What makes FOCUS a Waiver Support Services Software?

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FOCUS was created with the guidance of I/DD Case Managers and Service Provider agencies.  Based on waiver requirements and compliance, features and workflows were created to benefit both the Case Manager and the Service Provider.

How is it a Case Management Electronic Record?

  • Quick Access to Participant Summary, Life Story, Crisis Issues and Level of Supervision; Update with ease,  then add your electronic signature and create a document whenever needed.
  • Document Contact Notes and Monthly Summaries.
  • Easily Track all Required Documentation – with automatic Expiration Dates for easy Reporting and Notification.
  • Required documents are assigned to the waiver/funding source, which is assigned to each participant.
  • At-a-Glance, know what is MISSING, EXPIRED or Expiring in 30-60-90 days.  Always stay ahead!
  • Send Documentation, Reports and Messages through Secure Email or Fax.
  • Report Genie gives you updated client lists, phone and address lists; let you easily find all clients by allergies or diagnosis and dozens more options!

How is it a Service Provider Electronic Record?

  • All of the above, plus
  • Document Daily Notes, Monthly Summaries, Clinical Progress Notes, etc. – link it to billing for comprehensive reports to make billing submission efficient.

How does it save everyone time and money?

  • One Record accessed from anywhere with a device and internet.  Information at your fingertips!
  • At-a-Glance Chart Auditing – no need to spend 2+ weeks auditing and preparing paper records.
  • Easily share reports of needed documentation with Case Managers and Agencies.
  • Fax/Email directly into and out of the system.
  • Security, Storage and Availability assured by Integrity IT.

Call today for a no-obligation demonstration of FOCUS!  

859-963-2677, extension 2207

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Don’t let your browser cloud your FOCUS

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Use Chrome

FOCUS is configured to run best in the Chrome browser.  Here are some setting that can maximize ideal functioning under the Chrome Menu  (top right corner) > Settings

Chrome Menu

  1. Keep Chrome Up-to-date
    • Go to Chrome Menu > Settings > About
  1. Do not save your password and login
    • When you login, a box pops up and asks if you want to save – click NEVER.
    • If you have saved it, delete it
      1. Go to Chrome Menu > Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Passwords and Forms > Manage Passwords > hover over the FOCUS web address and click the X to delete
      2. Or https://passwords.google.com to delete a saved password
  1. Do not save cookies for FOCUS
    • Chrome Settings>History>Clear Browsing Data>Content Setting (bottom of page) > Manage exceptions…
      1. add [*.]focus-css.com to clear on exit (or add your custom FOCUS address)

Keep Your Computer Secured

  1. Use anti-malware (anti-  virus, spyware, adware, nagware, trojans and worms)
    • Keep it up to date
    • Set it to run regularly (remember, your computer has to be on at that time)
    • Routinely check to make sure it is running as expected
  2. You can give your computer a quick check with Malwarebytes – find it free at https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/
  3. Search the web for best antivirus programs, like here from PC Magazine

Learn about Managed Services

Worn out with keeping your computers working optimally?   Operating with unreliable technology is bad for business; productivity diminishes, downtime interrupts, expenses pile up.  Learn more about how an IT company can maintain your devices through Managed Services.

 

Passwords and PINs

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Accessing Protected Health Information that is found in your client records in FOCUS is serious business.  Make sure you have a strong password and PIN, just like you need for your bank, credit cards and ATM machines.

STRONG passwords have the following characteristics:

  • Contain at least three of the five following character classes:
    • Lower case characters and Upper case characters
    • Numbers
    • Punctuation
    • “Special” characters (e.g. @#$%^&*()_+|~-=\`{}[]:”;'<>/ etc)
  • Contain at least fifteen alphanumeric characters.

Consider using the first letter of each word in a phrase, like “I like to ride horses at the farm” with numbers, capital letters and special characters, ex. Il2rh@tf316

There are apps to help store passwords protected – like MiniKeePass, 1Password, and many others.

WEAK passwords have the following characteristics:

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What is a Business Associate Agreement?

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A “business associate” is a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI) on behalf of, or provides services to, a covered entity.

Agencies using FOCUS-CSS are covered entities. Because we must support the program that stores their client records, we wish to assure our customers that we maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Each business using FOCUS-CSS creates with FOCUS-Technologies a formal Business Associate Agreement to comply in all respects with the requirements of HIPAA.

Covered entities may disclose PHI to an entity in its role as a business associate only to help the covered entity carry out its functions – not for the business associate’s independent use or purposes, except as needed for the proper management and administration of the business associate.

We take the privacy of your clients very seriously. You can count on us to maintain confidentiality and safeguard your clients PHI.

Click here if you want to read more from HHS.gov

Return on Investment

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How does an electronic record compare to paper records?

