A tall glass of crystal-clear water is very refreshing. But water that is murky, has particles floating around, or a mineral odor isn’t appealing – and may be dangerous. The source of the water is often the key to its clarity and taste. The source must be well-maintained and managed …
When a nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) reviews the speech language pathologist (SLP) evaluation notes and encounters the term globus sensation, he or she may not even consider that the phrase could indicate a potential swallowing problem. While the NAC and SLPoften work toward the same goals of identifying possible swallowing …
The Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in section G of the MDS are interwoven throughout the Care Area Assessments (CAAs), Quality Measures (QMs), and some state Medicaid reimbursement systems—and have been for years. Yet CMS took nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) by surprise when the draft MDS item sets released in …
Clinical education teaches nurses a process of problem identification. Encompassing assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation, it is often just called the nursing process. Many nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) may also recognize that the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual mirrors the nursing process in …
Completing the MDS assessment requires documentation in the medical record to support nearly every item’s coding. When supporting documentation is in place, the MDS assessment process can be smooth and efficient. If it is not, the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) may have to spend hours combing through a chart trying …
The last MDS item set update nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) had to prepare for was v1.17.1. When it went into effect Oct. 1, 2019, that version provided the changes needed to implement the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) for Medicare reimbursement. The next anticipated item set (v1.18.1) was delayed. Instead, a …
When it comes to the MDS and hospice, there are several rules the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) must be aware of, especially with the requirements of the Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA). While many NACs understand what is mandatory for basic paper compliance, the team may not fully understand …
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are items most long-term care professionals are familiar with, but they may not immediately recognize how the determinants affect their job. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), SDOH are the “conditions in …
Nearly two years into the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), nursing home staff continue to see its impact on all residents, not just those who have recovered from COVID-19. According to the CMS memorandum QSO-20-39-NH, CMS’s focus has been on “protecting nursing home residents from COVID-19,” but CMS also recognizes “that …
Long-term care leadership often observes that the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) role calls for detail-orientation and strong time-management and assessment skills, because these nurses must coordinate the resident assessment that drives the care plan, quality measurements, and (at times) reimbursement. While NACs strive for accuracy and integrity in this process, …
