Geriatric Fast Facts Website

Site description: This site includes accessible, concise, and clinically relevant educational reports and podcasts on Geriatric topics. Geriatric Fast Facts (GFFs) are designed to provide concise, practical, evidence-based summaries of key health care issues important to teaching clinicians and trainees who care for older adults. GFFs are co-authored by multi-specialty …

Preparing for the Next Generation of Tech-Savvy Residents in Long-Term Care

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN discuss how long-term care leaders can prepare for the next generation of residents, one that is more …

Wound Rounds Template

Interdisciplinary wound rounds evaluate the effectiveness, appropriateness, and compliance of wound management. This Wound Rounds Template supports interdisciplinary review, ensures treatments are consistent with physician orders, facility policy, and current standards of practice. It also identifies opportunities for timely intervention to promote wound healing, prevent complications, and reduce the risk …

TIP: New Definition for COVID-19 Vaccination “Up to Date”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided a new definition for what “Up to Date” means regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Effective for the reporting period that began on Dec.  29, 2025, the new criteria to be “Up to Date” include the following: Individuals aged 65 years and …

How to Advance Your Career as a Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) – Part Four: Expert Level

Becoming an expert-level nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of experience, continuous learning, and navigating complex clinical, regulatory, and reimbursement challenges with confidence. At this stage, expert NACs are often the go-to leaders in their organizations—trusted for their judgment, relied on for their expertise, …

TIP: January Five-Star Provider Reports Updated and Reposted

The January Care Compare refresh, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026, was delayed. In an email response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) BetterCare stated “[they] identified an issue with one of the data files scheduled for the January 28, 2026, Nursing Home Care Compare refresh. As a result, …

TIP: CMS Adds Falls to Special Focus Facility Selection Criteria

In late January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised the memo QSO-23-01-NH, changing the selection criteria for the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program from staffing to falls. In the memo, CMS noted: CMS is revising the focus area for selection to emphasize the prevalence of falls among …

SNF Calendar: Key Dates for 2026 QM, VBP, QRP, and PBJ

The SNF Calendar: Key Dates for 2026 QM, VBP, QRP, and PBJ, provides a quick reference highlighting key 2026 deadlines and milestones for skilled nursing facilities. This tool includes quality measures (QMs), Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, Quality Reporting Program (QRP), and Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) submissions, Care Compare Refreshes, CMS rule …

AAPACN 2026 Conference Highlight – Express Pass to Precision: Tackling Tricky ICD-10-CM Scenarios in Long-Term Care

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the highlights of LaBay’s AAPACN conference session, “Express Pass to Precision: Tackling Tricky ICD-10-CM …