Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) are often tasked with navigating the complex process of following the Minimum Data Set (MDS) instructions precisely while still ensuring they reflect the resident’s true clinical picture. In many situations, the answer is not …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In today’s regulatory environment, accurate and timely nursing home documentation is more than dutifully recounting what occurred to a resident on a given day. Rather it is a legal record that ideally describes resident care, assures regulatory compliance, …
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 …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Wounds are a significant clinical, regulatory, and financial concern in nursing homes. One of the most effective strategies to improve wound care is implementing structured wound rounds by an interdisciplinary team (IDT). When conducted consistently and thoroughly, wound …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. For years, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) managed the long-stay (LS) antipsychotic quality measure largely through section N of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Accurate 7-day look-back coding was the primary lever that facilities could pull to reflect their …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Few Minimum Data Set (MDS) items carry as much regulatory weight and ethical considerations as physical restraints. The decision to use any device that restricts a resident’s movement or access to his or her own body must balance …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. February’s designation as American Heart Month offers an important opportunity to reflect on the role of cardiovascular health in long-term care (LTC). Cardiac conditions such as heart disease, hypertension (HTN), and heart failure are among the most frequently …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. 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 …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC), few leadership relationships have as much influence on clinical outcomes, regulatory compliance, and organizational culture as the partnership between the director of nursing services (DNS) and the medical director. When these roles …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. One of your nurses struggles with timely, accurate documentation, but you dread talking with her about the situation. She is a valuable team member who shows up promptly and also willingly picks up overtime, but the documentation issues …
