The following guest post is adopted from the blog of NHPCO Strategic Partner, Axxess.
Allegiance Healthcare, operating under the Allegiance Health
Management umbrella, is a leading provider of post-acute care in Louisiana,
offering home health, hospice, palliative care, and transitional care services
to all patients regardless of the complexity or acuity of their diagnosis.
During the Axxess Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience (AGILE), Allegiance Healthcare received the Compliance Standards of Excellence Award for their demonstrated commitment to surpassing industry survey standards and upholding continued compliance. This award recognizes Allegiance’s successful track record of deficiency-free surveys, reflecting their exceptional dedication to high-quality patient care and rigorous adherence to regulatory requirements.
Axxess interviewed Allegiance Healthcare’s Chief Operating
Officer, Brandon Melancon to explore the strategies and tools behind the
organization’s success. Read the full interview here. Axxess’ Vice President of Hospice Professional
Services, Zaundra Ellis then weighed in on the processes she considers
beneficial for other organizations to adopt:
Implement internal auditing and quality assurance
processes.
Allegiance’s internal quality assurance processes are deeply
ingrained in their organizational DNA. From prebilling audits that ensure
claims are clean before submission to yearly mock surveys, monthly QAPI
meetings with a medical review auditor, and a compliance hotline where
employees can voice concerns anonymously, every aspect of the organization’s
operations reflects a commitment to maintaining high standards and regulatory
compliance.
“Allegiance’s approach to quality assurance is not only
comprehensive but also strategic,” said Ellis. “By embedding these processes
into their culture, they’re not just catching issues early – they’re also
fostering a shared understanding of quality and compliance among their team.
Having a medical auditor as a member of their QAPI team is brilliant. The
medical auditor’s participation allows for real-time training that supports
quality and compliance, preparing the Allegiance team during each meeting for
surveys and audits. The result is deficiency-free surveys.”
Leverage technology for operational visibility and
efficiency.
Melancon highlighted that before transitioning their EMR
solution to Axxess, Allegiance faced short and long length of stay issues that
could have triggered governmental audits. Recognizing this, they invested in an
EMR solution to enhance data visibility, enabling close monitoring and
proactive resolution of these concerns.
“By adopting an EMR solution tailored to their needs,
Allegiance not only resolved potential compliance issues but also gained the
ability to continuously monitor other crucial metrics,” said Ellis. “A good EMR
solution should empower your team to deeply understand your business and
identify and address blind spots, thereby improving overall performance and
elevating the quality of care you provide.”
Melancon also noted ease of use and training modules as
elements of an EMR solution that not only contribute to compliance efforts but
also enhance overall efficiency.
Pivot when areas requiring improvement are identified.
Through their ongoing quality assurance processes and
easy-to-use software platform that support real-time data analysis, Allegiance
is able to address issues as soon as they arise, initiating a Performance
Improvement Project (PIP) immediately when an area requiring improvement is
identified.
“By tackling problems head-on, Allegiance minimizes the risk
of recurring issues and optimizes overall operational performance, ultimately
leading to better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction,” Ellis said. “Both
your processes and your technology solutions should support operational
agility, ensuring continuous alignment with evolving regulatory requirements
and standards.”
Learn more about how Axxess can serve as a partner to your
care delivery through integrated technology solutions.