Frequently asked questions
Straight Answers Before You Call
What administrators, DONs and corporate leaders ask us most.
The Program
What does Keystone actually do?
We help your team spot residents at risk of going back to the hospital, early. Every morning we score new admissions from the PointClickCare chart, send your leaders a short watch list, and place protocol tasks where your staff already work. Each month you get a results report.
Does Keystone provide medical care?
No. Keystone provides consulting, education and data services only: protocol templates, staff training, daily risk flags (facts and scores) and results reports. Your medical director, physicians, NPs and nurses make every care decision.
What is the free 90-day transfer review?
In about two weeks, we review your last 90 days of hospital transfers and report the facts: when they happened, the warning signs in the chart beforehand, and what they cost. There is no cost and no obligation.
How long does setup take?
About six weeks. We set up the admission risk screen, PCC care plan templates, goals-of-care and medication checks, change-in-condition and after-hours plans, and train your staff.
Is this a one-time project or ongoing?
Ongoing. After setup, your leaders see risk every day and you see results every month. Most facilities start with a 90-day pilot with targets we agree on together.
Your Team and Your Systems
Do our nurses or CNAs need new software?
No. Tasks show up on the PCC eTAR and Point of Care screens your staff already use. Leaders get their short list in Microsoft Teams or the system your facility already uses.
How much time does it take from our staff?
Very little. Your DON confirms a short list each morning, and unit managers follow the protocol tasks already in PCC. Keystone does the screening and the reporting.
Which electronic health record do you work with?
The program is built for PointClickCare. If your facility uses a different system, ask us; we'll tell you honestly whether it fits.
Do you need access to our PointClickCare?
Yes, a consultant login, and only after a business associate agreement (BAA) is signed.
Privacy and Compliance
How is resident information protected?
A business associate agreement is signed before we see any record, even for the free review. Resident information stays in HIPAA-covered tools, and watch lists show room numbers and initials only. Please never send resident information through this website.
How is Keystone paid?
A fixed monthly fee, set in writing. It is never tied to admissions, referrals or census, and Keystone never refers patients to your facility.
Who makes the final call on a resident's care?
Always your clinicians. Keystone's flags are facts and scores; your team decides what to do with them.
Results
What results can we expect?
Our target for your building is 15–25% fewer readmissions. Published programs with engaged teams have shown reductions in this range, but results vary by facility; the target is a goal, not a guarantee.
Why does this matter now?
Starting with payments on October 1, 2027 (FY 2028), Medicare's SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program scores facilities on potentially preventable readmissions during the resident's stay. The first score uses October 2024 to September 2026.
Do you work with facilities outside South Carolina?
Yes. Everything is done remotely, so location isn't a barrier. Ask us about your state.
Still Have a Question?
Ask us directly. The first step, a free 90-day transfer review, costs nothing.