Expert Analysis: Allegiance Healthcare’s Approach to Sustained Compliance

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.