Treatment Visits

Key Points

Average Therapy Session:  Expect to spend an average of 60-75 minutes (4-5 billable units) with a patient. Be sure to check insurance coverage (United Healthcare), as some plans limit visit length to one hour.  You will always be notified in HUCU of any insurance limitations.

Schedule Your Therapy Visit Date/Time:    We are not a "drop-in," and we expect therapists to schedule their appointments with patients and add these visits to the EMR on your schedule so that the office and other team members are aware of when your appointment is scheduled.

Check In and Out in HUCU: Make sure you use the check-in and check-out features in HUCU, which include a geolocation feature that verifies your visit.  If connectivity is poor and you are unable to use the feature, please use a Treatment Verification Signature Log.  You can find these forms on our website and print one here.

Bring to Every Visit:  Always have hand sanitizer,  PPE, a gait belt, and a blood pressure cuff with you.    

 

Make Therapy Fun: LifeCare uses a mobile clinic model, so build a toolbox of engaging supplies for therapy. Ideas include weights, balance pads, cones, tape for an obstacle course, pool noodles, and other fun dollar store finds for GM/FM tasks.  Ask us if you need ideas!

 

Monitor Visit Count and Date:  Regulatory guidelines require a Progress/Supervisory Visit to be done every 30 days and every 10 treatment visits (or earlier).  This gives you 8 therapy-only visits between supervisory visits. You can track this information in the EMR when scheduling.  

Getting Paid:  You are paid based on the date that the note is signed (not the date of the visit). Documentation is expected to be done by midnight on Sunday every week and includes uploading signature logs to the EMR.

Your Daily Note

Documentation is required for each treatment day and every therapy service. Regulatory Guidelines require that subsequent visit documentation include: 

● Patient self-report; 

● Reaction/response to intervention; 

● Any communication/consultation with other providers; 

● Any significant, unusual, or unexpected changes in clinical status; 

● Justification of billing (Documentation of Procedures performed) 

● Notation of non-skilled treatment or activities (such as rest periods) is to be voluntarily reported to explain the total treatment time. 

Therapists are encouraged to update the “Current” status of goals whenever appropriate to document interim gains between Supervisory Visits/Progress Reports.  Every treatment note should be different - carry over of documentation when there is no change needs to be explained, i.e., determined that the patient could not advance therapy exercise program and continued ther-ex 3 x 10 of ___.