SPECIAL POINTS

OF INTEREST

OBQI / OBQM / HHCQM

Update

Preventing Falls Among

Seniors

DECEMBER 2008

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

MESSAGE FROM THEAGENCY SUPERVISOR

1

SATISFACTION SURVEY 1

OBQI UPDATE 2

PREVENTING FALLSAMONG SENIORS

2

IN SERVICE& TRAININGS

3

EVENTS 4

BIRTHDAYS 4

NEW EMPLOYEES 4

Greetings!

It is hard to believe we are almost

through the year and as we approach the

end of 2008, we want to thank you for

your continued and tremendous support

to Pacific Home Health Care (PHHC)

especially during our challenging times.

It was an interesting year for PHHC

especially with the new Prospective

Payment System (PPS) 2008 rules.

Despite of the challenges we still

maintained an excellent Patient Satisfac-

tion Survey results, growing new referral

sources, and has improved our Outcome

Based Quality Improvement (OBQI)

reports and yet we will never wane in our

commitment to serve.

As we enter 2009, we will continue

to improve our performance and increase

our efficiency while still focusing on

patient-centered care approach. PHHC

will always listen to your comments,

great ideas and suggestions on how we

can serve you even better.

Have a Safe & Happy Holidays!

SATISFACTION SURVEY 2008 BY LETICIA JIMENEZ, RN, ADMINISTRATOR

Pacific Home Health Care(PHHC) cannot completelybid adieu to 2008 withoutpresenting the PatientSatisfaction Survey

This survey forms weregiven to all viable patients atthe beginning of admission.Patients/Caregivers wereinstructed to submit thecompleted form back to the

company after the 2nd to 4th

week of visit and give it tothe Field Staff.

The PATIENT SATIS-FACTION SURVEY wasreceived and 166 responded.The ratings are from 1-5score (1-no opinion to5-strongly agree or excel-lent). This pertains to the careof the patients received from

all disciplines.

The result was 76%responded excellent and 24%was very good. Others willrecommend Pacific HomeHealth Care to others. Thesurvey is one of the best toolsused to provide quality care,to reach the mission and goalof the company and to listento their entire medical needs.

YEAREND MESSAGE BY BERNADETTE PINGUE, BSN, RN, AGENCY SUPERVISOR

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget

what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”–Maya Angelou, American Poet, Playwright, Educator, Historian

Pacific Home Health CareFall - Winter 2008Editor-In-Chief: Basil Jon Raya, Systems Administrator

SCHEDULED EVENTS:

January 21 OASISUpdate 2009

January 30 Care of KneeReplacementIn-Service

March 9-10 MasteringMedicareSeminarLas Vegas,Nevada

May 6-12 Nurses’Week

June 11-18 CertifiedNursingAssistants’Week

Risk Adjusted Outcome Reportbased on the Actual Current Period(Oct 07– Sept 08) reveals improvementon Acute Care Hospitalization (ACH2)compared to ACH1 Actual CurrentP e r iod (Aug 0 7 – Ju l 0 8 ) .“Improvement in Dyspnea”2 (as themain reason for hospitalization) hasimproved in percentage compared to“improvement in Dyspnea”1 from theprevious Risk Adjusted issue of OBQI/OBQM report.

The ongoing PHHC Plan Of Action(POA) are the keys that lowers the per-centage of ACH with the combinedefforts of all discipline and office staffof PHHC. “In-between” skilled visitswere closely monitored by phone anduploading visits to homebound clientswho are at risk for inpatient facilitytransfer.

Home Health Compare Quality

Measures (HHCQM) has improved in

percentage in many of the quality measures

(HHCQM2) compared to the previous

issue of HHCQM1 of Home Health Com-

pare by CMS. PHHC will do its best to

meet the National Reference Goal in pro-

viding health care to homebound clients.

Thus, will continue conducting web

seminars and teleconferences to update all

PHHC caregivers for a quality care on-

wards.

reduce your chances offalling. It makes youstronger and helps you feelbetter. Exercises thatimprove balance and coordi-nation (like Tai Chi) are themost helpful.

Lack of exercise leads toweakness and increases yourchance of falling.

Ask your doctor or healthcare worker about the besttype of exercise program foryou.

