HCA University

Online courses for health care professionals

HCA Education and Research has partnered with Care2Learn to bring you the best possible online learning experiences for the health care profession.

Whether you are a nurse, therapist, home health aide or home care leader, there is a Care2Learn course for you. Click the Care2Learn button above for more information.

The NYS Home Care Registry — All You Need to Know

A free Webinar offered on:

Thursday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to noon

Friday, March 5, from 10 a.m. to noon

HCA members are invited to participate in a complimentary two-hour webinar about the New York State Home Care Registry (HCR). Whether you are new to the HCR or already a user, this webinar will provide valuable information about its features and functions. The program there also includes an opportunity to discuss any problems you are experiencing in using the HCR. This program is being provided by the Home Care Registry's training manager, Laura Forster.

This program is a Webinar — a web-based session on your computer with the ability to listen in via phone/speaker phone. Once registered with HCA, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail which will include a link for further instructions to participate in the Webinar from the Home Care Registry.

Because of limited Webinar connections for each session, and to avoid shutting others out of this important program, we ask that you choose only one program for your agency.

»Download the Registration Form

Webinar Trainings Designed to Help Your Agency Grow

Fazzi Associates is offering webinars to help you grow your agency through customer service, the referral process and your intake department.

Whatever It Takes: The Total Customer Service Program

March 2, 2010 — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

More and more agencies are recognizing that the best way to differentiate themselves from competitors is through exceptional customer service. And, with HHCAHP just around the corner, never has this been more important.

Attend this training to get clear insights and proven strategies for developing a Total Customer Service Program. Learn how a "real" customer service program can increase patient satisfaction and loyalty. Examine the role of customer service in generating referrals and increasing staff satisfaction and get proven effective customer services strategies for patients/families, referral sources, and staff.

New Trends and Options: Increasing Home Care Referrals

March 16, 2010 — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There is no question that the consistent flow of referrals is the key to any agency's success. But, with the increasing numbers agencies of home care, competition is hotter than ever. Finding new and better ways to be the agency of choice is essential. Learn what it takes to get the referrals you need to succeed. Find out what discharge planners, physicians, and managed care companies say it takes to get their business.

• Learn how to deal with the toughest competitors.
• Discover the fundamentals of creating the optimal marketing and sales program.

»Download the Brochure

HCA's State Advocacy Day

March 10, 2010 — Albany

HCA members should plan to be in Albany on March 10 for our annual State Advocacy Day — one of our flagship events. With the unprecedented challenges facing home care in the state budget and regulatory arenas, including over $155 million in proposed state budget cuts to home care, now more than ever is an important time for members to be engaged in advocacy to protect home care services.

Our Advocacy Day program includes addresses by state policymakers and direct in-person meetings between HCA members and their state elected representatives to advocate on behalf of home and community based services. We will also be holding a pre-Advocacy Day dinner the evening before, on March 9.

For advocacy information related to the state budget, please consult our Enough is Enough online advocacy campaign.

To participate in Advocacy Day, download the registration form at the link below.

»Download the Registration Form

Medication Management and OASIS-C

March 11, 2010 — Webinar

Medication management has been greatly expanded in the new OASIS-C. And, with the addition of new process items, the need for therapists involvement in medication review becomes even more important. Still, roles in this area remain unclear. Who is ultimately responsible? And, even more importantly, where do the boundaries lie?

The topic of medication management is one that continues to cause anxiety and concern for many interdisciplinary teams. A common misconception is that these issues only surround the comprehensive assessment completed at the start of an episode and don't involve the therapist. However, the focus on patient safety and new process measures have expanded the need for the entire health care team entering the home to be involved. This is no longer a subject for nurses only. All clinicians must be properly trained.

This is not a session outlining specific medications. This is a detailed 90-minute webinar that will outline the regulations surrounding the medication regimen review specific to home care and how therapists and nurses can work together to better streamline the process.

»Download the Registration Form

Documentation: A Two-Part Webinar Series

the last decade, there has been a shift in focus from meticulous documentation that demonstrates compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation and coverage guidelines to learning all of the complexities of a changing Medicare prospective payment system based on responses to selected OASIS assessment items. But the recent increased emphasis on accuracy of claims submission and processing means thorough and accurate documentation in our home health records will once again become a major concern.

This two-part webinar series will review the requirements for documentation necessary to support regulatory and reimbursement requirements in home health. In addition, the programs will highlight strategies to meet all of the requirements for documentation while still focusing on the ultimate goal of providing quality home care services.

March 11, 2010 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Part I: The Essence of Regulatory Home Health Documentation

April 8, 2010 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Part II: The Essence of Documentation to Support Medicare Services

»Download the Brochure

ICD-9-CM & OASIS Coding: Back to Basics and Beyond

March 11, 2010 (Workshop) — Tarrytown

March 12, 2010 (HCS-D Exam, separate registration required) — Tarrytown

PPS has made ICD-9-CM coding a key element to determine accurate reimbursement and drive quality outcome improvement. With the advent of the revised OASIS-C, experts agree that ongoing and specialized home health training to accurately assign diagnosis codes remains critical to reflect the complexity of home care patients and ensure accurate reimbursement.

This code conference will provide the fundamentals necessary to achieve national credential status. Ensure your agency coders are recognized for their expertise and experience. Upon complete of this one-day, fast-paced,interactive code program, participants will be eligible to take the Homecare Coding Specialist Diagnosis (HCS-D) national certification exam the following day at the same location.

