Just about every corner of the healthcare world is undergoing rapid change, and the home health industry is no different.
New policies from Medicare, coupled with emerging cloud-based technologies and wearables, are poised to “change the face” of the in-home health field in the next year, according to a survey from Kinnser Software.
“In 2015, wearable technology will continue its evolution from extravagant step-counters to critical remote health monitoring tools,” the survey said, noting that 45 percent of those surveyed said that increased access to patient data and technological innovation will present the biggest opportunity for growth in 2015.
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Home health agencies, like physicians and health systems, should be prepared to capitalize on the use of big data generated from wearables to better coordinate care, said Chris Hester, president and founder of Kinnser Software.
The home-care market is poised to grow significantly, with hospitals seeking to keep readmission rates at a minimum, creating an opportunity for “middle care,” according to the survey.
Far more seniors would prefer to age in their homes, at 90 percent, versus living at a senior home, according to an AARP survey. And 50 percent of those polled by Kinnser “agree that one of the biggest opportunities for business growth in the coming year will be the population’s increased interest in in-home care.”
While 67 percent of home health agency leaders cited reduced reimbursements as one of their biggest business challenges, there’s a silver lining to policy changes overall: 18 percent see comprehensive changes to Medicare and Medicaid as a significant driver of business growth in 2015, according to the survey.
Technological advances will play a key role in overcoming reimbursements challenges, according to the survey – 43 percent of home health agency leaders said ICD-10’s implementation will be one of the top challenges for the coming year, while 30 percent recognize cloud tools and online platforms are vital to helping improve their business.
Another 75 percent said mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are one of the top tools helping improve their business and offer better patient care.
