The Value of AAPACN Certification
For a second year, analysts at INOVALON compared CMS Five-Star site-of-care data with AAPACN® certification data for facilities employing at least one staff member holding a Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified (RAC-CT®), Director of Nurse Services-Certified (DNS-CT®), or QAPI Certified Professional (QCP®) certification and found a positive correlation between star rating and AAPACN certification. Specifically, the research provides evidence that facilities staffed with AAPACN certified nurses have:
- Fewer survey deficiencies than those that do not
- Lower risk of civil money penalties from survey deficiencies
- Overall higher average Five-Star Quality Rating
- Higher average Quality Measure Scores
Hear From the Experts
In this 20-minute on-demand webinar, leading nurse educators, Laurie Laxton, principal clinical educator with INOVALON, and Maureen McCarthy, president of Celtic Consulting and MDS Rescue, explain how AAPACN certified staff are driving these data trends through:
- Accurate assessment and coding
- Proper care planning
- Focus on quality care initiatives
The Proof is in the Data

“AAPACN certification has a statistically significant impact on the quantity and severity of health deficiencies reported, with certified sites reporting 15% fewer deficiencies per site and 16% fewer sever deficiencies per site.” – INOVALON 2022 Report
Learn more about how your organization can provide your staff with access to AAPACN certification programs with an organizational membership.