Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In September 2025, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) rang the alarm bell on MDS coding inaccuracies involving falls with major injury, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took actions that every director of nursing …
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, give listeners an inside look at AAPACN’s brand new certification program, the Nursing Home …
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Psychotropic medication use continues to be one of the most heavily scrutinized areas in long-term care, for good reason. At this juncture, clinical decision-making, resident quality of life, and regulatory compliance all come together. The goal is not just to avoid unnecessary medications. Rather it’s to show clearly that every …
This tool is designed to help facilities ensure the safe, appropriate, and compliant use of psychotropic medications. It guides staff through a structured review of each resident’s medication, including diagnosis support, informed consent, behavior documentation, non-pharmalogical interventions, gradual dose reductions, and care plan alignment. By using this audit regularly, facilities …
The deadline to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system is May 18, 2026. This reporting is required for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and covers the period October 1, 2025, through March 31, …
Written by Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, Chief Nursing Officer, AAPACN Lessons from My Backyard: Thrive. Evolve. Lead. As the Chief Nursing Officer at AAPACN, I spend much of my time thinking about nurses. How to support them, how to help them grow, and how to strengthen …
The deadline to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system is May 18, 2026. This reporting is required for the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) and covers the period Oct.1, 2025, through …
The role of a director of nursing services (DNS) in long-term care is both complex and impactful. By the time you reach the proficient stage—typically after two or more years in the role—you’ve moved beyond learning the basics and are now focused on refining systems, improving outcomes, and leading with …
Overview What is the Data Validation Process? The Data Validation Process evaluates the accuracy of quality measure data elements derived from the Minimum Data Set (MDS), which are used in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Reporting Programs (QRP) for assessing quality of care and measuring …
Current Submission RequirementsAs of April 1, 2026, fileSpecVersion 4.10.0 is REQUIRED for all Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) file submissions. Old versions (2.00.0, 2.00.3, and 4.00.0) are no longer accepted. Any files submitted using these versions will be rejected. You must use fileSpecVersion 4.10.0 for all submissions. Daily Hours LimitVersion 4.10.0 …
