Insights and Trends
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ATI Advisory Highlights Growing Behavioral Health Need
March 25, 2021A recent research article published by ATI Advisory highlights the increasing need of behavioral health services in various hospital settings as the current Case Mix Index (CMI) indicates a continued increase in medically complex and seriously ill patients due to COVID-19.
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ATI Advisory Supports Inpatient Rehab’s Vital Role in COVID-19 Recovery
March 04, 2021A recent research article published by ATI Advisory further supports the fact that inpatient rehabilitation hospitals (IRFs) continue to produce superior outcomes for patient recovery from COVID-19 as well as other medical complexities.
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CMS Likely to Move Forward with Review Choice Demo: What Could It Mean For Your Rehab Program?
March 03, 2021Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) raised the possibility of moving forward with a proposed pre- or post-claim review demonstration program in up to four states in 2021 despite industry pushback. Stakeholders noted the implementation of this program would increase the administrative burden already placed on providers dealing with staffing…
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5 Biases That Impact Decision-Making
February 25, 2021Each day we unconsciously make decisions that can cause immediate results or long-term impacts at both a personal and professional level. These mental shortcuts – also known as biases – can present possible challenges or obstacles when it comes to making the best business decisions if not immediately addressed and thoroughly understood, as reported in a recent article published by the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI).
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Demand for Specialty Inpatient Rehab Services on the Rise
February 12, 2021A recent article published by ECG Management Consultants discusses the predicament facing many health systems: How do hospitals meet today’s capacity demands fueled by COVID-19 while preparing for the expected decline in inpatient services in the future?
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Why Inpatient Rehab Remains Crucial Throughout and Beyond COVID-19
January 06, 2021Over the course of 2020, health systems have learned new protocols and practices that create stronger patient outcomes and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, inpatient rehabilitation has played a vital role in enabling patients to recover and will continue to play an important role in the future.
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Essential Infection Control Procedures for Inpatient Rehabilitation
September 01, 2020Although infection prevention and control measures have always been a part of an inpatient rehabilitation facility’s (IRFs) operational model, the impact on patient health and safety following COVID-19 has not only brought these measures to the forefront of patient care, but has also seen additions and revisions to previous practices.
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Congratulations to our Partners Named American’s Best Hospitals
May 21, 2020Each year, HealthGrades America’s Best Hospitals list rewards hospitals that consistently exhibit exceptional, comprehensive quality service. Thirty-two conditions and procedures are measured to determine which hospitals are distinguished as America’s best for high-quality clinical outcomes.
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Part B Reimbursement Changes: What You Need to Know
March 12, 2020In late 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the Physician Fee Schedule for this calendar year, which includes several updates and changes to the provision, payment and paperwork related to Medicare Part B Physical Therapy services. These changes included new rules that have already gone into effect earlier this year, and for new initiatives coming in 2021 and 2022.
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Recovery at Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, a Walk in the Park
January 28, 2020Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute (ARI), a joint venture partnership between Atlantic Health System and Lifepoint, is a state-of-the-art, 38-bed inpatient acute rehabilitation hospital dedicated to the treatment and recovery of individuals who have experienced the debilitating effects of a severe injury or illness.
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Preparing for the Transition from FIM to QI
January 21, 2020We began working with our internal teams and partners in 2014 to prepare for the changes mandated through the IMPACT Act that would ultimately go into effect in 2019. In order to effectively transition from the long-used FIM tool to section GG, the IRF industry required a revised strategy with new tools, resources and training to succeed. In preparation for the changes to the new IRF-PAI system and new requirements, we developed a comprehensive training and implementation plan to ensure a smooth transition for all of our hospital partners.
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JAMA Study Findings: IRFs Best Setting for Patients Recovering from Stroke
December 18, 2019A recent study conducted by the University of Texas Medical Branch adds to the research indicating that inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are the best possible post-acute care option for patients who have suffered a stroke.
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Bayhealth and Lifepoint: Two Decades of Success
November 21, 2019Partnerships thrive over decades in part because of their ability to succeed and adapt to change. Take Lifepoint Rehabilitation and the acute rehabilitation unit (ARU) at Bayhealth Sussex Campus in Milford, Delaware, which Lifepoint has managed for more than two decades. The program continues to excel and recently moved to a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit at Bayhealth’s new hospital located in the southernmost of the three Delaware counties, which is experiencing an influx of retirees.
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Value-Based Care Reforms Cause Rise in Outsource Partnerships
November 04, 2019As value-based care reforms challenge hospitals to reduce costs and improve outcomes, one solution pursued by more and more hospitals and inpatient organizations is to outsource certain clinical and non-clinical services to third-party vendors.
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3 Strategies to Improve Patient Access
September 11, 2019Today’s healthcare environment is changing rapidly, resulting in increasing challenges for providers running acute rehabilitation programs. One of the most common obstacles is patient access.
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The Importance of CARF Accreditation
August 26, 2019Being accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) can help your program stand out. CARF accreditation ensures physicians are providing patients with care that meets internationally accepted standards; reinforces person-focused standards that emphasize an integrated and individualized approach to services and outcomes; establishes accountability to funding sources, referral agencies, and the community of a commitment to quality; and provides guidance for responsible management and professional growth of personnel.
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5 Strategies for Reducing Reimbursement Disputes
August 06, 2019The world of healthcare is becoming increasingly complex. Consequently, providers running inpatient rehabilitation programs are confronted with growing challenges – including the issue of reimbursement.
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How Does Florida’s Repeal of Certain Hospital Certificate of Need Requirements Impact Rehab Hospitals?
July 02, 2019Certificate of Need (CON) is a public policy tool which seeks to slow healthcare cost growth, avoid duplication of programs and services and ensure that new development meets the needs of the community. Nationally, only 12 states have no CON requirements. In Florida, the CON program was enacted in 1973 and applied to the building of new health centers or expansion of certain, complex medical services – including hospitals, nursing facilities, hospices and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled.
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St. Catherine’s Rehab Unit Showing Positive Measures After the Introduction of RehabTracker
January 28, 2019Patient engagement is especially critical in rehabilitation, but can technology drive greater engagement and thus improve functional measures?
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Quality Clinical Outcomes Vital to Value-Based Care: Part 2
October 09, 2018This is the second in a two-part series breaking down everything you need to know about quality clinical outcomes and the move to value-based care.
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