QAPI Initiatives for Both New and Established Agencies.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) define QAPI as a unified approach to quality management, merging Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement. The goal of QAPI is to enhance the quality of patient care. Home health agencies must develop, implement, evaluate, and maintain an effective, ongoing, agency-wide QAPI program.

Key Focus Areas of a Data-Driven QAPI Program.

This data-driven QAPI program targets indicators that can improve measurable health outcomes. It should focus on high-risk, high-volume, or problem-prone areas, patient safety, and quality of care. Key areas include readmissions, adverse events, falls, emergent care, infections, and the overall quality of care.

Responsibilities of the Agency's Governing Body in QAPI Program Management.

The agency's governing body is responsible for the QAPI program. They need to appoint the QAPI Committee and define the quality improvement and patient safety program for the entire agency. Additionally, they must ensure that improvement efforts are prioritized and evaluated for their effectiveness. The ultimate aim of a successful QAPI program is to minimize risk, enhance the patient experience, improve agency outcomes, and achieve clinical excellence.

For New Agencies

Tier 1 QAPI.

Tier 1 applies to licensed and accredited agencies in their first year of business.
You'll Recieve
  1. Review of Federal, State, and AO requirements related to QAPI
  2. Review of policies that address QAPI program scope, data, activities, performance improvement projects, and delegation of responsibilities
  3. Professional training and support in creating your QAPI program. Our clinician will review the required quality indicators your agency may use in your QAPI program during the first year
  4. Tools to utilize as you gather the data (quality indicators) necessary for analysis
  5. One-on-one support as you learn to audit clinical records and personnel files; limited to 4 calls
  6. Professional audits for two (2) clinical records each month through the first year
  7. Professional audits for two (2) personnel files each quarter through the first year
  8. Professional review of your infection control program each quarter including logs, trends, and actions
  9. Professional review of your client satisfaction surveys each quarter including logs, trends, and actions
  10. Professional review of agency complaints each quarter including logs, trends, and actions
  11. Professional review of agency incidents each quarter including logs, trends, and actions
  12. Training and assistance with QAPI reports, quarterly meetings, and QAPI Committee minutes
  13. Assisting with analyzing the data obtained and creating action plans from the quality indicators and audits at the end of the first year
  14. Professional guidance on implementing a QAPI plan that will improve outcomes at the end of the first year
  15. Year-end annual written report of QAPI compliance to the standards and regulations
For Existing Agencies

Tier 2 QAPI.

Tier 2 applies to established licensed, certified, accredited agencies that have completed at least one full year in business.
You'll Recieve
  1. Items 1-13 in Tier 1 if the agency is over 1 year old and has not been compliant with QAPI requirements
  2. Training, assistance, and implementation of ‘performance improvement project(s)’
  3. Quarterly monitoring and evaluation of the identified performance improvement projects (PIP). Your agency must develop at least one PIP per year
  4. Guidance with developing a process for prioritizing, developing, and implementing PIPs
  5. Review and instruction on indicators/sources such as:
    • OASIS (iQIES)
    • HHCAHPS
    • PEPPER Reports
    • CASPER Reports
    • STAR RATING
  6. Guidance in training all skilled professional staff in the process of participating in the QAPI program
  7. Virtual mock survey once per year with a focus on QAPI and emergency preparedness regulations