5 Steps to Achieving Perpetual Survey Readiness: Data-Driven Performance Improvement

With CMS intensifying its oversight on hospice and home health organizations, adapting to a proactive compliance posture is essential. There are no more prior notification of surveys, no more block out days, CMS will take over validation surveys by sending in a CMS contracted agent with the Accrediting Organization simultaneously to co-conduct the survey, and state complaint surveys may turn into full validation surveys.  The only way to be ready for surprise surveys is to stay survey ready at all times.  This blog series lays out the Five Most Important Steps to achieve Perpetual Survey Readiness.

Step 3:  Data-Driven Performance Improvement

In home health and hospice care, data-driven performance improvement is not just beneficial—it's critical. Utilizing real-time quality and compliance data from incident reports, clinical, and human resource audits can profoundly inform decision-making processes. This approach allows care providers to strategically prioritize performance improvement projects (PIPs) with the greatest potential impact on patient safety, satisfaction, and overall scorecards from referral sources and payers.

Every improvement opportunity is important and should not be ignored. However, it's essential to regularly assess whether your performance improvement efforts are targeting the areas that will most significantly benefit your patients and your organization's performance metrics.

Ask yourself and your organization:

1. Are your performance improvement projects aligned with your biggest impact areas?
2. Does patient feedback directly influence your improvement initiatives?
3. Can you swiftly integrate new PIPs as emerging needs are identified?

Implement These 5 Strategies for Data-Driven Performance Improvement

1. Make Data Accessible: Ensure that all relevant data is readily available for review in performance improvement / QAPI meetings.
2. Target High-Impact Areas First: Utilize tools like Pareto charts to identify and focus on the issues that will have the most substantial effect.
3. Implement Projects for Improving Documentation: Having a solid documentation process across all activities is crucial for your Conditions of Participation.
4. Train and Develop Staff: Leverage audit findings to create focused training materials, enhancing staff's documentation practices.
5. Document Your PI Activities: Keep detailed records of all performance improvement efforts to monitor effectiveness and guide future initiatives.

Incorporating real-time data into your decision-making processes ensures that your organization can respond dynamically to the ever-evolving landscape of home health and hospice care, leading to better patient outcomes, higher satisfaction rates, and improved performance scores.

Let us help.

You are at the heart of making pivotal decisions that enhance patient care while meeting rigorous compliance requirements. QAPIplus can help you with our streamlined platform that harnesses real-time quality and compliance data, guiding you to identify and prioritize those critical performance areas that need your attention the most. We help you ensure every effort you make is impactful, enhancing patient safety and satisfaction, and ultimately, the performance of your agency.

To learn more about how QAPIplus can help you elevate your data-driven performance improvements, request a demo today.

Read more blog posts about survey readiness, quality, and compliance management.