Health IT (HIT) is playing an increasingly important role under Health Reform. At a June 2012 Long-Term and Post-Acute Care (LTPAC) Health Information Technology Summit, a panel of industry experts addressed the current landscape: scarce resources to deal with increasing complex case loads, increased demands from regulators, and the advent of new reimbursement models. Despite these realities, the participants are optimistic about the value of HIT and believe LTPAC providers must move ahead, making smart technology choices and proactively increasing the value they bring to the table. A few words of advice from the panelists: LTPAC must move quickly to position their facilities to local hospitals and physician groups that are forming ACOs. Providers need to demonstrate how they will improve on key factors, like re-hospitalization, and improve patient outcomes across the continuum. According to Marty Diller of Complete Healthcare Resources, “Now the requirement is to take the whole continuum; to make partners out of all the care centers.” Additionally, panelists recommend that LTPAC facilities demonstrate measureable value by managing toward the outcomes and measures that are the focus of the hospital or ACO. Show them how LTPAC will improve those key factors and how outcomes will be improved across the care spectrum. “If you play a passive role, you’ll be dictated to. Bring better outcomes and you’ll earn a seat at the table,“ says Loren Claypool, Extendicare/VCPI. A strength that LTPAC brings to the continuum? LTPAC providers bring value to acute care through their knowledge of the patients and patient experience. “They have a 10-day relationship with the patient. We have a 10-year relationship. We know the patient better.” says- Chuck Czarnick, Brookdale Senior Living. For more information about HIT in LTPAC, see the WoundRounds’ sponsored White paper, at https://www.woundrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/The-HIT-Landscape-for-LTPAC-WhitePaper-Final.pdf
