New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – Jan. 29, 2026

DNS / NAC / On-demand Webinar

Members: $25 | Non-members: $50Continuing Education: 1 CE hourRecording Date: Jan. 29, 2026Duration: 60 minutesSpeaker: Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA It’s resolution season, and this year we’re resolving to make the long-stay antipsychotic quality measure (QM) make sense! The 2026 re-specifications bring a new hybrid approach that blends MDS data with Medicare and Medicaid claims/encounter data. …

CMS: Impact of Combined Assessments on SNF APU for SNF QRP

Billing and Reimbursement / DNS / MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / NAC / Post-Acute Care News

Impact of Combined Assessments on SNF APU: How Medicare 5-Day and PPS Discharge Combined Assessments Affect Your Facility’s APU Calculation The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a one-page resource for SNF providers that illustrates how Medicare 5-Day and PPS Discharge combined assessments can impact the APU …

NHSN LTCF MDRO & CDI Module Resources

Clinical Care Solutions / DNS / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives

Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology January 2026 updates Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only MDRO/CDI Events See more at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/cdiff-mrsa/index.html

Survey Readiness: Critical Element Pathways, Observations, Reviews, and Policy Calendar Tool

DNS / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Tool

Surveyors use critical element pathways (CEPs) to work through the steps of their investigation and to determine compliance with several federal regulations. In addition to CEPs, other tools including observational guides are also used to direct the surveyors’ review of the facility. These same tools are available for facility leaders …

Infection Prevention Course at NETEC Updated

DNS / Infection Control / Post-Acute Care News

Infection Prevention Learning Journey Description The Infection Prevention Learning Journey introduces learners to concepts found in the Hierarchy of Controls that will enhance infection prevention and control knowledge and skills. Learning modules in the course will cover three levels of the Hierarchy of Controls: engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment …

QTSO: **Action Required** A PBJ System Update Occurred in December

Administrator / DNS / NAC / Post-Acute Care News / Staffing / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

The PBJ system has been updated to accept optional hire and termination dates up to 12/31/2050.  CMS helpdesk is starting to get tickets regarding this update, so we are following up with clarifications.  Please ensure that your systems are updated so that your submissions are not impacted. The full memo is …

TIP: CMS Has New Resource Available on Data Validation Process for the SNF Assessment-Based Measures

DNS / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Tip

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a recorded presentation that describes the new data validation process. This training will support skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in understanding the purpose and structure of the data validation process including the notification and submission process, required activities for selected SNFs, …

Strengthening Quality Through the Director of Nursing Services/Medical Director Partnership

Article / DNS / IDT member

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 …

Monthly DNS/Medical Director Meeting Template

DNS / Leadership and Management / Tool

The Monthly DNS/Medical Director Meeting Template is a practical tool designed to support structured, action-oriented collaboration between the director of nursing services (DNS) and the medical director. This template helps guide focused monthly discussions by prompting review of prior action items, quality metrics and trends, high-risk resident concerns, medication and …

How to Handle Difficult Conversations with Staff: A Leadership Guide

Article / DNS / Leadership and Management

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 …