The landscape of the post-acute care industry is shifting from a fee-for-service to an outcomes-based payment structure. We hear daily how timely medication management can reduce rehospitalization, improve patient outcomes, and reduce overall expense to the health care system. To successfully meet these challenges, we must establish multidisciplinary clinical and business relationships among all stakeholders.
To that end, I am pleased to use this McKnight’s column to tell you about an exciting upcoming event hosted by the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists —the “ASCP Forum: Pharmaceutical Care and Post-Acute Transitions.” Our event will be held April 27-28 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland. This inaugural forum will bring together high-profile industry experts to provide valuable information on pharmaceutical care options that directly affect healthcare providers through all patient care transitions. In an effort to foster a collaborative discussion, ASCP will provide continuing education credits for pharmacists, nursing home administrators, and assisted living facility managers.
Presenters will discuss how pharmaceutical expertise can positively affect census and decrease rehospitalizations during a long-term care stay as well as post-discharge to home — improving patient care and the bottom line.
We invite you to hear our keynote address, “The Post-Acute Care Industry — A Shifting Landscape,” from Mike Reitz, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis HealthCare, Inc. Reitz will discuss outside influences on census, referral-source relationships, and the benefits of transitional medication reconciliation.
High-level executives will address other important issues:
- Harrison Brown from The Advisory Board Company will discuss how accountable care organizations, bundled payments for care improvement, and the movement to value-based reimbursement is changing the post-acute care marketplace.
- Les Cavicchi, MPA, NHA, Executive Vice President at Greater Boston Urology, will share insights from almost 15 years of first-hand experience negotiating patient care service agreements with third-party payers, hospitals, physician groups, and accountable care organizations in 29 states.
- Troy Trygstad, PharmD, Ph.D., MBA, Vice President of Pharmacy Programs, Community Care of North Carolina, will detail the operations of a fully integrated community care pharmaceutical model that incorporates hospital, post-acute care, and community care providers. His presentation will include review of the positive impact of pharmaceutical care on clinical and financial outcomes.
- Orsula V. Knowlton, PharmD, MBA, President of CareKinesis, will examine innovative high-tech patient care strategies, including pharmacogenomics-assisted medication selection and dosing, adherence packaging, and computer-assisted and medication-management documentation within a comprehensive medication reconciliation practice.
- Jennifer L. Hardesty, PharmD, FASCP, Chief Clinical Officer at Remedi SeniorCare, will present the benefits of purchasing enhanced pharmacy consulting services to improve census, reduce hospital readmissions, and maximize patient care while minimizing cost. Her talk will offer practical examples of how pharmacists are reaching beyond the traditional role of medication regimen review in the long-term care setting.
The forum is designed for all post-acute care stakeholders involved in care transitions: consultant pharmacists; health care executives; and managers from long-term care facilities, pharmacy operations, home care, hospitals, and accountable care organizations.
This discussion is really about the future of our professions, and we need to have this conversation with all stakeholders involved. Together, we hope to begin a dialogue that will foster quality patient care, reduce overall costs, and improve customer satisfaction—the triple aim.
This is an opportunity you should not miss. More information can be found at ascp.com/forum. I hope to see you in Baltimore.
Frank L. Grosso, RPh, is the executive director and CEO at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