The most common reaction is “electronic records cost too much”!  But does it really?

There is a cost to paper records, there is a cost to electronic records.  The result is about access and efficiency – it might be trading the cost of inefficiency for the cost of efficiency.   It might mean not needing office space, storage space, or staff just to manage and transport papers!

Things to consider:

Do you want more time with your participants or do you just love your charts?

  • How many times do you touch a paper document?3700 pages
  • How long does it take you to get it to the right person – to the right place – to the right chart?
  • How many people have to see the paper document?
  • Do you copy the document?
  • Do you transport the document to service sites?
  • Do you have staff who copy and mail out documents?
  • How much paper do you buy?
  • How much toner do you buy?

FOCUS is paperless – the document is in one location and all locations at the same time. Focus on what matters most.

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Meet us at the KAPP Conference!

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Integrity IT is a vendor at the first annual conference of the Kentucky Association of Professional Provider.

Stop by the FOCUS-CSS booth at KAPP and learn how to spend more time with your clients and less time keeping up with your paper records!

FOCUS-CSS will take away some challenges while you Chart the Course to Best Practices!

Electronic Record for Case Managers and Service Providers

  • Chart Auditing Based on Waiver Requirements
  • Built-in Workflows to Make Monitoring and Collaboration Easier
  • Custom to Your Services
  • Mobile Secure Access
  • Easy to Navigate and Much More!

Stop by the FOCUS-CSS booth and learn about a special offer for KAPP members.

Dont Sink Smooth Sail

Waiver Compliance: How FOCUS software can help.

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How do you feel when you hear the words Waiver Compliance or Time for Your Medicaid Audit?

nervous.     smothered.     exhausted.     hopeless.    

FOCUS can reduce the anxiety of Waiver Compliance Auditing with easy At-A-Glance reports.

In FOCUS, required documents are attached to waivers with valid days, which automatically set expiration dates for easy tracking.

Quickly see what documents are expiring in 30-60 days to be ahead of the game.  No longer will you spend 2 weeks searching through all the paper charts!  Report by agency or case manager to easily send a custom report by email to request updated documents.

Customize reports by staff, contact, client, document, status, or agency.

FOCUS will help you stay in compliance and reduce not only your time, but also your reviewers time!

How do you feel when you hear the words Waiver Compliance or Time for your Medicaid Audit?

ready.

  Medicaid-dispatched-4 What-takes-me-2-weeks

 

How we can help manage your client records

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Where do you like most to spend your time, with – your client – or your records?

Managing your client records in electronic form creates a more efficient and flexible workflow, leaving more time for what matters most – the clients.

How can FOCUS help you manage your client records?

  1. Organizing your documents in a way that means most to you – with customized categories (aka chart tabs)
  2. Having one record that is accessible by anyone with permission from anywhere with internet (no more copying and transporting to all service sites)
  3. Knowing your records are safe, without requiring keys, locked cabinets, and secure space (no need to rent extra space and buy lockable cabinets).  FOCUS takes special care of your data – it is sent encrypted and stored encrypted on secure servers controlled and manged by us.
  4. Communicate paperless from FOCUS – document directly into the system, send documents and reports by fax or secure email directly from the system and receive documents directly into the system.
  5. Keep your workflow electronic – document approval, electronic “sticky notes” for the “front of the chart”, notifications to staff, secure email to staff to keep secure the Protected Health Information of your client.

Call us today for a demonstration of how FOCUS-CSS can not only help you manage your client records, but how you can invest in a brighter future!  859-963-2677 or Info@focus-css.com

KY Medicaid Waiver Management Application: Little impact on Focus users

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The FocusTeam has been researching the impact of the Kentucky Medicaid Waiver Management Application (MWMA) on Focus users by meeting with Officials in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and by tapping into organizations like the Kentucky Association of Private Providers (KAPP) to gather more information. What we have learned is that the MWMA is not designed to replace any Providers EMR solution, like Focus-CSS. Also, the Providers required to utilize the MWMA will only be Case Managers by Dec. 2015 and only for tracking Participant Authorizations and uploading Case Plans. Future MWMA development may allow Case Managers to view documents from HealthCare Providers who have an interface to KHIE. MWMA is not built around services provided except Case Management, and its purpose is to ensure Medicaid participants are getting the correct services and authorizations. The Focus team will remain engaged with regard to updates and information on MWMA as it is rolled out starting in April 2015 and will continue to communicate what we learn.

Focus continues to be the best, most secure electronic record for managing Medicaid Waiver Participants for all Providers of Medicaid Waiver Services. Your Focus team will continue to be here to support, enhance and grow Focus.

EHR Game Changers

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Our very own Shannon McCracken was featured in the January 2014 HealthData Management magazine’s EHR Game Changers issue.

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