Remember Y2K? At the time many providers were concerned that their systems would break down at the stroke of midnight on January 1st. People anxiously anticipated the drop of the ball on New Year’s Eve and there were widespread fears that the electrical grid would shut down altogether. Some providers had maintenance and IT staff on site at midnight to deal with whatever was to come. Thankfully, those fears did not live up to the hype. One thing I took away from that time is that our industry does not handle change management all that well – we wait for the pain. Not much has happened to change my mind since. Recent examples that come to mind are the transitions to MDS 3.0 and ICD-10. Some providers were up to date and ready to go on day one, but so many others were scrambling to get processes in place.

Keeping Up with Changes in the LTPAC Sector

The LTPAC sector is more fast-paced than ever. We exist within the most heavily regulated industry. Day to day management of operations is challenging at best. But keeping ahead of what is to come presents another dilemma. How do we keep on top of future trends, upcoming regulatory changes, system upgrades, new technology, etc.? If only we could have a crystal ball that foretold what WILL happen vs. what MIGHT happen. Since that is not an option, providers who will be able to rise to the top will all have one thing in common. They will embrace change and nurture their employees and processes to proactively anticipate change rather than react to it. The providers who can be on the forefront of change, embrace new technology and encourage staff engagement in new processes will not only survive but thrive.

How often do you review your internal processes? Is it time to take a fresh objective look at what you do and how you do it? Does your community/organization keep up with the industry’s best practices? Do you have a QI/Compliance initiative that encourages new ways of thinking? If you wait until the last minute to begin to prepare for something new you will find that the process is much more frenetic, disorganized, and stressful for all involved. Value Based Purchasing (VBP) is the driver of the latest trends in LTPAC. We will be writing more about related topics in blogs to come.

Y2K did not happen. But something else will and those who are best prepared will move forward more readily than their contemporaries who procrastinate to the last second.

Be prepared for whatever may come - enlist the consulting services of Richter to stay ahead of the curve.