There are many factors playing into low occupancy in senior living settings at this point in time. The million dollar question is, “How can we weather the storm?” I have heard many suggestions and strategies on this topic. I wanted to share what we at HealthPRO Rehabilitation have found to be successful tactics for our customers whether they are in the sub-acute setting or community-based service sector.
- Clinical Pathways, Clinical Pathways, Clinical Pathways, and oh…did I mention clinical pathways? With the focus on ACOs and the collaboration between providers in the continuum care spectrum, one focus will be positive outcomes. This is not only going to affect reimbursement from providers, but also be the deciding factor of who wants to partner with your organization. At HealthPRO Rehabilitation we have set in place measures to not only ensure that positive outcomes are monitored and taking place, but provide an IT solution that is at the tip of your fingers to pull from at anytime to show your referral sources what you're good at and help them to make the decision for them to become your partner. This also offers an outlet to create success stories and implement amazing testimonials that you can market and display on your website.
- Technology isn't coming, it is here! Physicians are implementing EHR (Electronic Health Records) into their practices and hospitals have and are integrating an IT solution as well. Having an IT solution to provide physicians and referral sources with needed information will allow a timely and prompt response to any questions that may arise. It also offers you a step up from your competitors since time is something no one has a lot of in this industry and referral sources will gravitate to those who can make things happen fast.
- Relationships have never been so important in this industry. Through nurturing existing relationships and developing new ones, there are opportunities that lie below the surface that you may not encounter unless you're out there making yourself known. Social media has been a huge resource for HealthPRO Rehabilitation, to not only stay in touch with existing partners, but to establish new relationships through offering educational tools. We have attended numerous seminars and have worked with social media experts on the vast resources and opportunities that lie in the world of social media and can assist you in becoming more successful.
Kate Davis is the director of business development at HealthPro Rehabilitation and can be reached at kdavis@healthpro-rehab.com.