This program includes a comprehensive overview of ICD-9-CM coding with specific application to the home health industry and the revised OASIS-C. Coding mandates, exceptions and best practices will be reviewed in the home health context. Coding inconsistencies and common diagnosis pitfalls as well as tips to reinforce OASIS documentation to substantiate accurate ICD-9-CM coding will be addressed.

Topics to be covered:

• ICD-9-CM code conventions and guidelines, including the ten steps to correct coding and a summary of the 2010 code changes;
• Critical diagnosis-related billing and coding guidelines including the correct assignment of primary, secondary and case mix diagnosis items;
• Diagnostic coding statements and code sequencing for common and complex home care cases, including wounds, neoplasms, manifestation and combination codes.

Participants must have an updated 2010 ICD-9-CM Code Manual for this program.

»REGISTER ONLINE

»Download the Brochure

Introduction to the Coding Manual

March 16, 2010 — Webinar (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.)

This session is a great beginning to ICD-9-CM coding through an introduction to the ICD-9-CM Coding Manual. The Coding Manual is a coder's best friend and the ultimate resource to guide you through the coding process. This session will highlight the differences and use of the three volumes of the coding manual, common conventions for coding that you must know and a guide to the abbreviations and directions that help you select the correct code. Like all areas of specialization, ICD-9-CM has its own language and rules. So join us for this audio-conference to see why your coding manual will become your best friend. The session will integrate illustrative examples of basic coding skills and answer questions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Which volume of the coding manual must you use first?
• What information is located in each of the three volumes?
• How do you determine how many digits are needed for a code?
• What do all the notes mean in the manual?
• How do I even start finding the correct diagnosis code?

»Download the Brochure

OASIS-C and Risk Management

March 23, 2010 — Teleconference (1 to 2 p.m.)

The OASIS-C provides clinicians with a wealth of assessment data for refined care planning, coordination and service delivery. CMS-revised OBQI and OBQM reports also provide agencies with a depth of outcomes and events to track and trend to further enhance care. What elements of the OASIS-C challenge aspects of risk management in your agency? What processes have been implemented by your peers to reduce the heightened risks experienced with this revised tool? How can you support your clinicians to accurately assess, document and ensure refined care delivery in this new home health era.

Program Goals include:

• Identifying elements and processes associated with the revised OASIS-C that present ongoing risk management issues for certified home health
  providers;
• Discussing proactive initiatives to address heightened riskmanagement issues identified with the OASIS-C;
• Detailing revised tools that support clinician documentation of vital care practices to reduce agencyrisk(s);
• Applying revised processes to inherent OASIS-C risks that minimize agency liability and enhance clinician documentation.

»Download the Brochure

OASIS-C & ICD-9-CM Code Updates Beyond the Basics

March 23, 2010 — Teleconference (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

CMS continues to clarify the new and revised OASIS-C items to address provider confusion evident in clinician discussions and queries. What recent OASIS-C and Code updates require further agency focus to ensure clinician accuracy to meet the intent of this new document? What strategies have some of your peers refined to successfully implement these critical updates and recent clarifications? This teleconference details the most recent clarifications from CMS on the accurate completion of the new and revised OASIS-C items. Additional focus on the OASIS-C Final Guidance, including some diagnosis code considerations, will further enhance wound item accuracy. How will these clarifications impact your agencies practices and protocols?

Join HCA Education and Research and RBC Limited in this session to identify and detail the most recent clarifications on the AOSIS-C and Diagnosis coding that impacts accurate assessment and documentation practices. Receive audit tools that support accurate assessment and documentation of the revised OASIS-C.

»Download the Brochure

Home Health Compliance: What You Need to Know

April 14 and 15 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) — a two-part audio conference

Every other day a home health provider is facing an audit, investigation or survey by the OMIG, OIG or DOH. Whistleblowers are becoming overnight millionaires by filing complaints against their current or former employers.

This two-part webinar (in 90-minute sessions) will examine specific clinical, billing, marketing, referral, inducement and cost report issues being targeted.

Areas to be covered include:

• OIG 31 Risk Areas
• OMIG Audit Issues for CHHAs and LTHHCPs
• OMIG Workplan
• OIG Workplan and Fraud Alerts
• TPL Audits; the role of ABNs and Demand Billing
• RAC Home Health Issues
  

The program will touch upon: requirements of the mandatory OMIG Compliance Plan; compliance strategies for meeting audit challenges; and the new provisions of federal and state False Claims Acts, which stress enforcement actions.

»Download the Brochure

HCA's Annual Conference

May 19-21, 2010 — Saratoga Springs

HCA's Annual Conference is our flagship annual event, bringing together home care policymakers, operational management experts, clinicians, corporate compliance professionals, vendors, and others who provide education and information designed to support the work of New York's home care agencies in providing quality care to patients.

This three-day event, held in historic Saratoga Springs, contains an action-packed agenda of workshops, presentations, entertainment and networking opportunities designed to help home care agency professionals engage, learn, recharge and, as a result, enhance their operations.

More information will be available shortly. In the meantime, save the date for May 19-21 in Saratoga.

»Download the brochure

»Download the Agenda-at-a-glance

»Sponsorship information

»Download a registration form

»REGISTER ONLINE

HCA's Senior and Financial Managers Retreat

August 17-18, 2010 — Saratoga Springs

Save the date! More information coming soon.

HCA's Clinical and Technology Conference

November 3-4, 2010 — Albany

Save the date! More information coming soon.

»Sponsorship information

All programs offered by HCA Education and Research,

an affiliate of the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA)