Provider Perspective
Intrepid USA Healthcare Services
Intrepid USA Healthcare Services talks about the role of the HME provider in keeping its award-winning business running smoothly.
Last year, Intrepid USA Healthcare Services announced that 11 of its agencies were named to the 2009 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the top performing home health agencies in the United States based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria on quality outcome, quality improvement and financial performance. With 72 branches in 21 states, Intrepid serves more than 7,000 patients nationwide. Approximately 11 percent of them have a respiratory diagnosis.
After reading about the company’s success, RSM became curious about the relationships between large agencies like Intrepid and HME providers. How do they work together when HME equipment is required? So we contacted Intrepid and asked several principals in the company--Jeanne St. Peter, Director of Business Development for Intrepid USA Home Healthcare; Ward Thulin, R.N., Director of Clinical Services and Education, Intrepid; and Michael Molina, Executive Director, Intrepid PA market--how relationships between large agencies like itself and HME provider businesses can be mutually beneficial.
Q: What do you think separates Intrepid from other large-sized home health agencies?
A: We have developed 12 clinical specialty programs to address the comprehensive acute and long-term needs of our patients. These are physician-led, multidisciplinary, individualized plans of care aimed at teaching and educating patients and family members on how to manage their chronic diseases. Among the respiratory offerings are programs for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, pneumonia and asthma. The programs are focused on educating patients about how to best manage the disease process and how to identify and react to signs and complications in order to reduce hospitalizations and maximize independence. The outcome has been successful disease management for many of our patients faced with serious, chronic health conditions.
Q: Have recent changes in legislation (i.e., the 36-month oxygen cap, competitive bidding, policies on travel oxygen, home sleep testing, PECOS) affected your business?
A: We anticipate few changes in operations or patient care as a result of the new legislation. We plan to continue providing our patients with the supplies and services they need; we don’t expect the new legislation to significantly impact that process.
Q: Many of our readers are HME providers with multiple locations. What would you tell them about how to maintain effective communication, direction and consistency of quality throughout so many locations?
A: Communication is key. Intrepid USA benefits from sharing best practices for high-quality patient care and for efficient and effective operations in our agencies nationwide. We have a range of communications systems and programs in place to facilitate the sharing of the most successful strategies for achieving positive health outcomes. These systems include onsite training and webinars as well as regular clinical and coding updates. We also track performance improvement and health outcomes in each of our agencies and at the corporate level. Intrepid USA caregivers across the country benefit from these lessons learned.
Q: What do you envision happening in the homecare industry in the next several years?
A: Many states are already seeing legislation that expands long-term healthcare options for their patients. This is expected to create a larger population of patients receiving care in the home. As this trend grows, we expect to see a greater demand for the home care and assisted living services Intrepid USA provides.
Changes in technology are also impacting the nature of the care that we provide. As we see an impending surge of electronic health record integration among providers we anticipate a more informed and higher quality coordination of patient care.
To learn more about Intrepid USA Healthcare Services, visit www.intrepidusa.com.
This article originally appeared in the Respiratory & Sleep Management March 2010 issue of HME Business.