinforce the
concepts detailed in the presentation.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss the problem of pain in older adults with dementia.
Manage challenges associated with pain recognition and assessment in persons with dementia.
Evaluate strategies for assessing pain in the person with dementia, including those unable to self-report.
About the Presenter: Joseph W. Shega, MDis an Associate Professor
of Medicine at the University of Chicago. Dr. Shega's research focuses on enhancing the care and outcomes of persons with cognitive impairment
through the integration of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. This includes investigations into improving the assessment and treatment of pain
as well as expanding our understanding of the relationship between pain and other physical symptoms with cognitive, functional, and behavioral
outcomes in persons with progressive neurodegenerative disorders. Finally, he is interested in the development of innovative care models for
persons with advanced illness particularly those with dementia including the role and impact of hospice on end of life care.
Education-Training Credits:
1.00 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[PGM2175] Pain Assessment in Persons with Dementia: Are They in Pain?
[2176] Succeed at the BUSINESS of Home Care
Summary: Tactics, tools and techniques for monitoring and managing your agency.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][7]financial management
Faculty: Peterschmidt, Steve
Program Description: Everyone knows about the challenges
facing home care agencies today. In order to survive, agencies must be on top of not only the quality of care
but the BUSINESS of home care. This program walks viewers through the business elements that must be present
in any home care agency that wants to survive.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss the basic business components required for home care agencies.
Describe the concept of “Managing to the Numbers”.
Discuss of the concept of “Evolving”.
Review effective tools and techniques.
About the Presenter: Steve Peterschmidt has over 20 years of management
experience at all levels of business and with a diverse group of industries. Most recently as the owner and administrator of an agency in Colorado.
Steve grew the agency from a self funded start-up with no employees, no patients and no revenue to a respected, profitable agency with an average
daily patient census of over 250, all in less than 5 years. Prior to the health care industry Steve worked in the weapons, aerospace and high
tech industries. Steve has taken the management, business and process control experience from these progressive industries and adapted it
successfully to health care.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2176] Succeed at the BUSINESS of Home Care
[2177] How to Develop Specialty Services That Increase the Bottom Line
Summary: Insight into identifying & measuring market demand and structuring specialty programs to meet customer needs.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Kenyon, Ginny
Program Description: This program provides insight and tools
that will assist viewers in identifying opportunities for new services specific to their geographic area and populations
they serve, a step by step process for use of the tools and examples of three specialty services - Staffing Services,
Concierge Transportation Services and Day Surgery Services - with components of each program and the suggested marketing focus.
Viewers will gain an understanding of the use of demographics and the other components necessary to create effective, financially
rewarding, specialty service programs.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Identify useful tools and data needed to identify potential specialty programs.
Demonstrate the development of two potential programs and identify additional opportunities for specialty program development.
Identify the issues and barriers to developing a successful specialty services in a private pay agency .
About the Presenter: Ginny Kenyon is founder and principal of Kenyon HomeCare Consulting.
Ginny's knowledge and passion for helping clients achieve unique success defines the mission of her company.
Known for her ability to produce substantial results in a short period of time, Ginny is well versed in quick turnarounds,
including once taking a client from $1.7M to $3M in a little under a year. Ginny holds a Masters in Nursing Administration
with minors in Business and Health Services. She has worked as an administrator in Public Health, Home Health, Hospice, and
Private Duty home care for the last eighteen years.
Education-Training Credits:
1.00 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2177] How to Develop Specialty Services That Increase the Bottom Line
[2181] High Tech Pediatrics at Home - It is More Than ABC's
Summary: This program addresses key issues in delivery of compliant and competent pediatric services to medically fragile children.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][2]development and interpretation of agency policies
§558.260[a][6]risk assessment and management
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
Faculty: Smith, Ellie
Program Description: With changes to Medicare, increased
fraud scrutiny and desire for increased revenue streams, agencies look to pediatric programs to diversify.
