Providers throughout the healthcare sector are shifting their focus towards value-based care. In a value-based care model, healthcare professionals across specialties work together to take a holistic approach to patient care, create quality care experiences, and optimize patient health outcomes.
For hospice providers, value-based care requires coordinating care in the home setting, which includes providing the right durable medical equipment (DME) for the patient's needs and comfort. Hospice providers need to be sure they are considering the role of DME providers in value-based care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) defines value-based care as the combination of "quality of care, provider performance, and the patient experience." The overall care experience should align with the patient's needs and focus on achieving their preferred outcome.
Value-based care emphasizes integrated care delivery. Ideally, all providers take the lead in communicating with one another, so patients and their families don't need to take on the burden of relaying information to different parts of the care team. It ensures that individuals receive holistic care that addresses both medical and nonmedical needs.
Hospice is a specialty service where the integrated value-based care approach can tremendously benefit patients and their families. Value-based hospice care involves coordination between hospice staff, medical providers, and support services to ensure patients remain comfortable and their families can count on reliable, responsive caregivers to meet their needs. Since DME is an important component to most hospice patients' experience, considering it as a strategic component is important for achieving better patient outcomes and caregiver satisfaction. CAHPS scores support this, with 19 out of the 47 survey questions are directly influenced by the service and equipment quality of DME providers.
The logistics of bringing prescribed DME into the home adds a layer of complexity to hospice care. Delivery delays, errors, lack of compassion or effective communication, late pick-ups, and more can leave families frustrated and upset.
DME management vendors raise the overall value of care by ensuring medical equipment needs are met promptly. A vendor like Qualis can be vital to a patient's integrated care team, supporting hospice services and other providers in delivering necessary care without adding logistical or administrative burdens to the patient or their loved ones.
Qualis has a nationwide network of medical equipment providers, ensuring hospice service providers can source equipment without delays. The platform synchronizes with electronic medical record (EMR) software and the Qualis system gives providers access to the status of each DME order.
Managing DME procurement, delivery, and pick-up can demand significant administrative time from hospice agencies. Cost-efficient DME strategies, such as working with Qualis, can simplify the process and reduce administrative costs.
For example, Cedar Valley Hospice found that partnering with Qualis for DME management saved the labor equivalent of nearly two full-time employees per week. Their staff could dedicate an average of 75 hours a week to other tasks instead of transferring patient data from their EMR, communicating with vendors regarding pick-ups and drop-offs, and correcting DME issues. The hospice estimated that amounted to savings of nearly $150,000 a year.
The time and money saved through efficient DME management frees up more resources to boost value in care delivery.
Hospice providers can also see improved CAHPS hospice survey scores by using Qualis for DME management. Satisfaction with DME care, compassion, and communication factors into 19 out of the 47 CAHPS hospice survey questions, and Qualis works with outstanding DME providers to accomplish great service.
Strategic DME management support can help hospice providers advance their value-based care objectives. Efficient, timely, and accurate DME delivery, pickup, and support ensure proper patient care while minimizing stress on patients and their caregivers.
At Qualis, we focus on quality of care. Our mission is to provide hospices with comprehensive solutions for everything from vendor management to clinical education. Our platform includes a suite of clinical tools your provider team can access on-demand. Our services are flexible, and we can tailor our solutions to meet the needs of every hospice and every patient.
We promote a network of DME providers, offering the greatest level of access to the equipment you need when you need it. We can also work with your preferred vendors so you can maintain your existing contracts and relationships.
When you work with Qualis, you gain a DME management partner committed to saving you time, money, and work hours, enabling your team to turn their attention to patient care.
We're with you all the way!
Learn how Qualis helps hospices align DME management with value-based care principles. Contact us today!