Regulatory
Compliance
PPh Group, a specialized division of The Philadelphia Protestant
Home, is dedicated to providing innovative management and
consulting solutions to the healthcare industry. Quality
care and services for aging individuals within a community
is the Protestant Home’s heritage. PPh Group mirrors
this image in its business practices while also supporting
organizations in acute care and other health care settings.
Accreditation
and compliance within a retirement community’s health
care services, nursing home, or assisted living facility
becomes increasingly important as facilities are held to
stricter standards. Managed Care organizations and other
third-party payers often look favorably on an accredited
facility resulting in a higher reimbursement rate. Having
a certificate of accreditation is also a way for organizations
to distinguish themselves as industry leaders who operate
and comply with established and accepted national standards.
The Compliance
process should be integrated to ensure adherence across
the care continuum. Keeping staff aware of all inspection
and survey criteria result in more consistent and improved
results in the care of the resident or patient. When the
organization thinks of compliance as a continuous process
for improvement, staff begins to see this operating methodology
as “how we now do things” versus “now
we have more work to do.”
At The
Protestant Home, we utilized a method that systematized
and organized the compliance standards, for each of the
accrediting bodies, into a seamless integration with existing
policies, department by department. We involved the Board
of Directors, residents, and more than 60 staff members
who comprised each “Improvement Team”. This
layered approach spread the workload and helped everyone
understand that the standards are not in a manual that sits
on a shelf. Instead, the Team educated themselves, understood
the benefits, and applied these standards as part of their
day-to-day services for the residents and patients.
The
Joint Commission and CARF-CCAC
Two of
the most prestigious accrediting bodies are the Joint Commission
on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization and Commission
on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities-Continuing
Care Accreditation Commission. Not only do they review compliance
standards, they both help organizations focus on staff training
and methods of continuously improving performance. Quality
assurance programs must be formalized and involve all levels
of staff. Certification, from both groups, requires rigorous
adherence to the highest standards in health care.
PPh Group
can support and complement your organization as you prepare
for accreditation. An organized process is important, while
involving staff at many levels, as you move from the start-up
phase, self-assessment, writing and training on the standards,
conducting a mock survey, and finally the visit by the surveyors.
Skilled and experienced members of PPh Group can be invaluable
in coordinating this intensive and complete process. Our
team concept approach works, because we adapt to your staff
and your needs.
HIPAA
The Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act created a wave
of change in the Health Care Industry. Across the board,
organizations had to make numerous adjustments in the sharing
and disclosure of a person’s protected health information
(PHI). The regulations are numerous and detailed in outlining
how and where compliance must be followed.
Our program
is based on a common sense application of respect and privacy
of a resident or patient’s care while at PPh. When
staff is trained to understand the required compliance criteria,
in basic terms as it might affect them, they tend to support
and follow the regulations. We can offer a full program
of awareness activities that includes training, hipaa e-mail,
power point presentations, the Town Watch approach and audit
tools. Our integration with your team can result in a comprehensive
adherence program that benefits staff, resident and patients.
State
Board of Health Certification
Each
state has criteria and specific regulations that must be
adhered to in the operation of a nursing home. PPh Group
has experience in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Our team can conduct assessments and produce guidelines
to help you achieve and maintain the highest level of compliance.
Working to mirror the surveyor’s approach, we collaborate
with members of your staff in analyzing all aspects of the
care process. Together, we then determine areas that are
effective and those that may need to be more effective.
When
deficiencies occur, it is important not to implement a quick
fix just to maintain certification. Standards and practices
must an ingrained process in the how the staff performs
day-to-day. If staff feels that they have to “gear
up” for the state, you are heading down the wrong
path. We would help in establishing those consistencies
that result in improved results and the highest level of
care your organization can achieve. The focus needs to center
on all of the routine criteria along with the hot items
the state has targeted with an increased level of importance
in a given year.
Available
Support Services
The various
accrediting and survey organizations offer suggestions and
outlines of how to go through the various review processes.
These helpful tools, when combined with people who have
lived the experience, are invaluable. PPh Group brings this
combination to your organization.
PPh Group
is prepared to work with you. Based on your needs, we can
make the following tools available:
