Archive for April 5, 2012

Eliminating Inefficiencies in Long-Term Care Facilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Healthcare reforms are pushing patients out of hospitals, thereby increasing the acuity of patients in nursing facilities, according to Dr Robert Marriott, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, Advantage Wound Care (AWC). To continue to be financially viable, they must find a way to provide a higher level of care without adding to their costs. The best way to do this is by getting doctors into their facilities more consistently, he adds.

From a solution provider company at the upcoming marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, Dr Marriott discusses how long-term care facilities can eliminate inefficiencies and reduce re-admissions by providing better bedside post-surgical care.

How are the healthcare reforms impacting long-term care facilities?

The industry is pushing patients out of hospitals sooner, while government regulation is pushing them out of assisted living facilities. Greater acuity patients are entering nursing facilities, requiring more specialized care from the nursing and physician community. Facilities can no longer have one registered nurse (RN) and a doctor coming by once a month to sign orders. At the same time, LTC compensation for many of the standard services is decreasing. To be financially viable, they need to develop more efficient and effective ways to treat this new patient population.

What are the inefficiencies in how they treat this patient population at the moment?

The current process is incredibly inefficient. Many facilities are sending patients from the nursing home to a hospital, wound care treatment center or a doctor’s office in an ambulance. Besides the cost of transportation, the hospital fees and the logistical hassles of organizing appointments and consultations, nurses must then reconcile orders and treatments with their capabilities and staff skills, which do not necessarily match.

Bringing the surgeon directly into the facility eliminates all of this. The surgeon can communicate with nursing staff directly, and plan the patient’s care with the nursing capabilities in mind. The end result is more consistent and coordinated care, with all the facets of the patient’s care brought into a single care plan.

What ensures success in bedside surgical wound care?

The technical aspects of wound care are the easiest to manage through routine, hands-on care provided by highly skilled clinicians. More challenging than the wound care procedures is the coordination with the nursing home and making sure that orders are within capabilities. Doctor to doctor conversations eliminate the need for a patient to go to a hospital for a small incision opening. Having a surgeon taking care of this saves the nursing facility time, money and energy, as the nurse will not have to decide where the wound should be treated.

Is this a step in the direction of more patient-centered care?

Patient-centered care needs to involve closer communication with all of the parties involved, including the primary care doctor and consulting providers. Nursing homes have to get doctors into their facilities more consistently, to give patients more individualized assessments. Right now, primary care physicians often provide feedback over the phone, but phone consultation is a poor substitute for a doctor’s presence and physical exam. Getting the physician or physician consultants into the home is almost a cure-all for many of the issues ailing facilities today.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012

Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on the Health Care Reform, innovative quality improvement, and staff recruitment and retention strategies.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal 

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Advantage Wound Care

Started in 2007 by Dr. Robert Marriott, our surgical practice has grown from a handful of client nursing facilities in Southern California to over 250 across the U.S. today. With more than 35 surgeons caring for close to 1,000 patients in Long Term Care facilities and at home, we are one of the premier wound care providers in the nation.

For more information:  www.advantagewoundcare.org

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

                                  

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