Homecare 2014
Vendor Readiness to Meet New Demands

WORTH KNOWING

INTEROPERABILITY: FROM NICE TO MUST-HAVE

The ability to interoperate with the inpatient and ambulatory environments will become a key differentiator in this market. Currently, only Epic has complete integration. Delta Health Technologies, Homecare Homebase, and Thornberry have done well meeting traditional needs around interoperability (i.e., home monitoring devices, analytics, workforce management, pharmacy), but hospital-homecare integration is still lacking. Cerner and Brightree struggle the most to meet their customers’ interoperability expectations.

WILL YOUR ENTERPRISE VENDOR GET YOU THERE TODAY?

Providers using enterprise vendors Cerner, Epic, McKesson, and MEDITECH for homecare note increased vendor focus and optimism for the future but also mention that challenges still exist today. Cerner and McKesson customers see improvements with new versions. Epic has had better adoption, and customers note that improvements have been made to a still-developing product. Allscripts’ respondents were not as optimistic; they have had challenges with the financial software and do not see a clear development road map. Siemens does not have a homecare offering and instead partners with Delta Health Technologies.

DEVELOPMENT: A KEY DIFFERENTIATOR

Thornberry, Homecare Homebase, and Delta Health Technologies continue to deliver quality products that meet customer needs, and they have proven track records of delivering enhancements. Cerner, Brightree, Epic, and MEDITECH have large functionality gaps to overcome. Though their customers are optimistic for the future, they note their vendors have not taken significant steps toward continual development.

VENDORS(Alphabetically by group)

LEADERS

DELTA HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES ENCORE

Solid performer. Encore is a robust product, but user interface is outdated. Loyal customer base—over 90% say product is part of long-term plans and they would buy again. Few customers using recently released SaaS-based platform Crescendo. Performs well for larger and smaller customers.

HOMECARE HOMEBASE

High-performing vendor with quality product and good history of development and regulatory compliance. Ninety-eight percent said part of long-term plans. Scalable—product performs very well for large and small customers. Customers have noted a recent decrease in support quality. Impact of Hearst acquisition (December 2013) unknown.

THORNBERRY NDOC

Highest performing vendor, but primarily a player in smaller standalone agencies. Strong relationships with relatively small customer base. One hundred percent said part of long-term plans. Strong history of development and compliance.

FOLLOWERS

ALLSCRIPTS HOMECARE

Sixty-one percent of customers said part of long-term plans. Some noted billing/reporting challenges. Decent product that keeps up with regulations, but customers say product has not been primary focus at Allscripts. Adequate support. Has both large and small customers, though smaller customers more satisfied.

HEALTHWYSE

Average-performing vendor in most areas. Solid product, but customers noted challenges with support, responsiveness. Generally found in smaller standalone agencies. New executive team has spurred optimism within customer base, though too early to tell impact. Ninety-five percent say product is part of long-term plans, but 24% would not buy again.

MCKESSON HOMECARE

Solid-performing vendor with very good support. Performs consistently across all types and sizes of homecare agencies. Ease of use could be better. Early feedback on v.13 very positive. Thirty-eight percent of customers say McKesson nickel-and-dimes.

LAGGARDS

BRIGHTREE HOME HEALTH

Performs well below average in most areas. Thirty-seven percent say Brightree does not keep promises. Recently acquired—customers anxious to see change/improvement and optimistic for the future. Generally found in smaller agencies.

CERNER EXTENDED CARE HOME HEALTH

Lowest-performing vendor; significant product challenges. Not integrated with Millennium suite. Sixty-one percent said product is part of long-term plans. Recent versions show slight improvements. Customers optimistic that Cerner will make changes. Serves all sizes, though smaller customers attached to health systems more satisfied.

EPIC EPICCARE HOME HEALTH

Relatively few large and small agencies live—all part of Epic health systems. Recently a renewed focus for Epic, but product still in infancy, especially for billing and reporting. Integration with Epic suite a positive, and 100% say product is part of long-term plans. Epic’s insufficient homecare expertise can be challenging for customers. Providers optimistic that newer versions will offer needed enhancements.

MEDITECH HOME CARE

Fifty-six percent of respondents say product is part of long-term plans. It gets the job done but is missing functionality. Customers feel MEDITECH has renewed focus around the product. Used mostly in smaller agencies attached to health systems. Many report interoperability challenges, though some mention partial integration with MEDITECH.

Project Manager
Robert Ellis