From Orders to Action: Aligning Care Plans and Psychotropic Medications

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Article contributed by AAPACN Business Partner MDS Consultants By Kristine Martinez BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, DNS-CT and Jessica Stucin RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, QCP Psychotropic medication management is more than an order, diagnosis, or pharmacy recommendation. …

Medicaid Case-Mix: Make the Nursing Component a Top Priority

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Medicaid Case-Mix: Make the Nursing Component a Top Priority Many Medicaid case-mix states that use the MDS have transitioned or are in the process of transitioning to a case-mix system that is based on the Patient-Driven Payment Model …

ICD-10 Spotlight Series, Part 7: Beyond “History of Stroke”—Unlocking Accurate Coding of CVA Sequelae

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. A stroke can change a resident’s life in an instant, but its effects often remain long after the treatment of the acute event. In the long-term care (LTC) setting, those residual deficits—difficulty swallowing, aphasia, impaired cognition, hemiplegia, weakness, …

How to Address ‘I Can’t’ or ‘I Won’t’ When Staff Seem Resistant to Change

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. How to Address ‘I Can’t’ or ‘I Won’t’ When Staff Seem Resistant to Change Change is a constant in nursing home settings, says Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior advisor for Aging at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement …

Incident Investigations That Stand Up to Survey Scrutiny

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Almost every director of nursing services (DNS) has experienced it. A staff member reports an unusual bruise. A resident falls without injury. A medication error is discovered during a chart audit. A family member alleges neglect. Within minutes, …

Resident Advocacy During Medicare Advantage Appeals

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment continues to grow, with more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries now receiving their coverage through an MA plan. But as enrollment has increased, so have concerns regarding coverage determinations in skilled nursing facilities …

Section GG: The Difference Between OBRA and PPS Coding

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Section GG is one of the most challenging sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The instructions alone span 36 pages in the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual (RAI User’s Manual). Complex task definitions, …

ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 6: Accurate Alzheimer’s and Dementia Coding in the LTC Setting

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. June’s Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the growing impact of cognitive disorders in long-term care (LTC) settings, where many residents live with complex dementia-related needs. Interdisciplinary teams care for residents whose diagnoses …

Navigating Drug Regimen Review on the MDS: Clinical Judgment Is Key

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The ability to identify and act upon potential or actual clinically significant medication issues drives the coding of N2001 (Drug Regimen Review) and its companion item N2003 (Medication Follow-Up) on the PPS 5-Day MDS, as well as N2005 …

Out-of-the-Box Ways to Appreciate Nursing Staff on a Budget

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Showing appreciation for nursing staff doesn’t have to be defined by the size of an organization’s budget. What’s important is the thoughtfulness behind the recognition. In a profession characterized by long shifts, emotional demands, and constant change, meaningful …