Providing quality care begins with selecting the right people to join the home health agency team. Unlike many healthcare settings, home health professionals work in patients’ homes, often independently, serving as the face and voice of the organization. Their competence, reliability, and compassion directly shape patient experiences, regulatory compliance, and …
The interview is a significant part of the hiring process and the director of nursing services (DNS) should ensure the candidate has the characteristics and talents necessary to be successful in the job. Use AAPACN’s Interview Template to keenly observe the candidate’s facial expressions and body language and to capture observations …
Question: A resident was skilled under Medicare Part A and exhausted benefits. We completed a Significant Change in Status Assessment to capture the improvement before the end of the stay. Should I have completed an IPA or something else with the significant change MDS? Answer from Jessie McGill RN, BSN, …
Question: If the stay is only 15 days, how do I calculate the 30-day weight loss for section K? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: You use the weight that is closest to 30 days before the date the current weight was measured-—the weight coded on the …
Question: What ARD is used for a Death in Facility record if the resident expires before midnight, but the mortuary did not pick up until after midnight? Answer from Jeff Taylor: The actual time/date of death. The death certificate should specify both when death was pronounced and either the …
The Non-Therapy Ancillary (NTA) component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) accounts for the medical complexity and resource-intensive services provided to residents in nursing facilities. This component is calculated using a combination of clinical diagnoses, active conditions, and specialized treatments or services documented in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and, …
On November 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2026 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2026 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. Medicare Part A Premium and Deductible Medicare Part A covers inpatient …
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 how directors of nursing services can use communication to build physician trust, as …
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a new Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care, which outlines four evidence-based strategies to reduce infection risks and maintain skin integrity among long-term care residents. The toolkit strategies include keeping skin clean and safe, reducing MDRO transmission, using antibiotics …
In skilled nursing facilities across the country, quality care is not just a standard—it is a promise to residents and families who place their trust in dedicated caregivers. At Genesis Healthcare, that promise is being strengthened through intentional investment in nursing excellence. As AAPACN celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the …
