3 Benefits of using embedded IDG functionality in home health

By: Kathleen Courson, RN, BSN, Clinical Product Manager, MatrixCare

Interdisciplinary groups (IDGs), also known as interdisciplinary teams (IDTs), are groups of healthcare professionals with a variety of expertise working together to meet the goals of their patient. In home health, PDGM forced organizations to think differently about how to identify patients who need other disciplines—and how to reduce risk while caring for these patients who are more complicated to treat in the home. With embedded IDG functionality, organizations can access these groups within their EHR platform and communicate with the care team in real time.

Having these types of group communication was one of my favorite parts of working on the administrative side. Not only was I in the field seeing patients occasionally, but I was also updated on their status when I was away. Everyone on the care team gets a different view of the home situation. And with care constantly changing, IDGs provide visibility to keep the entire team on the same page.

Here are three benefits of embedded IDG functionality in home health to help organizations meet regulations and beyond.

Coordination of assessment and treatment across all disciplines Embedded IDG functionality simplifies the many dimensions of patient care and summarizes it in one place, making it easy to identify changes in patient condition, to communicate with your team, and to monitor your financial resources—across all disciplines of care.

Burnout and stress prevention among the care team Amid a continued nationwide staffing shortage, care teams are being asked to do more tasks with less resources—putting administrative burden on clinical workers and eliminating the work-life balance they need to do their jobs for the long-term. With embedded IDG functionality, care teams save significant amounts of time by not having to communicate with peers individually, which often results in playing phone tag and drowning in emails.

When communication happens in real time, in one place, with all professionals involved, less time is spent on repetitive tasks and more time can be spent focusing on patient care.

Improved patient outcomes Embedded IDG functionality drives improved patient outcomes because it brings the care plan to the surface. Patient goals are better verbalized, goals are clear, and small improvements are noticed. Having communication all in one place means medical directors and providers also never have to search for information—as the most expensive resources, it’s important that their time is used effectively, and this visibility helps ensure better outcomes for the patient.

Are you ready to experience the many benefits of embedded IDG functionality? Schedule a demo with MatrixCare to see for yourself how our innovative approach to home health can improve your organization and those you serve.