2. Make your home safer.About half of all falls

happen at home. To makeyour home safer:- Remove things you cantrip over (such as papers,books, clothes and shoes)from stairs and places whereyou walk.- Remove small throw rugsor use double-sided tape to

medicines.Have your doctor or pharma-

cist look at all the medicines

you take (including ones that

don’t need prescriptions such as

cold medicines).

As you get older, the way

some medicines work in

your body can change.

Some medicines, or combi-

nations of medicines, can

make you drowsy or light-

headed which can lead to a

fall.

4. Have your vision

checked.

Have your eyes checked

by an eye doctor. You may

be wearing the wrong

glasses or have a condition

such as glaucoma or cata-

racts that limits your vision.

Poor vision can increase

your chances of falling.

PREVENTING FALLS AMONG SENIORSSOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INJURY PREVENTION & CONTROL

PACIFIC HOME HEALTH CARE FALL - WINTER 2008

OBQI/OBQM/HHCQM BY RAMIL, ICD-9-CM

PAGE 2

TIPSFalls are not just the re-

sult of getting older. Manyfalls can be prevented. Fallsare usually caused by a num-ber of things. By changingsome of these things, youcan lower your chances offalling.

You can reduce yourchances of falling by doingthese things:

1. Begin a regular exer-cise program.

Exercise is one of themost important ways to

ACH1 ACH2Current. . . . . . . . . . . . . .51.9% Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.6%Adjusted Prior . . . . . . . 43.4% Adjusted Prior. . . . . . . . 43.9%National Reference . . . 33.0% National Reference. . . . .33.7%

Improvement in Dyspnea1 Improvement in Dyspnea2Current. . . . . . . . . . . . . .52.9% Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.6%Adjusted Prior . . . . . . . 51.9% Adjusted Prior. . . . . . . . 50.2%National Reference. . . . 56.8% National Reference. . . . 56.2%

HHCQM1 – Data of Mar. 12, 2008 POA: TelemonitoringHHCQM2 – Data of Nov. 13, 2008 Telehealth

Uploading Visits

LEGEND:

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Previous Report

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Current Report

ACH . . . . . . . . . . Acute CareHospitalization

HHCQM . . . . . . Home Health CompareQuality Measures

POA . . . . . . . . . . . Plan of Action

keep rugs from slipping.- Keep items you use oftenin cabinets you can reacheasily without using a step-ping stool.- Have grab bars put in nextto your toilet and in the tubor shower.- Use non-slip mats in thebath tub or shower.

- Improve the lighting inyour home. As you getolder, you need brighterlights to see well. Lampshades or frosted bulbs canreduce glare.- Have handrails and lightsput in on all staircases.- Wear shoes that give goodsupport and have thin non-slip soles. Avoid wearingslippers and athletic showswith deep treads.

3. Have your health care

provider review your

PAGE 3

CPR TRAINING BY: RAYMOND S. CORRES, OFFICE MANAGER

“ The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,

but those who cannot learn, unlearn and re-learn. “–Alvin Toffler, American Writer & Futurist

The Medicare Conditions ofParticipation require that homehealth aides receive at least 12hours of in-service training duringeach 12-month period. Each in-service packet includes a sheetof basic facts about homecare-specific topic and a vignette thatrelates the topic directly to a homehealth aide visit. A post-test, basedon the information provided in thelesson, documents that the homehealth aide met the objectives of

The following series of topics areJanuary 2008 Updated

Nutrition PracticesFebruary 2008 Safe TransferMarch Oral HygieneApril ChemotherapyMay Hearing LossJune Violence in the Work

placeJuly Uinary Tract InfectionAugust Bowel IncontinenceSeptember DyspneaOctober Patient and ADLsNovember Bladder ContinenceDecember Aphasia

TELECONFERENCES 2008

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Last year in August and Septem-ber, Medline Industries and Roche Co.did in-services for PHHCI regardingthe appropriate use of their respectivePT/INR machines. These were wellattended by the field staff and otherclinicians.

PHHCI also encourages all staff toparticipate in once a month in-services.

Field staff wish to thank the man-agement for providing such tools andtraining to increase their knowledge.

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation in-service on July 2008 at the ConferenceRoom. Attended by Field Staff Nurses,Home Health Aides and Administrativestaff. There were demonstrations, ofusing dummies and the use of the port-able defib. A visual learning tool wasused. Written examination was given toall staff after the class.

The written exam was reviewed anda Q&A followed. It was a big relief toall attendees, after two long hours ofclass and hand-on training they allpassed and a CPR card was given.

