There is no doubt that quality rehabilitation is key to helping your residents achieve optimal independence. Often, nursing home operators struggle with the question of whether to develop and execute a therapy program in-house or contract with an external rehabilitation provider. Many operators are choosing to outsource due to the time, resources and clinical expertise required to develop and manage an effective in-house rehabilitation program.

To provide an effective therapy solution and a competitive advantage, the outsourced therapy partner needs to function as a seamless extension of your staff. The right rehabilitation partner should provide you with a well-trained workforce of therapists and assistants and give you clinical programs and support that meet the needs of your resident population. They should also be able to help you navigate the industry's complex and ever-changing federal and state therapy regulatory landscape.

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS

Measurement is becoming more important every day. Payers are increasing the level of scrutiny on rehabilitation services. A good therapy provider must be able to accurately document support of medical necessity and skilled services, and measure and report patient progress and outcomes.

Staffing is key. Clinician recruitment and retention are critical to rehab program success and are often a challenge. When you outsource therapy, you hand that onerous responsibility over to your rehabilitation partner. The therapy provider should offer the expertise and flexibility to manage the optimal number of staff needed for your facility at any given time.

Look for a therapy provider that has an excellent recruitment program and first-class training programs so you can be assured of consistent, quality care for your residents.

Outsourced therapy can boost the satisfaction and retention of your own employees as well. Therapy programs that treat incontinence, provide disease management, teach fall prevention, improve patient strength and increase independence make the jobs of your employees easier and help them provide more comprehensive care.

Keeping up with regulatory requirements is crucial. The best therapy providers are well versed in the industry's existing and proposed regulations and state practice act activity changes. The ability to understand and manage such programs as the CMS Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) monitoring program is crucial.

An effective therapy partner will be prepared to respond to and defend claims when audited and will be successful in helping the facility manage the review process. Providers that have effective clinical outcomes data will be better equipped to demonstrate value and positive clinical results for all delivered services.

POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP

The first step in contracting with a therapy provider is to determine your facility's ­specific needs. Look for a therapy company's ability to offer training to your in-house staff, demonstrate quality outcomes, and provide you with employees who are committed to delivering clinical excellence to your patients and service excellence to you.

A good contract rehabilitation provider should offer quality programs for patients with measurable results in areas such as wound care, pain management, falls/balance management and urinary incontinence. Better therapy providers vigilantly monitor complex and changing patient conditions and partner in preventing unnecessary re-hospitalizations.

The right therapy provider will have programs for your facility that follow a comprehensive training schedule to improve staff skills. By sharing and contributing to the mutual goals of quality care, patient safety, employee education, financial management and program marketing, the contract therapy staff should blend seamlessly with the facility staff.

When choosing a rehabilitation provider, it is important to really look at what differentiates them from their competition. Research the company's history, the experience of their staff and their core clinical programs. Carefully check references from other clients. The rehabilitation partner also should have the expertise to provide you support and training on federal and state therapy regulations.

Look for these qualities or programs:

• recognized rehabilitation outcome ­measures

• therapists trained in state-of-the-art ­clinical programs

• clinical support for rehabilitation staff

• capacity to enhance therapy ­programs and develop specialized programs to meet your patient needs and market needs

• track record of service excellence

• financial stability

• superior staff retention

• a proven commitment to continuing ­education for staff.

A good rehabilitation partner should provide you with great rehabilitation services and staff that are knowledgeable and willing to help your team navigate the complex regulatory environment at both the national and the state levels.

Selecting a therapy provider should be a business and clinical decision you research carefully and one that enhances your facility's reputation with your residents, your referral sources and your community. The time and energy required in this process is well worth it. Improved rehabilitation outcomes create happier residents and contribute to overall facility success.

Martha Schram, PT, is the president of Aegis Therapies, Delafield, Wis. ­DISCLOSURE: Aegis is a national contract rehabilitation company.