Technology is certainly making management of children with Tracheostomies,
Ventilator dependence and other complex needs easier, and reimbursement for PDN looks attractive, but liability,
regulatory requirements, staff competency, documentation, and care management are necessary at more than basic levels
to meet quality of care and safety needs of these medically complex children. This program addresses key issues in delivery of compliant and competent
pediatric services to medically fragile children.
What are the high risk skills?
How do you determine competency?
Who are qualified staff? What are key clinical skills to manage trach and vent dependent children at home?
What are documentation challenges to address?
What is enough supervision for safe delivery of care?
How can positive outcomes be best achieved?
Would "minimum standards" be enough for your child?
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Identify three methods of determining nursing competence.
Evaluate the reference for Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSA) minimum standards for licensure relating to staff.
Analyze three key elements of a compliant pediatric tracheostomy and ventilator competency program.
Identify three areas of high risk in providing pediatric tracheostomy and ventilator care.
Demonstrate pediatric nursing ventilator essential skills and competency.
Describe three key behaviors to observe during Registered Nurse (RN) supervisory and reassessment visits to children with tracheostomies.
Evaluate challenges to implementation of a pediatric ventilator competency program.
About the Presenter: Ellie Smith, RN, BSN, LMSW, Owner of Options Home Care Solutions,
is an experienced consultant and educator in pediatric nursing clinical skills and home care practice. Over the past 30+ years she has been
a part of creating and evaluating pediatric home care programs across the southwest. Her years of experience as a pediatric intensive care
and home care clinical educator, home care manager, and consultant provide a rich foundation for her information filled presentations. Ms.
Smith has developed and published the Pediatric Skilled Nursing Procedures Manual for Home Health and many other well received tools for
successful documentation, clinical competency and quality driven pediatric home care practice.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2181] High Tech Pediatrics at Home - It is More Than ABC's
[2432] Fraud & Compliance: A Changing World for Hospice
Summary: Hospice
relationships draw increased focus to prevent fraud.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][1]information regarding fraud and abuse detection and prevention
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][9]community resources
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Berliner, Marie
Program Description: Regulations are tightening in the hospice industry
both as a constraint against fraud and as a focus on improved quality of care. As new relationships link hospices together with
entities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities and accountable care organizations, the compliance focus and
governance of hospices must also adapt. In this program Marie discusses significant hospice fraud cases in the last year
while also presenting Congressional actions and OIG Work Plan initiatives addressing fraud, reimbursement changes,
and reporting practices as they affect fraud enforcement.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss perspectives and objectives of Congress, CMS and OIG in implementing hospice quality and cost controls
Explain interplay among OIG reports, Work Plans, and CMS Regulations
Highlight concerns over nursing facility relationships, use of GIP
services, CHC marketing, and duplicate billings
Explain data collection measures and relationship to cost containment
Review lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act by individual citizens and the Department of Justice
Evaluate patterns of behavior common to enforcement actions (aggressive marketing, CHC services, terminal illness criteria and discharge criteria
Explain proposal to give qui tam relators a greater share of recovery.
About the Presenter: Marie Berliner, JD, Senior Counsel at Joy & Young, LLP has been counseling healthcare providers,
including home health agencies, hospices, physicians and hospitals, in all aspects of administrative and regulatory compliance, since 1988.
Her practice focuses on Medicare reimbursement, fraud and abuse, physician self-referrals (“Stark law”), licensure and certification,
and other administrative and regulatory healthcare matters. She has also been a regular speaker (2004-2013) on Medicare issues to TAHC&H, The Texas and New Mexico Hospice
Organization, and the University of Texas’ Annual Health Law Conference, and has presented numerous administrator training seminars to home
health and hospice providers on select federal and state laws. Ms. Berliner is licensed to practice in Texas as well as Maryland, and the
District of Columbia.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2432] Fraud & Compliance: A Changing World for Hospice
[2435] The Alberto N Settlements & Pediatric Care: How It Applies to Your Agency
Summary: Learn how the
Alberto N. lawsuit and ruling affects your peds program.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
§558.260[a][9]community resources
Faculty: Hofer, Peter
Program Description: With new managed health care organization (MCO) models,
the pediatric home care environment has changed drastically over the past year and will continue to do so. Challenging new patient
care issues related to medical necessity criteria, Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) referrals, and prior authorization guidelines
often leave pediatric providers asking the question: “Can the MCO really do that?”
