Since 2005, a group of associations, such as LeadingAge, AHCA, AMDA, and many others, has hosted an annual summit to discuss the information technology (IT) issues long term care and post acute care providers face. The group, known as the Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC) Collaborative, publishes a Road Map for LTPAC providers to follow for the next 24 months in their adoption of IT systems. The specifics of the 2012-2014 Road Map are discussed on the Hall Render Health Information Technology Blog.
As a general overview, the current Road Map stresses LTPAC providers utilize IT systems to improve on care integration, care quality, and customer and caregiver engagement.
Some of the issues the Road Map recognizes providers face in implementing IT systems are also discussed. The proper IT system must make business sense for the provider; new systems should be implemented only if they achieve quantifiable business goals, such as increasing quality and reducing costs. Additionally, provider workforces must be trained in the complete use and capabilities of an IT system; it is estimated that currently utilized IT systems are only used to approximately 30% of their capacity by providers. This utilization gap is largely attributable to failing to educate the end-users.
Should you have any questions, please contact:
Todd Selby at 317.977.1440 or tselby@wp.hallrender.com;
Brian Jent at 317.977.1402 or bjent@wp.hallrender.com; or
David Bufford at 502.568.9368 or dbufford@wp.hallrender.com,
or your regular Hall Render attorney.
