Page 2 - 2018HomeHealthHighlights

PHA Providers Work to Improve Delivery of Pediatric Nursing Services

In summer 2018, PHA’s Pediatric Cabinet, a group of home health providers serving children
with complex medical needs through pediatric shift nursing care, launched two projects to help
improve delivery of these services. First, providers met with Sally Kozak, Deputy Secretary for the

Office of Medical Assistance Programs, to discuss a change needed in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid

regulations allowing home health providers serving pediatric patients only to avoid the process
of full Medicare certification. A program in Delaware, spearheaded by the Community Health

Accreditation Partner (CHAP) and Bayada Home Health Care, will soon allow these providers to

obtain special pediatric accreditation rather than Medicare certification. This will help agencies focus on quality of care

for children and avoid unnecessary administrative burdens that come with Medicare certification. PHA will continue

these efforts into 2019 to find commonsense regulatory reform for our members.

A second project will produce a new informational resource for families with children who are about to embark on their

pediatric shift nursing journey. A small task force of PHA pediatric providers has compiled guidance for families, such as

what equipment to expect in the home, how to line up insurance coverage for this care, and what to expect when
inviting a nurse into their home to become part of the family. The goal is to better prepare parents and siblings for the

transition from hospital to home in an effort to enhance family cooperation with agencies and health insurers. The
publication is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2019 and will be distributed through PHA member agencies.

PA National PA National
Quality of Patient Care 3.5 3.5 Patients better 76% 74.8%
Star Rating walking/moving

Began care in a timely 94.4% 94.1% Patients better 75.5% 73.7%
manner getting in, out o f bed
Taught patients about 98.2% 98.1% Patients better at 76.4% 77.3% PA Agencies

their drugs bathing

Checked patients' risk of 99.5% 99.6% Patients less pain 77% 77.9% Meet &
falling moving
Outperform

Checked patients for 98.1% 97.7% Patients' breathing 78.3% 77.1%
depression improved National Home

Assessed whether 80.1% 78.3% Patients' wounds 90.9% 91% Health Compare
patients received flu improved/healed

shots Scores
Patients received 84.1% 81.2% Patients better at 66% 65.8%

pneumococcal vaccine taking drugs correctly

For diabetics, got 97.6% 97.6% How often patients 16.7% 15.8%

doctor's orders, gave & had to be admitted to
taught foot care hospital

How often patients 12.3% 13%

needed unplanned

care in ER

Team gave care Team Discussed Patients Patients would
in a professional communicated well medicine, pain, who rated recommend

way with patient home safety agency 9 or agency to
with patient 10 friends, family
PA 89% 87% 83% 85% 78%
National 88% 85% 83% 84% 78%