ember Services

CareLink offers a variety of services for its members and provides services to other health care organizations through contract arrangement.

Services:
• Care Coordination & Referral Development
• Marketing & Publications
• Group Purchasing
• Quality Improvement & Research
• Staff Education and Development
• Program Analysis and Development (i.e. skilled care, Alzheimer care)
• Strategic Planning
• Corporate Compliance


Care Coordination and Referral Development:
CareLink members coordinate services to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled. “One Stop Shopping” is available through the preferred provider relationship that exists among the members. A Clinical Nurse Liaison is available to coordinate referral activity and assist hospital discharge planners, physician groups, Visiting Nurse Assoc. and other professionals from the community with discharge planning, relocation choices and referral services. CareLink and local municipalities have joined together to integrate services for the elderly and disabled in need of home and community based services.


Marketing & Publications:
CareLink provides cost effective marketing for our members. A Nurse Liaison routinely meets with hospital discharge planners and case managers from local, as well as, Boston area hospitals, Visiting Nurse Assoc., physician offices and other community referral sources to increase awareness of the services CareLink and our members provide. In addition, CareLink members are represented on our website, at senior health fairs, expos, conferences and in professional organizations.


Group Purchasing:
CareLink employs a full-time Group Purchasing Manager responsible for negotiating contracts on behalf of the CareLink members. Contracts include clinical supplies and services, office supplies, maintenance services, computer support, capital equipment, vehicle maintenance, and many more. In addition to group contracts, the Group Purchasing Manager assists with purchases for individual organizations.


Quality Improvement and Research:
CareLink and Brown Medical School’s Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research Division of Geriatrics enjoy a research and teaching collaboration related to improving care for seniors. Research and pilot programs, conducted in the CareLink member sites, are instrumental in meeting the chronic care needs of the aging population and influencing public policy.

• Clinical Policy and Protocol Development,
(e.g. pain management)
• State and JCAHO Survey readiness
• Geriatric medical consulting
• Integrated Care Coordination and internal referral process


Staff Education and Development:
CareLink sponsors and promotes professional educational opportunities on topics related to leaders and senior care. The staff submits articles to professional journals, newsletters, and periodicals.


Program Analysis and Program Development:
CareLink provides consulting services to community based and acute care organizations who want to develop, improve, and expand services for seniors and chronically ill populations. Feasibility analysis, strategic planning, facilities and management contracts are examples of the work CareLink has successfully completed for our customers.


Strategic Planning:
The internal working of an alliance is very different from the internal workings of the health care providers that make up our membership. We have a unique responsibility to meet our member’s needs and help keep them strong financially, clinically, and strategically. Members meet yearly to identify and assess strategic goals. The three-year plan examines membership services, new business opportunities. More importantly, we examine the value of our services to the members. We keep the processes simple and our objectives clear and attainable. We listen, we ask questions, and we work hard to integrate member’s ideas and suggestions into our daily routine.


Corporate Compliance:
CareLink assisted members in disclosing a full corporate compliance program. A centralized hotline number, staff education programs and policies were crafted with the intent to meet federal and state regulations and to make these regulations easily understood by staff.