CellTrak Blog

“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.”

So begins the perennial best-selling business book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” by Patrick Lencioni. It’s a masterpiece of advice for any business leader, but it holds particularly potent words of wisdom for the home health industry.

From the care coordination teams that oversee the delivery of care to the operations teams that manage the business of care, home care agencies succeed or fail based on the strengths of their team dynamics.

Every time you visit your clients, you build important physical and emotional connections with them. Now it's time to strengthen those connections by optimizing your communication skills, so you can effectively convey vital information and instructions.

One of the biggest strengths of the home care industry is also one of its biggest challenges: mobile caregivers.

As the market for home care services continues growing at a rapid clip, agencies are finding it tougher to find and keep qualified caregivers. According to a recent survey by CareInHomes Caregivers, 76% of private duty agencies were looking to hire more caregivers this year, and the trend points to that continuing in 2017. But along with that opportunity come significant challenges. In that same survey, the respondents said their two greatest challenges were:

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, there are lots of moving pieces”? That’s a typical refrain when they’re trying to describe a complex plan involving multiple groups and goals.

In home care, paperwork is everywhere – between the field and the office and between your agency and all types of third parties. Admission forms, schedules, point-of-care documentation, payroll processing, and care documentation for third parties – paper is often king.

Coordination. Communication. Collaboration.

In August, the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an information bulletin on “Suggested Approaches for Strengthening and Stabilizing the Medicaid Home Care Workforce.” With home care services growing rapidly, the CMS recognizes the need to also care for the workforce that is delivering home-based care.