Kissito Healthcare Facilities in Katy, Texas Selected As Two of Methodist Hospital System’s Preferred Providers

Kissito Post Acute Cane Island and Kissito Healthcare Katy, both located in Katy, Texas were selected by The Methodist Hospital System in Houston, Texas to participate in a pilot program aimed at enhancing the patient discharge process in preparation for healthcare reform. Under the proposed Bundled Payment legislation, hospitals will be penalized for readmissions within 30 days following the date of discharge thus motivating hospital systems to locate facilities able to aid in the reduction of readmissions.

Of the 75 facilities located in the Houston, Texas market, only 20 were selected for this program. The selection process was based heavily on the facility’s ability to manage various levels of acuity, expedited referral processes, and past survey history. Linda Collins, Director of Continuity of Care for The Methodist Hospital System, leads the efforts of selecting the facilities in the area able to meet the needs of their patients.

Linda and her team conducted on-site visits with both Kissito Healthcare Katy and Kissito Post Acute Cane Island during the selection process. At Kissito Healthcare Katy, her team found an extraordinary hybrid Skilled Nursing Facility/Long Term Care model able to cater to a high acuity nursing patient with a variety of diagnoses. Additionally, Kissito Healthcare Katy was recently awarded the AHCA Quality Award, a prestigious honor in the Long Term Care industry.

Upon their visit to Kissito Post Acute Cane Island , Linda and her team found a return-to-home program second to none. They were particularly impressed with the Collaborative Care Pathways, collaborative care rounds, and quality customer service focus.

Tom Clarke, President & CEO of Kissito Healthcare, headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia states, “We are very proud to have both of our Houston facilities selected by Methodist Hospital for their SNF Network of Preferred Providers. This recognition is the direct result of our staff’s daily focus on customer service and improved clinical outcomes. We believe the future of Healthcare will see more collaborations such as this, where the region’s high quality Acute and Post Acute providers work together to improve patient outcomes and minimize unnecessary patient transitions. We look forward to being a part of the Methodist TEAM!”

Based in Houston, Texas, The Methodist Hospital System is a non-profit organization comprised of a major academic medical center, three community hospitals, a physician organization and a research institute. Methodist Hospital is the only hospital in Houston, Texas to be named to the 2009-2010 US News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll.

Kissito Post Acute Annouces New Relationship with MHealth and Tricare

Kissito Post Acute, a division of Kissito Healthcare, is proud to announce a new relationship with MHealth and Tricare. These two new plans add to the growing list of Managed Care Plans currently accepted at its flagship facility, Kissito Post Acute Cane Island, which include, but are not limited to, BCBS, UHC, Humana, USFH&P, Aetna, and Cigna.

Mhealth, a plan developed by Kissito Post Acute’s collaborative hospital partner, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston, Texas is one of several ongoing projects between Kissito Post Acute and Memorial Hermann aimed at reducing costs and preserving benefits while enhancing patient outcomes. Rob Turner, Director of ACO Integration states, “We expect great things from this partnership and are honored to participate in this plan.”

Tricare is a plan afforded to Military Retirees and their families. Having several employees on the management team who are Veterans, Kissito is excited to be a part of the lives of those who have served this great nation and with great appreciation is ready to meet their healthcare needs.

The addition of these plans comes at the hands of newly appointed Director of ACO Integration, Rob Turner. Recently promoted from Kissito Post Acute Cane Island Facility, Rob is working closely with Physicians, Hospitals, Managed Care Organizations, and Patients in preparation for the establishment of Accountable Care Organizations and the possibility of Bundled Payments. The need for innovation in these areas will be critical with the forthcoming challenges brought on by Healthcare/Insurance Reform.

Given Kissito’s four-tiered approach to healthcare delivery, which establishes collaborative partnerships with Physicians, Payors, Patients, and Hospitals, these new affiliations enable Kissito Post Acute to continue to redefine the road to recovery.

Kissito Healthcare Mentioned in White Paper Regarding Bundled Payments

While bundled payments is not a new concept in the discussion of healthcare reform, it found its way back to the front burner in December 2008 when the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) proposed new ways to reduce federal healthcare spending to the House and the Senate.

