LTC Facilities Can Take Major Technology Steps – Even Without Government

The new health care ecosystem requires that real-time clinical and administrative data is shared at the point of care and across settings of care with providers, payers, consumers and other stakeholders through interoperable HIT systems. Unfortunately, however, no government funding for this is provided specifically for LTPAC (long-term and post-acute care) providers such as nursing homes, home-care providers or intermediate-care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities (ICF/DDs).

This is a problem.

Why?

Because post-acute care management (especially medication management) is important for better patient outcomes and lower hospital readmissions.

And because – with 35 percent of Medicare beneficiaries discharged from short-term acute hospitals receiving post-acute care – electronic information system capability in LTPAC facilities needs to vastly expand.

Research indicates that while HIT adoption in nursing homes for MDS and billing was above 90 percent, the use of HIT for physician orders, medical records, laboratory, medication administration and daily care by certified nursing assistants was less than 50 percent.

Furthermore, there is no direct funding for HIT to support medication management, alerts, continuity of care records and communication with individuals and their families through a patient Web portal.

Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for LTPAC providers in the new electronic environment.

But they need to understand the privacy and security rules of engagement; maximize the use of EHRs, electronic registries and tele-health tools; communicate in a more timely fashion (ideally in real time) with hospitals and physicians to meet provider, patient and family expectations; operate more effectively and efficiently to participate in new payment and service delivery options; and reinforce their value to purchasers and regulators.

Part of this is making sure that LTC facilities pursue opportunities with hospitals and health systems; part of it is implementing the necessary technology; and part of it is creating “care pathways” from the hospital to the LTC facility to home.

LTC pharmacies and facilities must also work together to ensure that patients are receiving the best care.

As I mentioned, medication management is critical to reducing re-hospitalization (45% of readmissions are drug related).

But traditional pharmacy models may not meet the new demands.

Talyst’s Remote Dispensing offering http://www.talyst.com/newsroom/talyst_news/the-advantages-of-remote-medication-dispensing/ is one solution, providing 24/7 availability of medications.

Indeed, having medication on site at an LTC facility can increase options for patient care besides readmission to a hospital if a medication change is required for a resident.

It can also help LTC facilities take a major technology step – even without the powerful benefits of government funding.