The Art of Delegation for the Director of Nursing Services: Safe Practices and Strategies to Overcome Common Challenges

The role of the director of nursing services (DNS) in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) can be stressful due to the number of competing priorities in each day. Delegation, when done properly, can help relieve some stressors while ensuring tasks are completed. In contrast, failure to delegate can lead to …

Top 5 AAPACN Leading in Care Blogs of 2023

In 2023, the AAPACN Leading in Care Blog brought you inspiration, personal member stories, clarification on need-to-know topics such as the iQIES transition, Quality Measures, and MDS updates, as well as details about important events and resources for long-term care. Revisit the most popular posts on the AAPACN Leading in …

LTC Facilities Should Track MDS Assessment and Software Issues for Quality Assurance

Since the implementation of the RAI User’s Manual version 1.18.11 on Oct. 1, 2023, several long-term care nursing facilities have experienced electronic health record (EHR) software issues as well as complications with the MDS 3.0 Data Specifications provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), impacting many MDS …

The Physician and “I”: Part 1 on Diagnoses and MDS Coding Relationships

Written by Michelle Olear, RHIT, BSN Director of Documentation Analysis and Professional Coding Services Minimum Data Set Consultants, LLC  The physician’s role in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) is essential to delivering skilled, quality care for skilled and long-term care residents. Physicians are the facility’s lead in providing clinical decision-making and properly …

Need Behavioral Health Training Help? Check Out the COE-NF

The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), which opened its online doors in December 2022 thanks to a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a centralized hub where any Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home can access trainings, tools, and …

Section GG Q&A from AAPACN’s 2023 Live Virtual Conference – MDS Updates Prep and Polish

On Aug. 23, 2023, AAPACN hosted the AAPACN 2023 Live Virtual Conference – MDS Updates Prep and Polish event, with educational sessions designed to help implement the MDS changes effective Oct. 1. This one-day event provided four educational breakout sessions and one live Q&A panel session. For those who were …

AAPACN 2023 Award Winners

Celebrating the AAPACN 2023 Award Winners At the AAPACN 2023 Conference held in Las Vegas last week, AAPACN honored the work of five LTPAC professionals who embody the vision and values of AAPACN – integrity, innovation, inspiration, and influence – and who have made a lasting impact on post-acute care …