Introduced nearly 30 years ago, bundled payments would essentially provide one payment to Acute Care Hospitals (ACHs) for both acute and post acute services and allow the ACH to determine the amount of post acute care a patient needs and the most cost effective care provider. Under this scenario, the CBO estimates a $0.7 billion reduction in federal outlays between 2010 and 2014 and by 2019 they estimate a reduction of almost $19 billion.

The reintroduction of the concept raises many questions for ACHs, long term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and how they will be reimbursed for treating Medicare recipients. Also questioning this potential manner of reform are the lawmakers.

In a recent white paper entitled “To Bundle or Not To Bundle: Lawmakers Explore the Question,” released by three attorneys at McGuire Woods, LLP, Jason S. Greis, R. Brent Rawlings, and J. Brian Jackson explore the questions that the implementation of bundled payments raise. The three comprehensively explain the concept, its history, and how it would affect the various types of acute and post acute facilities from the time of implementation through 2019 when the reform measure will reach the outcome envisioned by the CBO.

They further investigate the questions industry leaders are raising, the pros and cons of the option and what companies are doing now in preparation for the proposed legislation. An interview with Tom Clarke, President & CEO of Kissito Healthcare resulted in the explanation that “[s]ome organizations have already begun planning for the bundling trend by creating integrated post-acute care and senior living campuses with a full array or long-term care services, or by developing post-acute care facilities capable of catering to more acutely ill patients in more cost-effective settings.” Kissito Post Acute is one of said organizations in that its “SNF facilities provide ventilator weaning programs, which are commonly found in LTACHs, while achieving comparable clinical outcomes and Medicare costs savings.”

Kissito Post Acute, a division of Kissito Healthcare, prides itself on remaining patient-centered and physician-driven. Existing for the care and betterment of human life, Kissito Post Acute realizes the current paths patients take from hospital to home and redefines that, attempting to eliminate many of the unnecessary trips to various types of facilities. Their Collaborative Patient Care Model™ fosters the best environment for successful outcomes. This unique, industry-leading approach involves partners in a cohesive team that enables patients to return to their lives and function at the highest level.

Texas

There are three facilities located in the state of Texas:

Kissito Post Acute – Cane Island (Houston)

Katy

Hondo

Professionals That Make a Difference

Kissito Post Acute Announces Interior Design Contest Winners

Kissito Post Acute Cane Island is pleased to announce the official winners of the Kissito Post Acute Cane Island Interior Design Contest.  Tatiana Escallon and Ernesto Sanz, both of Houston, Texas competed against and rose above nine other design teams to be named the victor.  Contestants were asked to attend a short brief and tour Kissito Post Acute Cane Island prior to submitting a creative proposal on their plans to transform the private rehabilitation suites from their current nursing home feel to that of a hotel.

The Kissito Post Acute Cane Island Design Contest presented three challenges to the contestants, the first to creatively utilize the existing furniture within the suites while creating a more contemporary look and feel.  Contestants were also challenged to increase the functionality of the suites and determine how to accomplish these feats on a dime’s budget.

Contestants ranged from hobbyists to twenty-five-year veterans of hotel interior design to graphic design students but Tatiana and Ernesto’s design was superbly simple and exactly what Kissito Post Acute Cane Island had in mind.  Tatiana is a stay at home mother and an interior designer by trade while Ernesto is an architect who was part of recent cutbacks by a multifamily design firm.

Tatiana and Ernesto have been contracted to carry out their design across all the rooms at Kissito Post Acute Cane Island and began on Wednesday, May 20th with suite 105.  Both arrived bright and early, smiles on their faces, and began painting, installing new hardware and stenciling the borders of the suites.  Stay tuned for pictures of the newly designed room 105.

Executive Management Take To the Streets to Complete the 2009 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

At 9:30am on the morning of Sunday, May 31^st on the East Coast, most Kissito employees were heading off to church, enjoying breakfast with their family or just arising from a good night’s sleep while two members of the executive management team found themselves at the west end of Balboa Park in San Diego, California ready for the start of the 2009 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. 

Mike Yates, Chief Financial Officer, and Angie Mattocks, Chief Nursing Officer, were in San Diego for the Amity Fellowserve, Inc. Board of Directors Symposium on Saturday and transitioned from their role on the board to that of a runner, donning their running shoes to participate in Sunday’s event.

Longer races are nothing new for Yates having run three trail runs; however, this was his first street race.  It’s a different story for Mattocks who found herself facing the challenge of her first marathon ever.

When asked about what completing the marathon meant to her, Mattocks was able to relate to the patients.  “As a first time marathoner, completing the entire 26.2 miles was a tremendous physical and mental challenge. As a healthcare professional working in the rehabilitation field, many of our patients face similar challenges everyday as they struggle to recover from illness or injury. This experience will help me to empathize with the day to day challenges our patients face, and I hope to use this experience to be a better healthcare provider.”

Yates, 35, finished the 26.2 mile race in 6 hours, 6 minutes, and 21 seconds while Mattocks, 43, completed her inaugural run in 6 hours, 53 minutes, and 42 seconds.  Both are to be commended for their hard work and determination not only for participating in the marathon but for their role at Kissito Healthcare.

While Yates and Mattocks were the only two of the executive management team to participate in this particular marathon, as a whole the team has completed over 20 races in their life time, the majority by President & CEO, Tom Clarke.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is a 26.2 mile race starting in downtown San Diego finishing in a secured area at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Point Loma.  Its twelfth year in existence, over 13,000 completed the marathon.

Collaborative Care Pathways – Patient Management Tool

Clinical Pathways, also referred as Integrated Care Pathways, Pathways of Care, Collaborative Care Pathways, are structured, multidisciplinary plans of care designed to support the implementation Read more

Care Transitions, a Key to Reducing Hospital Readmissions

Kissito Post Acute – Botetourt

Kissito Healthcare The Brian Center Botetourt

Gary  Watson, Chief Administrative Officer
188 Old Fincastle Rd.
Fincastle, VA  24090
540.473.2288 fax: 540.473.2637

Ventilator Unit

Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation located in historic Fincastle, Virginia, provides a beautiful setting to call home in the mountains of Virginia.  With a caring staff, we provide care for ventilator, post acute and long term care patients.

Our ventilator unit, managed by Respiratory Health Services  provides a licensed Respiratory Therapist every day, all day.  The respiratory team works along side a 24 hour, 7 day a week Registered Nurse to assess, manage and monitor all needs of our patients.  This makes us able to uniquely care for any heightened respiratory needs that may arise for you or your loved one that may include tracheotomy care, ventilatory care, breathing problems, stomas, oxygen therapy and related conditions.

The newly renovated ventilator unit provides the following amenities:

• Full therapy team of Respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and physical therapists to meet every need a resident may have.
• A respiratory staff experienced in weaning and therapy in order to return home again with a successful history.
• A dedicated interdisciplinary care plan team that meets monthly to review our residents’ needs and update the plan of care if necessary.
• 139 years of combined nursing experience in our ventilator team.
• Electric beds that help make movement and care easier on the resident and caregiver.
• Electronic documentation that is efficient and available to all our care staff at all times.
• We have a team of nurses with critical care experience.
• New room renovations that encompass a more homely feel with taupes and burgundies.
• Individualized activity calendars to fit each and every activity need of our residents with each resident having their own personalized activity calendar to reflect their interests and preferences.
• Social work to help plan the discharge after all therapies and care are received.
• Convenient location only 20 miles from the star city of Roanoke.
• We have a smooth adjustment process from hospital to skilled nursing facility.
• Gorgeous mountain and pasture views from residents’ room windows.
• A secured courtyard for outside visits.
• Food and nutrition manager with 25 years experience ready to help you or your loved one meet their nutritional goals.
• Consulting licensed dietician to assist with plan of care in all aspects of nutrition.
• Nurse Practitioner with a respiratory therapist license provides visits weekly to our unit for review of all plans of care.

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