In many skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the responsibility for obtaining Medicare Part A physician or nonphysician practitioner certifications/recertifications (certs/recerts) for skilled care has shifted to the nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) from medical records. “But often, the NACs or other staff members who are responsible for certs/recerts learned how to fill …
Ten F-tags will address §483.12 (Freedom From Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation) in the Code of Federal Regulations for the new survey process that rolls out Nov. 28, 2017. Some tags include both regulatory changes and updated interpretive guidance for surveyors in the advance copy of Appendix PP, “Guidance to Surveyors …
4 Good Reads to Reflect on the Lessons in LTC Assessing and caring for others can be a lot of work, but it also teaches us many important life lessons. Working in long-term care shows us how to deal with difficult behaviors, how to appreciate the small triumphs daily, and …
F600 (Free From Abuse and Neglect) is the first of 10 F-tags that will address §483.12 (Freedom From Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation) in the Code of Federal Regulations for the new survey process that rolls out Nov. 28, 2017. The revised interpretive guidance in the advance copy of Appendix PP, …
At the 2017 AANAC Annual Conference, we celebrated nine exceptional nurses who are leading the way in long-term care. The 2017 AANAC Awards and Scholarships winners are the following: 2017 Award Winners NAC of the Year – Aida Alvarez-Gruter, RN, RAC-CT DON of the Year – Kari Gawrych Administrator of …
I want to tell you my story. It starts when I’m seven years old. My great grandparents were still living and I visited them often. Big Mom was my mother’s grandmother, very country–she wore the dress with the long apron, and would have us bathe in the porch sink or …
Since March 8, all hospitals and critical-access hospitals are required to issue the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) to fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who receive observation services as outpatients for more than 24 hours. The MOON informs these patients that they are outpatients receiving observation services, not inpatients …
On NAC Day and during Nurses Week, we’d like to recognize a nurse who is leading the way in long-term care. Stacey Poldervaart from Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, IA, was recently awarded the Cheryl M. Thomas Scholarship at the 2017 AANAC Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO. We hope …
If you could reduce the use of prescription medications in your facility, or even offer a combination of healing practices to residents, would you give it a shot? No pun intended. Essential oils have been used for centuries to aid in relaxation, pain relief, and even to cure sickness. And …
The Final Rule revising the Medicare/Medicaid conditions of participation (aka the Mega Rule) requires that a nursing assistant who has responsibility for the resident participate on the interdisciplinary team that develops the comprehensive person-centered care plan, including the discharge plan, for each resident. “Industry leaders have been trying to get …
