Join HQIN Next Week (November 6) to Celebrate Achievements in Long-Term Care

November 6, 2024 - 1:00 PM

Join HQIN and your fellow nursing home professionals from Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina, and Virginia as we honor the achievements of the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN). Following the celebration, gain valuable insights on maintaining your progress. We’ll share top interventions, evidence-based resources, and strategies to support adverse drug event, healthcare associated infections (HAIs), avoidable readmission and emergency department reduction efforts as well as improving vaccination rates.

CMS Clarifies Nursing Home Policy Changes for 2025, Including on Surveys, CMPs, and Staffing, as No 'Finish Line' in Sight for Legislation and Litigation

In 2025, the nursing home sector can expect several policy updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Director Evan Shulman said on Tuesday. He highlighted the agency’s work on risk-based surveys to reduce delays and new consumer guides for which the agency is seeking feedback from nursing homes, among other initiatives. READ MORE

KDADS Regional Roundtable

Topics of discussion include:

• State Licensed Only Involuntary Discharge Reporting (Assisted Living, Residential Health Care, Home Plus)
• Changes to CCRC since July 1, 2024
• Receivership – what is it and how do you apply for it
• Top deficiencies cited
• Survey consistency
• CMPs and Other Enforcement
• NATCEP Bans and Waiver Process

Click the desired region below for additional details.

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

This week in McKnights there was a great article written by Renee Kinder titled, “You Can’t Unscramble Eggs: Using Root Cause Analysis to Improve Teamwork”. But she took a little different approach…she says, “there’s a way to prevent this from happening in the first place: Root cause analysis (RCA)…RCA is just as effective for identifying and addressing the systemic issues that hinder teamwork. By integrating RCA into the daily workforce, facilities can address the root causes of breakdowns in interdisciplinary communication and collaboration before they snowball into larger problems.”

What a great new perspective, and isn’t this part the of theory behind the new guidance for QAPI?...be preemptive rather than post-incident…Preemptive Root Cause Analysis (PRCA) with the goal of heading off problems BEFORE they arise. PRCA is now considered “evidenced-based best practice”. READ MORE

HHS Files Proposed Modifications To HIPAA To Strengthen Cybersecurity With Office Of Information And Regulatory Affairs

HealthcareITNews (10/25, Fox, 2K) reported HHS "has filed proposed modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 security rule to strengthen the cybersecurity of electronic protected health information with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs." According to HealthcareITNews, "the central authority for the review of Executive Branch regulations provided few details, but once the White House reviews HIPAA updates HHS can release its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for public comment." The "rule will propose modifications to the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information under HIPAA and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, according to the abstract." 

SSDs and SWs Needed for Research Study

Dr. Amy Roberts from the Department of Family Science and Social Work at Miami University, Ohio, in collaboration with colleagues from Weill Cornell Medicine's Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine (PI: Dr. E-Shien Chang), is conducting a study aimed at understanding and addressing negative resident interactions in nursing homes. This study focuses on exploring underlying factors, including race and ethnicity, to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies.

The research team is seeking Directors of Social Services in nursing homes who have experience managing such interactions to participate in a one-on-one interview. The interview will be conducted virtually via Zoom, will take no more than 45 minutes, and your valuable insights will contribute significantly to the study. Participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card as compensation and the opportunity to pilot a training program at their facility next year.

You can access the form directly through this [link to form].

For further information or any questions, please feel free to reach out via email rober128@miamioh.edu, or phone at 513-529-6117.

Submit Your 2025 National Quality Award Intent to Apply

​The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award 2025 Intent to Apply (ITA) is open.

We encourage applicants who plan to apply for a National Quality Award in 2025 to submit an ITA before the deadline on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

WHY SUBMIT AN ITA?

• Commitment to Quality: Demonstrate your organization's dedication to continuous quality improvement to your communities, staff, and residents.
• Stay Organized: Help keep your organization focused and organized throughout the application process.
• Discounted Application Fee: Applicants who submit an ITA receive a discounted application fee.*
• Exclusive Resources: Gain access to exclusive resources to assist with the application process.
• Voluntary but Encouraged: While submitting an ITA is voluntary, it is strongly encouraged for long term and post-acute care providers.

Join KHCA/KCAL on November 6th at 1:00PM for a Free Bronze Virtual Workshop

If your organization has thought about participating in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award program, this is your opportunity to complete the Bronze Award application from beginning to end with coaching support along the way from expert facilitators. READ MORE

Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS/NSA and HSP

December 5th, 2024 - 9:30AM - 2:00PM

The Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Who knew such a simple looking document could be so complicated? During this lunch and learn you’ll learn how to accurately complete a Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Together you’ll collaborate and work through common ‘gray areas’ and how to document them.  Once you’ve tackled the Functional Capacity Screen (FCS), the Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) and Health Services Plan (HSP) are next!   A completed FCS will be provided to all participants and Joan Hudson, RN-BC, LNHA will walk you through how to take the data from the FCS, add your resident ‘wants’ to the assessment and produce a Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) to capture all the billable services for your resident.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the regulations for FCS/NSA/HSP and how to stay in compliance with each.
• Complete an FCS/NSA/HSP for a sample resident
• Review scenarios and how to handle situations that indicate the need for a Risk Agreement.

Click here for more details.

Bronze Quality Award Workshop - 2024

11/6/2024 - 1:00PM-3:00PM

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Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course

11/6 - 11/19/24

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DON Boot Camp

11/11 - 11/14/24 Topeka, KS

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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Nutrition and Hydration

11/12/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM

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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Skilled Care Justification

11/19/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM

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Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS/NSA and HSP

12/5/24 - 9:30AM - 2:00PM

Click here for more details.

Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Respiratory Care

12/10/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM

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Webinar: Welcome to the World of Dietary! LTC Refresher Course

12/12/24 - 10:00AM-2:30PM

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