How to use this website

The resources and information in the VNAA Blueprint address specific topic areas in home health and hospice quality improvement. Topics for both home health and hospice are grouped in four modules: Care Initiation, Clinical Conditions, Patient and Caregiver Engagement, and Patient Safety. Two cross-cutting areas have been created for home health. Modules on 5-Star Best Practices and IMPACT Act Resources guide users to Blueprint content in these critical performance areas.

Home Health

Modules ******	Topics *****
Cross-Cutting Best Practice Information
IMPACT Act Resources	IMPACT Act Overview Measure Specific Improvement Modules Estimated Medicare Spending per Beneficiary Discharge to Community Potentially preventable hospital readmission Skin integrity and changes in skin integrity Medication reconciliation Incidence of major falls Communicating the existence of and providing for the transfer of health information and care preferences Functional status, cognitive function, changes in function and cognitive function
5-Star Best Practices	Introduction-5 Star Best Practices Critical Interventions to Improve Star Ratings - Includes modules on: Improvement in ambulation Improvement in transferring Improvement in bathing Improvement in pain interfering with activity Improvement in shortness of breath Treating wounds and preventing pressure sores Timely initiation of care drug education on all medications Influenza immunization Measurement and Evaluation To Improve Star Ratings Training to Improve Star Ratings References and Resources to Improve Star Ratings
Quality Improvement Best Practice Information
Care Initiation	Frontloading
	Flu and Pneumonia Vaccine
	MD Appointment Scheduling
	Critical Interventions in the First & Second Visits
	Preventing Readmissions from Home Health
Clinical Conditions and Symptoms	Depression COPD Heart Failure Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Reducing Pressure Ulcers
Patient and Caregiver Engagement	Patient Engagement
Patient Safety	Risk Assessment
	Medication Reconciliation
	Falls Risk Assessment and Falls Prevention
	Exacerbation of Condition

Hospice and Palliative: Care at the End of Life

Modules	Topics
Hospice Care Initiation	Crisis Management
	Critical Interventions
	Improving the Continuum of Care at the End of Life
Management of Hospice-related Conditions and Symptoms	Common Distressing Symptoms
	Dyspnea
	Pain
Patient and Caregiver Engagement in Hospice Care	Artful Conversation
	Beliefs and Spirituality
	Treatment Preferences
Patient Safety in Hospice Care	Falls Prevention
	Medication Management and Reconciliation
	Reducing Pressure Injuries

Each topic area includes information in four categories:

Tools and Critical Interventions
Resources (References, Best Practice Definition, Background Information, Helpful Hints)
Training Programs
Measurement and Evaluation

There is no right or wrong order for implementing the VNAA Blueprint topics. Each topic area is self-contained and is designed to use on its own in your quality improvement or training program. However, because patient engagement is a common tenet across all home health care best practices, its tools and resources are foundational to truly achieve home health care excellence.

Within each topic area, there is an overview training Powerpoint presentation that introduces the user to the topic, outlines its critical importance, and explains the relevant tools and resources. It is highlighted on each topic overview page. Users are encouraged to review this program first, and then explore the resources, critical interventions and measurement and evaluation tools under that topic area.

For researchers and policymakers, we encourage you to dig deeper. The work here is supported by research and clinical expertise. Visit our References pages to learn more.

If you want to learn more about the VNAA Blueprint, please visit our frequently asked questions. We also welcome your feedback, so please contact us with any questions or comments.

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