What do you think is the biggest impediment to successful transitions of care from hospitals to a skilled nursing facility (SNF)? If you said, \u201cincomplete patient information,\u201d you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While about 80% of SNFs<\/a> have adopted electronic health records (EHR), true interoperability remains elusive, creating dangerous gaps in data sharing. A recent survey of 471 hospital-SNF pairs<\/a> found that key information about a patient\u2019s behavioral status is missing from care transitions 68% of the time, while insights into a patient\u2019s social status are omitted 66% of the time. Every missing or delayed piece of information threatens patient safety, hinders outcomes, and frustrates staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To close the gaps, many SNF IT leaders are shifting their focus away from clinical documentation solutions toward nursing home software that can enhance communication with their acute care partners. Let\u2019s zoom in on this trend and explore how solutions like eFax Unite\u2122<\/a> can strengthen care coordination compliantly without requiring a full system replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improving data sharing through upgraded software is a strategic imperative for both SNF executives and their acute care partners. Nearly all (99%) hospitals and physicians<\/a> say they\u2019re more likely to send referrals to providers who can receive orders electronically. Simultaneously, 79% of SNFs<\/a> plan to invest more in advanced interoperability in the future. Here are three reasons why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike hospitals and clinics, post-acute care providers were left out of early federal EHR and interoperability incentive programs, leaving nursing homes playing catchup on adoption. As more SNFs brought EHRs online, most focused their efforts on clinical documentation, often at the expense of care coordination. As a result, care transitions today remain fractured. Most SNFs rely on outdated workflows like paper fax, email, and manual data entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To close the gap, nursing homes need access to accurate, real-time data to prevent problems with medication errors and duplicate testing. Strong interoperability can make this happen, ensuring the entire care team \u2014 providers, nurses, and therapists \u2014receives the vital data they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regulatory changes are adding new urgency to care coordination efforts. The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA)<\/a> from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. TEFCA has created Qualified Health Information Networks (QHIN) to facilitate the secure, nationwide exchange of health information. SNFs that adopt interoperable solutions and become TEFCA-ready will be able to receive and send information to acute and ambulatory providers participating with CommonWell Health Alliance and other QHINs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post-acute facilities must also comply with the Final Rule of the 21st Century Cures Act<\/a>, which requires providers to enable data sharing and establishes fines up to $1 million for information blocking. And, of course, all data must be shared securely to meet the intent of protected health information (PHI) safeguards like HIPAA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research links heavy clinical documentation burdens to higher rates of burnout for highly trained SNF staff, including nurses<\/a> and administrative colleagues. The root of the problem is manual processes, such as making follow-up phone calls or re-keying data from hospital discharge paperwork into multiple documents. Rote tasks like these cost the average care team four hours of staff time<\/a> per week, while lengthy clinical documentation consumes 26% to 41% of nurses\u2019 time<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seamless data transfer frees up staff to focus on what they love to do: care for patients, thereby improving staff satisfaction and retention. It also empowers post-acute care facilities to communicate with multiple partners, including pharmacies, laboratories, and health information exchanges (HIEs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Considerations When Selecting Skilled Nursing Software<\/p>\n\n\n\n For SNF IT leaders looking to improve care transitions and communication, it\u2019s time to rethink the software evaluation process. Today\u2019s top must-haves include care coordination tools that improve interoperability and integrate with existing systems, along with solutions that fit the staffing and budget realities of nursing homes. Here are four key questions to ask potential solution providers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications that support industry-standard protocols like HL7 and FHIR<\/a> ensure that nursing home staff can exchange referrals, treatment orders, problem lists, and other information fluently. Additionally, solutions that use frameworks like DirectTrust<\/a> \u2014 a set of policies established by HITRUST \u2014 facilitate securely sending direct messages, such as transfer notices and bed availability confirmations, to other providers. Another must-have is software built around the Carequality<\/a> interoperability framework, which lets staff query EHRs and HIEs effortlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Replacing a nursing home EHR is expensive, complex, and time-consuming, which is why most SNF leaders want to add interoperability while maintaining their existing EHR. Solutions built with application programming interfaces (APIs) make this happen. APIs connect effortlessly with multiple EHRs and other core systems. But EHR integration is just the start. A best-in-class solution provider should also be familiar with SNFs and the workflows that nurses, CNAs, rehab nurses, administrative staff, and providers use on a daily basis and know how to automate them. The goal is to find software that will complement existing workflows, not disrupt them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As SNFs open up their data exchange networks, they will inevitably interact with more organizations and providers. And while that\u2019s a good thing in terms of care coordination, it can also increase the risk of data hacks and breaches. Nursing home IT teams can protect their systems \u2014 and their patients\u2019 data \u2014 by choosing HIPAA-compliant solutions that follow the HITRUST CSF<\/a> framework, the gold standard in healthcare cybersecurity. Top solutions will also keep data secure when it\u2019s at rest with AES 256-bit encryption and in transit with TLS 1.2 encryption. Also, insist on platforms that provide role-based access control and audit trails for tracking purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All interoperability software will include upfront costs, but the best solutions will pay for themselves by improving workplace efficiency and staff satisfaction. Seek solutions that automate multiple steps in the transfer process, such as pulling data automatically from hospital or rehab systems to streamline care coordination and reduce staff burdens. The more powerful the automated workflow, the more time colleagues can spend with patients \u2014 and the less time they\u2019ll spend standing by the physical fax machine or sitting at a keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transitions of care are the most vulnerable part of a patient\u2019s journey, but they don\u2019t have to be. eFax Unite<\/a> offers a practical and fully interoperable solution. eFax Unite replaces physical fax machines with HIPAA-compliant digital faxing<\/a> capabilities and breaks down communication barriers while fitting into existing nursing home workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With eFax Unite, SNFs can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps best of all, as part of Consensus Cloud Solutions\u2019 eFax Corporate\u00ae<\/a> platform, eFax Unite automates core communications workflows, helping staff save time and focus more on resident care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because eFax Unite is cloud-based, SNFs can get up and running with it quickly. These tips can make the implementation and optimization phases even easier:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the right rollout strategy, eFax Unite can become the foundation of a scalable, compliant interoperability solution\u2014inside and beyond your facility\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Care coordination inside SNFs has taken a back seat to clinical documentation for far too long. With solutions like eFax Unite, nursing homes can achieve higher levels of interoperability and save staff up to 70% of their time. Core Software Needs in Skilled Nursing Facilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. A Heightened Focus on Care Coordination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Regulatory Shifts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Staffing Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Will The Solution Improve Interoperability and External Communication? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does The Solution Integrate With EHRs in Nursing Homes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I Trust That The Solution is Secure and HIPAA-Compliant?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Kind of ROI Can I Expect?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Improve Transitions of Care With eFax Unite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Make the Most of eFax Unite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Deliver on the Promise of SNF Interoperability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Learn more. Explore eFax Unite<\/a> for skilled nursing facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\tFrequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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