Full or partial evaluations of a home care agency’s operations including the following processes: referral, intake, scheduling, administrative and clinical management, medical records, human resources, policies and procedures (administrative and clinical ) patient care, performance improvement, coding, documentation especially as related to OASIS and the Medicare Conditions of Participation, agency oversight/governance, and agency outcomes per OBQI reports. The detailed report following an assessment visit includes recommendations for agency re-organization/re-engineering to create improved patient and financial outcomes.

Agencies should always be prepared for unannounced state surveys and for accreditation surveys when seeking or maintaining JCAHO or CHAP accreditation status. McCoy and Connolly Consulting conducts mock survey reviews specific to survey requirements and prepares a detailed report regarding agency readiness for the actual survey process. Mock surveys generally include a complete administrative review inclusive of agency manuals and policies, and a clinical review which encompasses field observation of staff providing patient care and extensive medical record review.

Agencies with administrative staff who require education and coaching related to home care regulations and practices or orientation to new positions within the home care agency, have relied on McCoy and Connolly Consulting to assist in this process. In addition, as part of many consultative engagements, McCoy and Connolly Consulting provides education sessions on a variety of home health topics for both administrative and clinical staff.

McCoy and Connolly Consulting performs chart audits for compliance at an agency’s request. During the review process if issues other than the client’s specific audit request are apparent, McCoy and Connolly will alert the client and expand or refocus the audit process as necessary.

McCoy and Connolly Consulting assists agencies in developing the written response to Department of Health Services (DHS) /CMS deficient findings during certification and recertification surveys.The consultants may be brought in to assist DURING the actual survey process, once the findings are detailed by the surveyors during the exit conference, or when the agency receives the official written CMS form 2567. As timelines are crucial during this process, the earlier consultant assistance is received, the better the agency outcome. The implementation of the written plan is crucial to the plan’s success and ultimate sign-off by surveyors. McCoy and Connolly Consulting assists agencies in the plan of correction implementation by providing in-services, conducting meetings such as case conferences and staff supervision, performance of home visit observations, creating documentation tools, developing and conducting audits, assisting agency management in utilizing a performance improvement model, reviewing and revising policies and procedures, interpreting agency reports and evaluating and making recommendations about an agency’s patient care model and clinical supervision.