Leverage Telehealth to Earn More Referrals

Stephen Tweed | February 24, 2006 | Newsroom
Liz Powell, COO of the VNA of Western Pennsylvania presented a very effective program on how their agency has used telehealth in increase referrals, improve patient outcomes, and grow the bottom line. This was a delightful program for me because VNA of W. PA. in Butler, PA was my second home health care client when…

Liz Powell, COO of the VNA of Western Pennsylvania presented a very effective program on how their agency has used telehealth in increase referrals, improve patient outcomes, and grow the bottom line. This was a delightful program for me because VNA of W. PA. in Butler, PA was my second home health care client when I started working with home health agencies back in 1982. (The first was the VNA of Venango County in Oil City, PA)

Liz Presented a Step-by-Step case study of how they did it:

  • Set Goals
  • Select the right system ( VNA uses HomMed)
  • Implement a Home Health Model
  • Work out the logistics
  • Develop Marketing Strategies to Assure Success
  • Allocate Funds for Marketing
  • Define Target Markets
  • Create Marketing Materials
  • Select Target Markets

The results of their program:

  • Referrals to the agency increased by 22%
  • Home Health PPS visits per episode decreased from 19 t0 11
  • Nurses were able to carry larger case loads
  • Census increased with the same number of nursing staff
  • ER visits decreased 61.7% for CHF patients
  • Rehospitalizatin decreased by 65.9% for CHF patients
  • The agency made an amazing financial turnaround

For more information on this program, visit their web site: http://www.vna.com

Stephen Tweed
Stephen Tweed is among the top Thought Leaders in Home Care today. As an industry researcher, author, and executive coach, he has worked with owners and CEOs of companies in the top 5% of Home Care and is a frequent speaker at Home Care association conferences and corporate meetings across the US and Canada.

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