
At Careficient, we believe that education is essential to providing quality healthcare. That's why we created the Master Class series, which brings together subject matter experts to share their knowledge and experience with other healthcare professionals. Take the opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from the best in the industry every month! Want an invite? Sign up HERE
MASTER CLASSES ON-DEMAND
NOV 2023 – Courageous Conversations: De-Prescribing Medications to Ensure Patients Die a Good Death
OCT 2023 – Death with Dignity in Hospice & Home Health
SEP 2023 – Using Typical and Atypical Opioids for Pain Management & End-of-life Care
AUG 2023 – The Value of Leadership, Core Values & Teamwork
JUL 2023 – Home Health Proposed Rule CY2024
JUN 2023 – Health Equity as a Strategy for Quality Improvement in Hospice
MAY 2023 – Home Health Documentation Strategies for CMS Audits
APR 2023 – Documentation and how it Impacts Federal Government Audit Outcomes in Hospice
MAR 2023 – Home Health Case Management

MASTER CLASS
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Jared Stong, PharmD & Founder BetterRX
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Courageous Conversations:
De-prescribing Medications to Ensure Patients 'Die a Good Death'
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Adjusting a hospice patient's medication list can be a sensitive topic to broach with patients and their families or caregivers.
Many patients have taken medications for a long time or have received advice on the benefits of the medication(s) from their primary care provider or local pharmacist. As some are still grappling with the reality of their hospice diagnosis, discussions about discontinuing medications might be misconstrued as the hospice agency attempting to cut costs or abandoning their care.
This Master Class will look at practical strategies and considerations for discontinuing medications that are no longer beneficial, necessary, potentially harmful, or appropriate at the end of life. Hospice care teams will learn:
• How to frame the de-prescribing conversation
• Determine who is eligible or agreeable
• The systematic and complex process of de-prescribing
• The importance of reducing polypharmacy
• Specific approaches to de-prescribing medications
• Duration of therapy
• Risk versus benefits
• Q&A

MASTER CLASS
Featuring Guest Speaker:
David Hugger, Author & Chaplain
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Death with Dignity in Hospice &
Home Health
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Death With Dignity in Hospice & Home Health
This Master Class is designed to provide a balanced and respectful platform for discussion. Whether you're a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply curious about this vital topic, this event will equip you with knowledge and perspectives to make informed decisions and engage in thoughtful conversations surrounding end-of-life choices. During this engaging and informative session, we will discuss:
1. Why we are so uncomfortable with death.
2. Three things we can do to promote a dignified death.
3. How can someone accept their truth without knowing the truth?
4. Q&A

MASTER CLASS
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Dr. Michelle Mikus, PharmD
VP Pharmacy Operations – Delta Care Rx
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Using Typical & Atypical Opioids for Managing Pain & End-of-life Care
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Pain management is a critical aspect of healthcare, especially for patients nearing the end of their lives. Opioids have long been a cornerstone in the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
This session will review:
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The definition of pain, typical opioids, and atypical opioids
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Discuss pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of typical and atypical opioids
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Discuss characteristics and administration of opioids (i.e., by mouth, sublingual, intravenous, rectal, and subcutaneous) in end-of-life care
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Discuss buprenorphine and methadone characteristics and dosage recommendations in end-of-life care

MASTER CLASS
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Michael Schonberg
CEO & Co-owner – Vcare Hospice
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The Value of Leadership, Core Values
and Teamwork
The most successful businesses find their inspiration from the top. This Master Class will explore how to find your WHY to develop strong leadership, core values and teamwork in your organization to succeed long term.
You will learn three immediate action items you can implement tomorrow to make a difference in your organization's energy and character. This will entail:
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How to inspire staff with WHY
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The critical nature of WHY
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Elevating your staff with core values - your WHY in action
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One simple Leadership tool to establish the right mindset in your organization - every day

MASTER CLASS
Featuring:
Kristie Meers, BSN, RN, CHPN
Chief Clinical Officer
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Home Health Proposed Rule CY2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing updates to the Medicare payment policies and rates for Home Health Agencies (HHAs). This session will review:
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Payment Rate Update
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Home Health Value Based Purchasing
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Patient Driven Groupings Model
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OASIS-E
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Home Health Quality Reporting Program

MASTER CLASS
Health Equity as a Strategy for Quality Improvement in Hospice
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, EdD, BSN, RN, CHC
CHAP – VP Quality & Standards
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The topic of Health Equity is an important component in healthcare quality improvement and it has come of the forefront of CMS initiatives to ensure that disadvantaged or underserved communities have access to quality care regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, language, or other factors.
You will learn:
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The current understanding of Health Equity in the US healthcare environment
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Review CMS's focus and work related to Health Equity program, resource, and measure development.
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Actionable strategies for prioritizing Health Equity today

MASTER CLASS
Home Health Documentation Strategies for CMS Audits
Featuring:
Kristie Meers, BSN, RN, CHPN
VP Clinical & Regulatory
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Denise Watson, MSN, MBA, BSN, RN
VP Hospice Services
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The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), their contractors and the US Department of Health are digging deeper into the home health space and ramping up audit activity. Will you be ready?​
You will learn:
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What CMS and MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractors) are looking for​
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The top 5 TPE denials and pitfalls to avoid​
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How documentation can be your best defense when the auditors come knocking​
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Strategies on how to strengthen your compliance efforts

MASTER CLASS
Documentation and how it Impacts Federal Government Audit Outcomes in Hospice
Featuring:
Kristie Meers, BSN, RN, CHPN
VP Clinical & Regulatory
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Denise Watson, MSN, MBA, BSN, RN
VP Hospice Services
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The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), their contractors and the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) are digging deeper into the hospice space and ramping up audit activity. Will you be ready?
What you'll learn:
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What CMS and OIG are looking for
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What the Federal Government is doing to strengthen the survey process?
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Type of audits to expect - How documentation can be your best weapon when the auditors come knocking.
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How to strengthen your compliance efforts

MASTER CLASS
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Linda Marie, RN, BSN, MIM
Lead Consultant – AQA
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Home Health Case Management
Utilizing Case Management to optimize patient outcomes, increase staff retention and maximize agency profits. Featuring Home Health expert Linda Marie from AQA Consulting.
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You will learn:
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How to optimize patient outcomes
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How to increase staff retention
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How to maximize agency profits
