I just came back from the 2013 Ohio Health Care Association Convention and Expo in Columbus and it really felt like things were heating up on the accountable care front which to me, and providers in our industry, means (1) being able to deliver the highest quality of care (2) at the lowest possible cost. Coming into the conference, I was hearing lots of frustration from many operators that they were simply overwhelmed from all the new regulatory demands they had to address and did not know how to approach them. I even heard from several administrators that they were going to stay the course for now and see what happens in 2014.
Under current economic and political conditions of the industry, I think the consequences of not taking action now will be too costly to ignore – just consider the fines and penalties that will start in 2014 and the scramble to comply. Coming off the conference, I believe OHCA really delivered on this need with an educational lineup and knowledgeable presenters to help operators address the exact issues they need to tackle right now.
I especially noted the large number presentations that focused on managing cost, through process efficiency, in every area from food services to staffing. I was really happy to see the renewed focus on labor and workforce management software which plays a significant role in staffing to quality and complex employee coordination (your staff will always be your largest cost item and must be managed effectively). For additional material including whitepapers, case studies and ROI on staffing and scheduling software click here.
Other relevant topics at the show included elements and strategies of QAPI, managing benefits for full-time employees (Obamacare), staying ahead of costly CMS billing audits, and future changes in Medicare payments under Ohio’s Integrated Care Delivery Model (ICDS).
There is no denying the many changes in store for our industry, but the good news is that OHCA and other elder care organizations are doing a great job helping us stay on top of the issues.