In this program Attorney Peter Hofer of Disability Rights Texas - who played a key role in the Alberto N. Settlement
- will educate you on how this very significant law suit applies to issues currently experienced by pediatric home care teams.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Understand the claims of the Alberto N. lawsuit
Describe the impact of the Alberto N. Settlement on therapies and nursing
Evaluate your programs' current issues as they relate to the Alberto N. Settlement
About the Presenter: Peter Hofer, JD, Disability Rights Texas, is the Senior Litigation for
Disability Rights Texas, and has been practicing healthcare law for the past twelve years. Peter was an attorney on the Alberto N. Medicaid Lawsuit and played a key role in the Alberto N. Settlement.
Education-Training Credits:
1.25 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2435] The Alberto N Settlements & Pediatric Care: How It Applies to Your Agency
[2466] How to Turn Your Clients into Your #1 Referral Source for Private Pay
Summary:Client referral strategies yield positive dividends for private pay agencies.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][8]skills for working with clients, families, and other professional service providers
§558.260[a][10]marketing
Faculty: Marcum, Aaron
Program Description: What if you could proudly say to others,
“Our clients and their loved ones are our #1 referral source!” What does this statement communicate to those looking for home care?
In this program, Aaron Marcum, the founder of Home Care Pulse, the leader in Quality Satisfaction
research for the home care industry, will discuss top client referral strategies, used by Best of Home Care® award winning agencies.
Viewers also learn why generating more client referrals is perhaps the best way to grow their business...along with how they can better
tap into this powerful referral source.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Understand the relationship between happy clients and client referrals
Explain how to motivate and create incentives for team members to get more client referrals
Identify ways to implement the top methods, used by the Best of Home Care® providers, for obtaining client referrals
About the Presenter: Aaron Marcum is the Founder and CEO of Home
Care Pulse, a leading organization who specializes in capturing and measuring client and employee satisfaction for hundreds
of private duty home care agencies throughout the United States and Canada. Aaron is also the founder and creator of the
annual Private Duty Benchmarking Study, now in its 4th annual edition. This powerful industry study has quickly become the
largest, most reputable and in-depth study available for the home care industry. Aaron is passionate about helping home care
agency owners and executives accomplish their goals, empower their employees, and confidently provide the best in-home care possible.
Due to his expertise in capturing and measuring performance and his hands on experience as a former successful private duty
home care owner, Aaron continues to be a popular national speaker and respected educator.
Education-Training Credits:
1.25Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2466] How to Turn Your Clients into Your #1 Referral Source for Private Pay
[2468] Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs), Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), and More: What’s All the To-Do and Is Your Agency at Risk?
Summary:Understand all types of reviews that can place your agency at risk.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][6]risk assessment and management
§558.260[a][7]financial management
Faculty: Whitemyer, Brandi
Program Description: With the current array of pre- and
post-payment reviews, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to make new efforts to assure program integrity and compliance.
While pre-payment reviews can significantly interrupt cash flow to your agency, post-payment reviews can be just as costly and burdensome.
This program helps home health agency administrators, directors, and other staff understand the importance of a clear and directive response
to all types of medical reviews, as well as measures that can be taken to avoid placing your agency at risk.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Recognize the types of CMS medical reviews including RACs, ADRs, and ZPICs
Describe practices which place agencies at risk for pre and post payment reviews
Evaluate the appeals process following CMS medical reviews
About the Presenter: Brandi Whitemyer, RN, COS-C, HCS-D, HCS-O, AHIMA Approved ICD-10 Trainer/Ambassador is a 14-year veteran
of home health and hospice as a Registered Nurse. She has experience as a field nurse, director, administrator, and regulatory affairs executive with agencies, both large and small.
