May/June Health Observances | | |
During Nurses Month, would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses working in nursing homes enrolled in the IPRO QIN-QIO. We are proud to support your efforts and applaud you for your commitment to enhancing the quality of care and health outcomes for residents. We also salute the many registered nurses on our team who share their knowledge as quality improvement specialists and subject matter experts. | | |
Charlotte Gjerloev, RN, Qlarant | |
Maureen Marsella, RN, Healthcentric Advisors | |
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COVID-19 and Infection Control | | |
The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for Covid-19 expired on May 11. Among the many changes that will result from the end of the PHE, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made changes to two Quality, Safety and Oversight (QSO) memorandums issued at the beginning of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency. QSO-20-38-NH Testing, related to staff testing, has expired, while changes have been made to QSO-20-39-NH Visitation, related to nursing home visitor policies. | | |
Opioids, Pain Management & Behavioral Health | | |
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Nursing Home Educators: Join Us for a New Train the Trainer Series
Ensuring Equitable Care: Understanding the role of trauma and stigma in the lives of residents with a history of addiction and chronic pain.
IPRO and the NYS Opioid Response Network (ORN) have developed an education series for nursing home staff educators. This education series will address the often missed, yet impactful issues of addiction, trauma, stigma, and chronic pain management.
This pre-packaged 6 module education series includes
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3 live webinars with Delores Blackwell, PhD, Research Project Manager at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Division of Substance Use Disorders at Columbia University, for educators (before, during and after the series) to review the education materials and provide support in the presentation of the content.
- Educational content for all staff in a series of 6 education sessions designed to last 25-30 minutes each. Included for each session:
- 6 pre-recorded modules (15 minutes)
- Written materials to support discussion led by the educator (10-15 minutes)
It is strongly recommended the series be conducted over 6 consecutive weeks.
Note: Materials will be available for use on June 28, 2023.
Join us for the first live session with Dr. Blackwell on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 1 pm.
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Along with COVID-19 vaccines, there are others that play a critical role in keeping adults healthy. These include the pneumovax vaccine which protects against pneumococcal disease; the annual influenza vaccine; and more. Nursing homes play a vital role in educating staff, residents, and families about the importance of receiving vaccines. As a trusted medical resource, clinical staff provide up-to-date, credible information as well as access to vaccines. Visit our updated It's Worth a Shot webpage for updated resources and information to support your efforts to encourage vaccine acceptance.
For expert perspectives on increasing Covid-19 vaccine rates among nursing home staff and residents, listen to our new Quest for Quality podcasts. At only 20 minutes or less, you can listen in the car, on a walk, or at any time and place that is convenient!
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host the inaugural CMS Health Equity Conference on June 7 and 8. Your last chance to register as a virtual attendee is May 19. Learn more and register here.
Don't miss our May Health Equity Newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month, read about National Minority Health Month, measuring nutrition insecurity to advance equity, digital access, and much more.
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We are currently in week four of our 13-week Boosters & Beyond series, this time taking a deep dive into Holistic Dementia Care and Antipsychotic Drug Reduction. Attend one or all of the weekly sessions held every Tuesday at noon with a live replay Wednesday at 3:30, and check out these recent additions to our Resource Library for further support:
This resource provides a quick list of antipsychotic medications available in the United States. Post this list near the medication cart/room as a resource for staff administering medications.
Data collection tool to assist with baseline data collection and ongoing data monitoring for use in conjunction with the IPRO PSYCHOTROPIC REDUCTION ACTION PLAN.
Resident-level review worksheet to ensure that providers consider documentation, assessments, diagnoses, and other elements when reviewing a record of a resident who is prescribed a psychotropic.
This includes links to evidence-based resources for non-medication interventions.
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Meet Our Team at an Upcoming Event | | |
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IPRO QIN-QIO staff will be attending the NADONA 36th Annual Conference in Orlando June 26-28. Stop by Booth # 521 to say hello and learn more about the QIN-QIO.
(Photo, left to right) Charlotte Gjerloev, BSN, RN, Project Director and Shirlynn Shafer, LNHA, Project Manager II, Nursing Home Lead: Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia, from the IPRO QIN-QIO, had an opportunity to meet with nursing home administrators and owners at the ACHCA Convocation in Baltimore in April.
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The IPRO QIN-QIO works to ensure high-quality, safe health care in New England, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
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This material was prepared by the IPRO QIN-QIO, a Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. 12SOW-IPRO-QIN-T1-AA-21-435 | | | | |
