Past Noncompliance Corrective Action Template

Past noncompliance occurs when noncompliance previously existed, but the facility has already corrected the deficiency and is in substantial compliance at the time of a current survey (CMS, 2024). Facility leadership can use this template to assist during the correction process to show surveyors sufficient evidence that past noncompliance has …

The Keys to Develop a Past Noncompliance Plan

The director of nursing services (DNS) received a call in the middle of the night that a resident with a diagnosis of dementia had eloped, and it appeared she had been missing for several hours—a conversation no DNS wants to have. She immediately enacted the missing resident protocol. Luckily, staff …

A New Method for Auditing PDPM

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss a new method for auditing the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM).  Additional Resource:PDPM Audit by MDS Section 

Uncomplicating Drug Classifications

Medications are an essential part of the care and interventions provided to residents in a skilled nursing facility. These medications may be used to manage chronic conditions, slow disease progress, ease symptoms, or even prevent a condition. With each medication, the associated risks and benefits must be considered. High-risk medications …

MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Assessment Selection Methods 

The MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Assessment Selection Methods tool simplifies the assessment selection logic used for MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (QMs) in nursing facilities. The assessment selection logic is used to identify which assessments are used in the measure calculation. For detailed measure specifications, refer to the corresponding tables in …

PDPM Overview for Supporting SNF Staff

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in October 2019 for residents receiving Medicare Part A coverage in the skilled nursing facility (SNF). PDPM replaced the previous legacy payment model, the Resource Utilization Group (RUG-IV) system, still used by some state Medicaid agencies …

Admission Process Best Practices: How to Create a Smooth Resident Transition to LTPAC Settings

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the admission process and ways to ease the resident’s transition into long-term and post-acute care settings.

Sepsis Assessment and Reporting: Tips for Nursing Staff

Nurses play a key role in the early identification and treatment of sepsis, assessing the resident and reporting to the physician or nonphysician practitioner (NPP), as well as potentially managing residents with sepsis in-house in some cases. Nurse leaders can take the following steps to help nursing staff effectively assess …

The “Golden Hour” of Admission

For both residents and their loved ones, admission into a post-acute care facility can be an overwhelming experience. In addition to the condition that brought residents to the facility, the transition itself involves changing environment, acclimating to new routines, and entrusting one’s care to a team of unfamiliar people. Amid …