Volume 4 Issue 1 | January 2020
HCCInsights
New HCCI Online Course Helps Take the
Mystery Out of Home-Based Primary Care
About the Article:
Have you ever wondered what a career in home-based primary care would be like? According to Heather Hodge, Director of Education for the Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI), the organization’s new online course, House Calls 101: An Introduction to HBPC , is a great way to find out.
Article:
While home-based primary care (HBPC) is a growing field, many providers may not fully appreciate the numerous benefits of seeing patients in a home-based setting, nor understand how practicing within an in-home environment may differ from an office-based setting. In addition, many HBPC practice managers and operations staff are seeking a better understanding of house call components.

The Home Centered Care Institute’s (HCCI) new online course, House Calls 101 , was developed to offer providers, practice managers and operations staff the unique opportunity to virtually shadow an HBPC physician and her medical assistant on a simulated house call. The course also provides a detailed breakdown of the steps to be taken before, during, and after a home visit, and offers insight into the characteristics and personal qualities of successful HBPC providers.

HCCInsights : What was the main objective behind the development of the course?
Hodge: The course is part of HCCI’s overall commitment to developing the HBPC workforce. The demand for HBPC providers currently exceeds the supply, but not every provider is suited for a career in HBPC. We created this course to give prospective HBPC providers, practice managers and operations staff a realistic and impartial look… Read more
Applications to Participate in
Primary Care First Due by January 22
HCCI wants to remind practices interested in participating in CMS' Primary Care First model, including those interested in the Seriously Ill Population track, that they must submit an application by Wednesday, January 22, 2020, in order to be eligible for the first performance year beginning in January 2021.

The Primary Care First Request for Applications is available by clicking HERE .

The Practice Application is available by clicking HERE .
December Education Sessions
Bringing the Gift of Learning
The first week in December was a busy one for HCCI at its headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. That week, the organization offered a two-day customized training session for one of its key partners ─ and then hosted its two-day Advanced Applications of Home-Based Primary Care™ course which is offered regularly to the public.

The Advanced Applications course, held from Dec. 5-6 and designed for experienced HBPC providers, included case-based and hands-on sessions. The case-based sessions focused on higher-level topics in HBPC, including advance care planning, prognostication, care coordination and transitions of care, caregiver support, and challenging clinical issues (i.e., dementia, polypharmacy). The hands-on, simulation sessions focused on wound care, gastrostomy and tracheostomy tube changes, and joint injections. 

Interested in taking our Advanced Applications course? See our Upcoming Workshops section below for upcoming dates.

See video from the hands-on, simulation session below.
Upcoming Events
HCCIntelligence™ Webinar and Virtual Office Hours
Wednesday, January 15, 4 pm-5 pm (Central Time)
Self-Care: Avoiding Burnout and Maximizing Yourself and Your Team

Presenter: Amanda Tufano, MHA, CMPE, Chief Executive Officer, Genevive

Next Month:
Wednesday, February 19th, 4 pm – 5 pm (Central Time)
What You Should Know About 2020 Coding Updates

HCCIntelligence™ is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice.
Upcoming HCCI Workshops
FEATURED COURSE – JOINT CONFERENCE
February 7-8, 2020 - Phoenix, AZ
HCCI and National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network (NNPEN)
Blueprint for Success: Building and Growing Your
Home-Based Primary Care Practice

This two-day conference, a collaboration between HCCI and NNPEN, is designed for nurse practitioners, other clinical providers, practice managers and operations staff who want to learn strategies for planning and operating a successful and sustainable home-based primary care practice.
March 26-27. 2020 - Schaumburg (Chicago), IL
HCCI Essential Elements of Home-Based Primary Care™

April 23-24, 2020 - Schaumburg (Chicago), IL
HCCI Advanced Applications of Home-Based Primary Care™

October 22, 2020 - Orlando, FL
American Academy of Home-Care Medicine (AAHCM) Preconference
presented by HCCI
Details TBA

November 19-20, 2020 - Schaumburg (Chicago), IL
HCCI Advanced Applications of Home-Based Primary Care™

December 3-4. 2020 - Orlando, FL
HCCI Essential Elements of Home-Based Primary Care™
Practice Management Tip of the Month
Evaluating Your Staffing Model
Staffing costs are responsible for the largest share of a house call program’s expenses, so it is essential that staffing is appropriate to meet the needs of patients in the service area without sacrificing productivity. To enhance sustainability, a house call program should be evaluating its staffing on a regular basis. Some questions to consider:

  • Are schedules full? Are patients able to schedule timely appointments?
  • Are patients experiencing long hold times or abandoned phone calls?
  • What is the average wait time for a new patient?
  • Does the schedule allow for prompt post-acute follow up?
  • Are patients able to obtain timely RX refills, prior authorizations, and referrals or do you receive complaints often?
  • Are all team members working to the top of their scope or burdened with administrative tasks?
  • Are in-basket (EHR) or incoming messages addressed or reviewed by end of day or do several remain unopened and/or unaddressed for the next day?
  • Are lab and diagnostic test results reviewed and responses provided to patients in a timely manner?
 
Also, don’t forget that your practice can leverage a variety of data and metrics to evaluate if the staffing is appropriate. Read more…
HCCI In the News
Healthline – Being Treated at Home Can Help People Save Money and Heal Faster
Dr. Thomas Cornwell, CEO of HCCI, contributes perspective on the Hospital at Home model. Read more
HCCIntelligence ™ Resource Center

At HCCI, we recognize the numerous challenges that can be encountered by HBPC providers and practice staff and the value of having access to knowledgeable experts and timely guidance. HCCI has developed a number of free resources to help you and your practice through our HCCIntelligence™ Resource Center .
HCCIntelligence™ is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice.
HCCI education and training initiatives including HCCIntelligence™
are funded in part by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation .