[CardioTrans]

I have 2 questions actually.........

First off.......... I had my evaluation done the other day and it was a good one......... My director wants me to try to come up with some marketing ideas to help increase referrals from one of our sources.......... anyone have any ideas??? The particular source is the hosp that our office is affiliated with. I go to d/c planning meetings there 2 days a wk......... they usually send anywhere from 20-30 referrals a month. The agency is small compared to what I am used to working at with a current census of 125, but a billing census of around 200........... I am used to working at agencies with a current census of over 500......... not that that has anything to do with this......lol...........

I have no idea where to begin with the marketing of this referral source...... and need some help.


The other thing is.......... our office has been selected to pilot a laptop for all of our offices. I have worked with laptops before with both good and bad results. Does anyone have any experience with Patron (Lewis) on laptops?? I have only worked with HBOC and PcTc. From my understanding this is in the thinking phase right now and I have been asked to submit some questions about what ifs, since I am the only one that has had laptop experience. I will not be using them in the field since I do Intake and QA, so I was wondering again if anyone had any exp with this system........ I can only go on the 2 that I know and some of the problems with those.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[renerian]

I found going to the hospital for a meeting with the client to be very beneficial. The hospital and the client liked it. Extra perk.

No experience with laptops but good luck.

renerian

[NRSKarenRN]

Should I share my marketing trade secrets..... will think about it.

"The particular source is the hosp that our office is affiliated with"

Attending the discharge meatting is probably the best thing (doing that myself with a SNF that health system 1/2 owns and we stoped getting referrals when last SW left---now getting about 8-10/month).

[NRSKarenRN]

Just came upon this maketing course with some insight:

Has your agency ever...

* had staff give their business cards to their personal physicians
* developed a home care video infomercial for a hospital education station
* called all Medicare patients after their 60-day episode
* allowed your employees to volunteer on company time with the meals on wheels program
* performed stroke screenings in local stores
...all to increase referrals and your standing in the community?

This is FIVE of more than FIFTY marketing gems attendees were able to take home from Home Health Line's 2002 Power Home Health Referrals conference...
http://www.myhomehealth.com/conferences/C595.


This company's courses too expensive for my agency's pocketbook....but I agree with their tips. Hummm....will need to check into that homecare video for hospital channel

(MEMO to myself: send this post to CEO tomorrow.)

[seasonedlpn]

Our agency pays an LPN to do blood pressure clinics at local Board and care facilities, usually once or twice a month. She keeps a note card on each resident attending, and notifies the staff of any problems. We also sponsor Flu Clinics, giving the flu vaccine to Board and Care residents that the facility has screened beforehand. Some facilities purchase the vaccine themselves, others (small ones) expect us to provide it. Lots of referrals when they feel as if they owe us.
We also send an LPN to do inservices for CNAs at these facilities. Such topics as skin care, recognizing shortness of breath as opposed to COPD, and keeping good bowel records. The facilities end up with a better educated staff, and they LOVE us!


Love makes the world go 'round.....but money keeps the wheels greased.

[hoolahan]

How about designing a super-easy referrla form as well, a check list, so literally all they need to write in is the demographics, doc, and diagnosis, the rest can be all check list.

Do you have liaisons in the source facility? A person who coordinates w the CM of the facility, so that all they have to do is call the person, and they will come and arramnge the homecare for them, fill out the paperwork, speak to the family, etc??? WE have one in each of four key acute care hospitals, and another two who travel to the rehabs on diff days of the week, and can be paged as needed. The hosp CM and SW love this, since all they do is call the liaison and their job is done.