She holds both an Associates Degree in Nursing, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Kent State University. She is currently a Senior Associate Consultant with Selman-Holman &
Associates and the owner of Transitions Health & Wellness Solutions, a home health & hospice coding and consulting agency. Brandi works closely with home health and hospice agencies
nationally in providing consulting services, survey compliance, managing medical reviews and appeals of Medicare denials, writing Corrective Action Plans, developing staff education,
policy development, developing coding and quality assurance processes, and development of coding education. Brandi is certified as a Homecare Coding Specialist-Diagnosis (HCS-D),
Homecare Clinical Specialist-OASIS (HCS-O), and is certified in OASIS competency, COS-C. She is also an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM Trainer and Ambassador.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2468] Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs), Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), and More: What’s All the To-Do and Is Your Agency at Risk?
[2470] How To Get Something Out of Your Financial Statements (other than a headache)
Summary: Dexter explores financial statements and shows you how to get more from them than just kindling.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][7]financial management
Faculty: Braff, Dexter
Program Description: Every month...ok, maybe, maybe not...you
get financial statements. They look impressive – lots of columns, numbers, and ledger accounts, perhaps even a profit.
Unfortunately, as billing systems capture more and more data, financial statements
have gotten so dense and unwieldy that the information you need – and the insight you can get – is beyond the reach of
practically anyone without CPA in their title. Dexter explores financial statements and shows you how to get more from them than just kindling.
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Identify the key components of a financial statement
Evaluate the most important areas of the financial statement to focus on
Discuss how financial statements can misrepresent the “true” performance
About the Presenter: Dexter Braff has more than 20 years experience
in health care mergers and acquisitions. Prior to forming The braff group, he was an associate and senior appraiser with Telesis
Mergers & Acquisitions. He also served as regional Director of Finance for Foster Medical Corporation. Dexter has written numerous
feature articles on mergers and acquisitions and finance and has authored the chapter on Home Health Care Valuation in the Handbook
of Business Valuation published by John Wiley & Sons. Additionally, Dexter is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and
state association meetings. Dexter holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and received the Vincent W. Lanfear Award for
academic achievement, a Masters of Science from the University of Oregon, and a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University.
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
[2470] How To Get Something Out of Your Financial Statements (other than a headache)
[2512] Administrator’s Role in Risk Management
Education-Training Credits:
1.50 Hr(s) HCSSA Administrator/Alternate
Summary: An overview of
some of the common areas of risk that an administrator must consider.
HCSSA Topic(s) Addressed:
§558.259[d][4]agency responsibilities
§558.260[a][2]development and interpretation of agency policies
§558.260[a][3]basic principles of management in a licensed health-related setting
§558.260[a][4]ethics
§558.260[a][6]risk assessment and management
Faculty: Patterson, Charlotte
Program Description: Administrators wear many hats. One of the most important
roles however is the Administrator’s duty to recognize and mitigate risk factors.This program provides an overview of
some of the common risk areas that an agency should be considering. Presentation Date: 11.19.2013 Areas of review will include:
patient care
nursing practice
employee property
financial risks
Program Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the viewer will be able to:
Discuss the broad areas of risk encountered in running an agency
Distinguish the 4 types of business insurance
Identify at least 3 common risks that Administrators encounter
Identify potential mistakes and practice guidelines in risk management
About the Presenter: Charlotte E. Patterson, RN, BSN, JD, is a VP, Associate
General Counsel – Healthcare at Golden Living, a family of healthcare companies, including rehab, assisted living, skilled nursing care,
and hospice. Collectively, the Golden Living family of companies has more than 42,000 employees who provide quality healthcare to
more than 60,000 patients every day. Ms. Patterson assists the staff by providing legal and compliance guidance regarding a wide
range of matters, including Health Law, State and Federal regulations, HR and employment issues. Her past practice includes Chief
Compliance Officer for a large Homecare and Hospice organization, Claims Counsel for an international insurance corporation and
Medical Malpractice litigation. Ms. Patterson received her B.S. in Nursing at the University of Florida and her J. D. at the University of Texas.
[2512] Administrator’s Role in Risk Management