See you all again in 2 years…”Save a life today!”

PHHCI ACQUIRED 2 PT/INRPORTABLE MACHINESBY: RAYMOND S. CORRES,OFFICE MANAGER

the in-service. Each lesson will takeapproximately one hour to com-plete.

Finally, the subjects incorporatedinto the HOME HEALTH AIDEON–THE-GO IN-SERVICE serieswill be of interest to home healthaides and relevant to their practiceas well as the goals of the homecareagency…

The following TELECONFERENCESwas presented by BEACON HEALTH andheld at the conference room. Attended byField Skilled nurses and Administrative staff.

July 17 Analysis of NewCase mix Components

August 21 Analysis of Wound &SKIN Diagnoses &Data

September 18 Beginning the InitialAssessment Process

October 16 Verifying PatientEligibility

November 20 Establishing theQualifying Service

December 18 Mastering the Plan ofCare

These are the scheduled TELECONFERENCES for the first quarter of 2009 tobe presented by BEACON HEALTH at thePHHCI conference room.

Field and Administrative staff are expectedto attend.

January 15 Diagnosis Coding:2009 Update

February 19 Introductionto OASIS-C

March 19 Get Ready:Here Come the RACs

April Diagnosis Coding:Biggest Challenges

TELECONFERENCES 2009

HOME HEALTH AIDE IN-SERVICE BY: BEACON HEALTH HHA ON-THE-GO IN-SERVICE SERIES.

Ramil, ICD-9-CM & Maria Manlapaz, CNA executing thecorrect CPR procedure on “Annie”. Field Nurse, Nettie White, LPNwatches over.

The Administrator and Agency Supervisor in a jovial moodobserving PHHCI Field and Office staff in their CPR Training.

HALLOWEEN PARTY 2008

PACIFIC HOME HEALTH CARE FALL - WINTER 2008 PAGE 4

L-R: Mike (QA),

Maila (Therapy Coordinator),

Ramil (ICD-9-CM)

OctoberLeticia Jimenez, AdministratorRamil Boragay, ICD-9-CM

NovemberPaulette Andanar, RNCarmel Elopre, DME CoordinatorSonia Lambajian, STMaria Manlapaz, HHANimfa Pastrana, QA Tech.Christopher Suniga, LPN

DecemberRaymond Corres, Office ManagerRowena Suniga, Nursing SupervisorAlthea Burns, RN

The company Christmas Party was held at the officeconference room on December 19, 2008. Smoked Ribs wasthe main course. At the end of the luncheon, employeesdrew raffle ticket to claim their Christmas gift, which wasprovided by the company. 2 Grand Prizes were won byMichael and Maila.

Thanks for the generosity of MARS Companyand Wound Care Solutions.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year!!!

NEW PACIFIC HOME HEALTHTEAM PLAYERS . . .

The Halloween party on Friday,October 31, 2008 was held at theConference Room. Employees arein costumes, from Popeye to PatrolOfficer to Biker Guy to DonaldDuck, etc. Winner in bestcostume was awarded with greatprizes.

Congratulations to the winners!!

Thanksgiving Party was held atthe office on November 26, 2008. AThanksgiving Luncheon, such asTurkey and Baked Ham was servedon the dining table and a prayer wasrecited by Carmel. There waspumpkin pie for dessert. Theluncheon was a great success,thanks to the generosity of theManagement.

THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2008

“ No matter what a man's past may have been,

his future is spotless. “- Hannah More (1745—1833), English Religious Writer & Philanthropist

Daisy Martinez, RNTabitha Washington, RNErnestina Diaz, RNJoyce Pichay, RNLoida Raya, RNEmily Williams,RNJonathan Love, STSonia Lambajian, STJanice Gladney, OTAlma Dahilig , Operational AnalystRoss Cuyugan, HHA

WE ARE HIRING ! !

Pacific Home Healthis currently hiring

Registered & LicensedPractical Nurses

Certified Nurse Asst.

Spanish Interpreter

Full-time & Part-timepositions available

Visit pacifichhc.com

BIRTHDAYS GALORE!!!

Gabriel “Gabe” Gonzalez (Son of

PHHCI’s Field Nurse, Paulette

Andanar-Gonzalez) with PHHCI’s

Nursing Supervisor, Rowena Suniga