Celtic Team to Present at 28th Annual NAHC Meeting

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is holding its 28th Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles, California, October 10-14, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
This is the time each year when the members of NAHC meet to discuss events and issues they have in common and to chart a path for the future. Several Celtic Healthcare team members will be presenting at the annual meeting educational sessions.
Celtic's own Bill Gammie, MHA, CPHIMS, VP of Business Services, and Sean Hunt, MPM, Data Analyst, will present: Beyond Productivity Standards Due to the onset of PPS 2008 and rapid expansion into new markets, this agency shifted its focus away from the traditional productivity measure of visits alone and incorporated additional indicators. This presentation will share metrics used by Celtic Healthcare to expand its provider productivity expectations, including acuity-based benchmarks for caseloads, care management, and profitability. Misty Kevech, RN, BS ED, MS, COS-C, Director of Nursing Education and Program Development and Tonya Miller, PT, DPT COS-C, Director of Rehab Education and Program Development, will present: The Case Management Model: Patient Centered Care under OASIS C and P4P Find out how to use cross-disciplinary training in order to develop case management programs such as restorative aides, cardiac disease managment and wound care teams. Compare the productivity and disease managment model with a case management model, highlighting the benefits of a case management model. Components include cross-disciplinary training, IDTs and evidence-based screening tools and preparing HHAs for OASIS-C and for P4P. Pictured L-R: Bill Gammie, Sean Hunt, Tonya Miller, Misty Kevech Be sure to check out nahc.org for more information!

Visit Celtic at the Taste of Home Vendor Show!
Celtic Healthcare's Northeast Ohio team will be at the Taste of Home Cooking School and Vendor Show - be sure to stop by our table!
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 Where: Packard Music Hall 1703 Mahoning Ave NW Warren, OH 44483 Time: Doors open at 4:30 PM, Show starts at 6:30 PM
A professionally trained Culinary Specialist will demonstrate a variety of recipes, tips, and techniques. Every attendee will receive a gift bag filled with free products, coupons, and magazines. Valuable door prizes are awarded throughout the show!

National Fall Prevention Awareness
September 22nd, the first day of Fall, is also the National Fall Prevention Awareness Day sponsored by the National Council on Aging's Falls Free Coalition. Falls are among the most common and serious problems facing the elderly. Falling is associated with: Mortality (death), morbidity (disease), reduced function and premature nursing home admissions.*
Celtic Healthcare has initiated a comprehensive fall prevention program throughout the entire organization in central/western Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. All clinical staff, including nurses, therapists, social workers and even home health aides, is aggressively working on reducing avoidable falls. This interdisciplinary fall program includes a 4 step ongoing process: 1. Fall Risk Assessment 2. Fall Intervention 3. Resident/Caregiver Education 4. Fall Evaluation So what is different about Celtic's fall program than other fall programs? This comprehensive program is using evidence-based tools and resources that have been specially selected for the elderly population in the service areas. What are evidence-based tools? Fall screenings, fall assessments techniques, etc., that have been tested internationally and/or nationally and have been proven to be effective in reducing falls or the severity of injury related to falls. Additionally, Celtic completes a very detailed fall evaluation and investigation for all (witnessed and un-witnessed) falls. It is essential for healthcare providers, families, caregivers, and even patients to be aware of fall prevention and to work together to reduce avoidable falls. Not only do falls financially impact the healthcare system, but also creates fear of falling for patients themselves which predisposed to repetitive falls (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Celtic Healthcare has rolled out a detailed fall education program for employees, Assistive Living Facilities/Personal Care Homes, and patients and families. For more information about Celtic’s Fall Prevention Program please call 1-800-355-8894 or email info@celtichealthcare.com *Journal of American Geriatric Society AGS 49: 664-672, 2001