Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner Cascala Health By Kristen Dodd, MBA Skilled nursing facilities have always managed complexity. What has changed is the intensity and consistency of that complexity. Nurse leaders are now navigating higher resident acuity, persistent staffing instability, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and growing accountability tied to outcomes, …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner PharMerica When asked why they chose their profession, nurses often say they feel a personal calling or have a desire to serve others. Administering medications doesn’t even make the list, yet senior and long-term care nurses spend much of their time doing just that. …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner Strategic Healthcare Programs By Henry R Saucier, LNFA When those rolling briefcases pass through your facility’s front entrance, that familiar surge of anxiety is universal among post-acute care professionals. But what if you could anticipate what surveyors will examine before they arrive? The truth …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner Proactive LTC Consulting By Christine Twombly, RN-BC, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, HCRM, CHC The Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program continues to evolve, with CMS expanding the scope of this quality incentive program beyond the hospital readmission measure to include additional measures reflective of …
Written by Ashley Kaminski Petkis, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC; Alyssa Widen, MSN, BSN, RN Staffing challenges remain pervasive across the healthcare continuum, with particular severity in the post-acute care setting. Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities are facing high turnover, specifically with direct-care staff such as licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered …
Written by Brenda Schumacher, Staff Writer, AAPACN When a resident discharges before the Admission assessment is complete, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) must make decisions that directly affect compliance, survey readiness, and resident care planning. Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, explains that the first …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner The Compliance Store By Michele Mummert, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT In long-term care (LTC) settings – including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and residential care centers – well-crafted policies are the backbone of quality care, staff accountability, and regulatory compliance. These policies do more …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner Synchrony Pharmacy By Mandi Seay, Doctorate of Pharmacy Candidate, Class of 2026, Butler University Defining Transitions of Care Transitions of care (TOC) are nothing new to those working in long-term care. Every nurse in this setting has seen the challenges that come with moving …
Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner Proactive LTC Consulting By Christine Twombly, RN-BC, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, HCRM, CHC The Minimum Data Set (MDS) plays a vital role in driving resident care through the resident-centered care plan process, regulatory compliance, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, quality outcomes, and reporting programs. MDS data accuracy …
Written by Ashley Kaminski, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC and Holly Chaffee, MSN, BSN, RN Care transitions remain one of the most persistent challenges in our healthcare system. Whether it’s moving from the hospital to home care, from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), or from a SNF to home …
