Sleep Medication Linked to Safer Outcomes Than Antipsychotics For Older Adults With Delirium

Press release Nationwide study finds lower risk of death and rehospitalization among older adults treated with trazodone after hospital admission. A large U.S. study suggests that older adults hospitalized with delirium may experience better outcomes when treated with trazodone, commonly used to treat depression and sleep problems, rather than commonly …

Change Management: How to Implement and Sustain Positive Change

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Change Management: How to Implement and Sustain Positive Change A Greek philosopher once pointed out that “change is the only constant in life.” More than 2,500 years later, change remains constant—and it can be a positive force in …

Care Planning MDROs: What the NAC Needs to Know

A strong infection prevention and control plan should serve as the foundation of the comprehensive care plan for any resident with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO), says Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, CPC, director of education for Hansen Hunter LLC in Vancouver, WA. “The Centers for Disease Control …

Navigating Resident/Representative Notifications About Care Plan and Condition Changes

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Mandates to notify or inform the resident and/or their representative about an array of clinical and service issues are woven throughout the resident rights F-tags and other surveyor guidance in Appendix PP, “Guidance to Surveyors for Long-Term Care …

Is It Time to Roll Out the SBAR Again?

The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment/Analysis, and Recommendation/Request) tool is a standardized, structured communication framework that has been consistently promoted by such quality-focused organizations as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the American Society for Quality, and the Joint Commission to improve communication in multiple …

MDS Item I1700: Navigate the Complexities of Coding MDROs

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a red flag for a nursing home’s infection prevention and control program that either contact precautions or enhanced barrier precautions may need to be initiated, points out Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, CPC, director of education for Hansen Hunter LLC in Vancouver, WA. …

MDS Item L0200: Teeth Matter—and Not Just to Dentists

MDS section L (Oral/Dental Status) is one of the most frequently undervalued areas of the MDS, says Eleisha Wilkes, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, a senior consultant with Proactive LTC Consulting in Evansville, IN. “Generally, it is perceived as a minor section because it doesn’t directly affect payment in …

How the DNS Can Use HRSN to Improve Care and Reduce Hospital Readmissions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ultimately chose not to implement MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) on Oct. 1, 2025. Each skilled nursing facility (SNF) will have to make an individual decision whether to do off-MDS data collection of the HRSN data that would have been captured …

Should SNFs Collect Removed Section R MDS Data—and Why Do HRSN Even Matter?

MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) did not go into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) followed through on its proposal and eliminated—prior to implementation—items R0310 (Living Situation), R03020A (Within the Past 12 Months, You Worried That Your Food Would Run Out Before …