Summary What is already known about this topic? Influenza vaccination protects against influenza and its potential complications. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices makes influenza vaccination recommendations for each influenza season. What is added by this report? Information for the 2025–26 influenza season includes the updated vaccine composition, approval of …
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 Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the importance of policy and procedure review in nursing homes, as well as …
Podcast (ltc_don_chat): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:10 — 5.2MB) | Embed
Nurse leaders who want to improve behavioral health management often get stuck in the “I don’t know where to start” or “I don’t know what that should look like” phase, points out Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program director of the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …
Facility policies serve as the backbone of consistent, safe, and compliant operations. Nursing homes rely on well-developed policies to guide staff, protect residents, and maintain compliance of care delivery that must follow state and federal regulations. The director of nursing services (DNS) plays a vital role in ensuring that facility …
Respiratory illness season is rapidly approaching once again, posing significant health concerns for vulnerable residents. The director of nursing services (DNS) must ensure facility staff can identify, manage, and help prevent these infections. Whether it’s influenza, pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or COVID-19, early recognition, prompt intervention, and strong infection …
Respiratory illnesses remain one of the most significant health concerns for residents. Early recognition, prompt intervention, and strong infection control practices are important to maintain residents’ well-being. The Caring for Residents with Respiratory Illness in-service will assist with training licensed nurses to be able to identify, manage, and help prevent …
Information on how surveyors currently manage the nursing home survey process: CMS iQIES S&C User Manual: Manage a Survey LTC Facilities v1.2 (Posted 09/03/2025) From https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) convened a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) on May 12 and 14, 2025, to obtain input on potential cross-setting updates to the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) measure. The TEP was held in response to concerns regarding potential underreporting on the current measure …
From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing/confidential-feedback-reporting-review-and-corrections From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing/scoring-methodology-payment-adjustment
CDC announces new ICD-10-CM codes effective October 1, 2025. The October 1, 2025 diagnosis code update files are now available. Use these files for discharges occurring from October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026, and for patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2025 -September 30, 2026. The files in the 2026 …
