Pre- and Post-Acquisition Services

When seeking to acquire an established hospice program, conducting pre- and post-acquisition clinical due diligence is a crucial step in evaluating the overall feasibility and advisability of the acquisition as well as its subsequent success.  

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Weatherbee evaluates the regulatory compliance, census viability, interdisciplinary processes, clinical competence, and overall strengths and weaknesses of the program.

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Services

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Due diligence services may include:

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• Analyzing the census data to determine case mix, identify potential risks, and select clinical records to be audited

• Auditing clinical records of high-risk patients to assess the quality of interdisciplinary documentation

• Reviewing the history and outcomes of payment-related scrutiny initiated by Medicare or Medicaid contractors

• Identifying compliance risk areas in policies and procedures

• Observing interdisciplinary meetings to assess the efficacy of care plan updates and the recertification process

• Reviewing survey and/or accreditation results, including any statements of deficiencies, and compliance with submitted plans of correction

• Analyzing satisfaction survey and other data to evaluate the quality of patient/family care

• Auditing personnel files to ensure regulatory compliance

• Reviewing on-call, complaint, and incident logs to identify trends and evaluate the response process

• Assessing the efficacy and compliance of the quality assessment and performance improvement, infection control, and disaster preparedness programs

• Reviewing staff orientation and education programs to evaluate appropriateness

• Conducting leadership and staff interviews to evaluate competency and job satisfaction, identify knowledge gaps, and assess staff morale and other areas of potential concern

• Conducting a life safety tour of the target hospice's inpatient or residential facility

• Auditing random contracts to ensure regulatory compliance and identify potential risks

• Identifying and interviewing top referral sources to evaluate external perceptions of care, ease of referral, and strength of relationships

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Outcomes

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Weatherbee's goal is to provide a comprehensive picture of the strengths and weaknesses of your potential acquisition through a comprehensive evaluation of the program.

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Engaging Weatherbee will result in:

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• Understanding the potential risks associated with acquiring an existing hospice program;

• Determining the viability of the target hospice before a final purchase decision is made; and

• Identifying major priorities to be addressed in a post-acquisition transition plan to support integration and success.

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Please contact Weatherbee for additional information regarding Pre- and Post-Acquisition Clinical Due Diligence consultations.

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