Effective Oct. 1, 2023, the full Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 will only be completed if the resident responds to the gateway PHQ-2 questions in a certain way. The Patient Health Questionnaire Completion Determination chart clarifies when to stop the PHQ after the PHQ-2, how to code the Total Severity Score, …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released unexpected changes in the final RAI User’s Manual, version 1.20.1, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2025. The AAPACN MDS Changes At-a-Glance tool provides a high-level overview and key takeaways from the changes. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual …
The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) 5-Character HIPPS code can be difficult to decipher. The PDPM HIPPS Code At-a-Glance tool will help nurse assessment coordinators quickly identify the key elements impacting Medicare reimbursement. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use within …
After a resident falls, staff need to identify appropriate, resident-specific interventions that can help ensure a fall does not reoccur. AAPACN’s Post-Fall Intervention Planning Guide is designed to promote this process through an analysis of risk factors and ensure consistent implementation of evidence-based practices. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. …
AAPACN has re-released the Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) FTE Calculator for SNF leaders to estimate the time needed to complete assessments as well as project how many hours the NAC needs for meetings and other duties. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one …
It’s important that long-term care residents receive enteral nutrition in a safe, effective, and consistent manner. Utilize AAPACN’s Enteral Nutrition Checklist to ensure documentation is complete and residents are receiving appropriate nutrition, medications, and treatment for their enteral tube feeding. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may …
Competent catheter care is crucial for preventing infections and ensuring resident safety. Facilities can use AAPACN’s Catheter Care Competency tool as a standardized guide to evaluate and verify that staff are properly trained and consistently applying best practices when providing care for residents with urinary catheters. This competency can also …
Pain management is an essential component of nursing care. Non-pharmacological pain management interventions can effectively complement or reduce the need for medication. This tool will review non-pharmacological interventions by type, providing mechanism of action and examples for use. It will also include a comprehensive audit component to track intervention utilization, …
Most methods for auditing Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) reimbursement focus on impacts to the HIPPS code. However, AAPACN’s PDPM Audit by MDS Section tool uses an approach that can result in identifying missed opportunities for items that didn’t directly impact the HIPPS code. Nurse assessment coordinators can use this tool …
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 …
