eStar updates and changes: home health referrals

On Jan. 8, changes will be made to the adult home health referral order to improve ordering workflow. These changes include:

• Moving medical necessity field to top of order composer (contributing symptoms from which to select are available)
• Including language that makes it clear order must be co-signed by physician
• Adding additional service selections for skilled nursing, physical therapy and speech therapy
• Including social work and occupational therapy as add-on services (no longer need to select a skilled service)

All non-physician users placing a referral order must mark it for co-signature by a physician (nurses may also pend the order and to the physician for signature). For more information, please refer to the Tip Sheet “Placing a Home Health Referral Order” (available in Hubbl).