In back to back news releases last week, Delta Health Technologies LLC introduced its new VP of sales, announced that it will underwrite the “2013 National State of the Industry Study,” and proposed a new name for the industry it has served for nearly 45 years, the care-at-home industry.
“In an effort to help the care-at-home industry both manage and provide quality outcome-driven care in the new reform environment,” Delta’s first release explains, the Altoona, PA-based software firm launched on January 28 a national study “designed to provide agency leaders with critical insights and best practice information in the areas of IT/EHR, telehealth and operational practices.”
Co-sponsored by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, the Forum of State Associations, and national best-practice research firm Fazzi Associates, who will design and facilitate the national effort, the research has been designed to uncover and spotlight the strengths of the nation’s leading homecare agencies. Delta added that it anticipates additional participants will support the study.
“Patient treatment does not always end with a hospital discharge, as the choice has traditionally been a rehab or skilled nursing facility,” said Delta President and CEO Keith Crownover. “Today, thanks to a growing shift toward home- and community-based services, along with population health management and fiscal awareness, increasing numbers are being referred to home health agencies, which was a major impetus for this study.”
Methodology will include three phases. Phase I included a web-based input survey allowing anyone in the field to suggest issues and questions they would like to see addressed in the study. Phase II, scheduled for February and March, will involve in-depth phone interviews with nearly 1,000 agency leaders. The final phase will include distribution of free national reports and webinars, and a presentation on the findings during the NAHC Annual Meeting in Washington, DC next October.
“Healthcare reform has elevated the importance of caring for patients outside the acute care environment,” said Crownover. “Combine that with the possibilities of telehealth, the impending EHR deadline, and the advent of ACOs and other delivery networks. By uncovering ‘what’s working’ with the top ten percent, we will be able to develop guidelines that will help the entire industry maintain positive outcomes, high quality scores and fiscal responsibility.”
Previous studies sponsored by Delta and conducted by Fazzi Associates includes the OASIS-C Best Practice Study, the National Excellence in Therapy Project and the Delta Study to Reduce Hospitalizations.
New Sales VP arrives with 15 years experience
Delta also announced the hiring of Monte Ruder as Vice President of Sales. Formerly with iPractice Group, Ruder will be responsible for expanding, managing and training Delta’s sales organization and continuing to drive growth in the home health, hospice and private duty sectors.
Ruder has a microbiology degree from the University of Dayton and 15 years of experience in health information technology, specifically in leading sales teams and developing strategic partnerships. Prior to iPractice group, he also held sales executive and management positions with Allscripts, Dialog Medical and NextGen Healthcare Systems.
“The healthcare industry and health IT worlds are changing,” CEO Crownover said.” Today’s sales force must understand not only the business needs of care-at-home organizations but also the unique challenges and innovative advancements that are part of today’s healthcare reform environment. We believe that Monte will be able to equip and inspire our team so that our customers will have the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver efficient, cost-effective patient care.”
This article originally appeared in Tim Rowan’s Home Care Technology Report, February 6, 2013. homecaretechreport.com Reprinted by permission. Further reproduction by permission of the publisher only. Write to Rowan Consulting Associates, Inc. at editor@homecaretechreport.com.