Articles from AAPACN
Browse expert-written articles on topics that impact your everyday work. Find practical and compelling content written by AAPACN nursing experts who scour through mountains of information to identify the breaking news you need to do your job, to help your team perform, and to improve resident outcomes. Want access to all AAPACN articles? Learn more about AAPACN and AAPACN membership.
- Discharge Planning: How to Ensure a Smooth Transition for the ResidentThe words “It’s time for you to go home” can evoke happiness and excitement for both residents and staff. Smiles appear on the faces of residents and their families, and giddiness is in the air. …
- Infection Prevention: Lay the Groundwork for Collaboration With the Medical DirectorThe medical director’s role in infection prevention and control involves more than just signing off on whatever comes their way via quality assessment and assurance committee (QAA) meetings, says Deb Patterson Burdsall, PhD, RN-BC, CIC, …
- CMS Softens the Blow of the Parity Recalibration, but Change Is Coming QuicklyThe Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) final rule may not “turn that frown upside down” as the popular saying goes, but it does give SNFs—and in some cases …
- What NACs Need to Know About Five-Star Staffing ChangesEffective July 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has overhauled the methodology for the Staffing domain’s star rating calculations in the Five-Star Quality Rating System on Care Compare, says Jessie McGill, RN, …
- Tips to Achieve Supporting Documentation: Get the Information NACs Need to Code the MDSCompleting the MDS assessment requires documentation in the medical record to support nearly every item’s coding. When supporting documentation is in place, the MDS assessment process can be smooth and efficient. If it is not, …
- 3 Common QAPI Questions and Answers Nurse Leaders Need to KnowWhile most skilled nursing facility (SNF) leaders are aware of QAPI and have executed a QAPI plan, many view QAPI itself as nebulous, abstract, or vague. This lack of clarity complicates QAPI execution. This, in …
- Who Is the Infection Preventionist? If It’s the DNS, ReconsiderNursing homes must designate “one or more individuals as the infection preventionist (IP) who is responsible for assessing, developing, implementing, monitoring, and managing the infection prevention and control program (IPCP),” which includes the requirements at …
- Solve the Mystery of the Interrupted StayAh, the great mysteries of life. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Is there intelligent life on other planets? Where do all the missing socks go? And of course, the enduring mystery: what …
- 10 Tips to Feel More Confident as a New Nurse Assessment CoordinatorStarting out as a new nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) can be overwhelming. There’s so much to keep track of—from ensuring MDS assessments are in place to understanding all the components of the Patient-Driven Payment Model …
- Time to Review Those 2022 Goals: Will They Be Met?Long-term care has seen many changes this year; new vaccination regulations, the removal of some COVID-19 waivers, and, of course, ongoing changes related to COVID-19 have all required frequent adaptation. In this context, nurse leaders …
- How—and Why—to Maximize Your Staff’s Communication SkillsThis Oct. 24, surveyors will begin enforcing mandatory communication training requirements to ensure that direct-care staff can communicate effectively with residents under F-tag F941 (Communication Training) in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual, according …
- Accurately Code Wounds in MDS Section M: How to Get Strong Supporting DocumentationIn many facilities, the wound nurse may not be doing weekly wound rounds because they are getting pulled to the floor, which can create a nerve-wracking situation for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) trying to code …
- Section GG Education and Spot Audits Boost Coding QualityAny staff members, including nurses or certified nursing assistants (CNAs), who document for section GG (Functional Abilities and Goals) need to be trained on how to observe the resident in those areas, says Scott Heichel, …
- Appendix PP Revisions in the State Operations Manual: Breaking Down Key ChangesOn June 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a major update to surveyor guidance via Quality, Safety and Oversight (QSO) memo QSO-22-19-NH to strengthen the implementation of the already-in-effect Phases 2 …
- Nurse Leader Fundamentals: An OverviewWhen I was an assistant director of nursing, I accepted a promotion and became the director of nursing services (DNS). I had been a nurse manager for a few years and thought I was prepared …
- Educational Planning Starts—but Doesn’t Stop—With the Facility AssessmentUsing the facility assessment to create an educational planning table seems pretty simple, but effective educational planning requires a more comprehensive, ongoing approach that addresses both competencies and global training needs identified from multiple sources. …
- AAPACN Responds to CMS’s Comment Request for FY 2023 SNF PPS Proposed RuleJessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA and Alexis Roam, MSN, RN-BC, DNS-CT, QCP The annual rulemaking process enables stakeholders to comment on proposals that will affect skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) throughout the next year. In early …
- Baseline Care Plan: Connecting the Dots to the ComprehensiveUnlike the baseline care plan, the comprehensive care plan is largely MDS-based and analysis-driven, points out Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP, a long-term care and senior living clinical consultant for Briggs Healthcare in Clive, IA. “It …
- Work-Life Balance for the Director of Nursing ServicesThe vital role of director of nursing services (DNS) in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) comes with so many demands. DNSs are often—or always—on call for questions regarding changes in resident conditions; they often fill in …
- Communicating Comfort: Help the IDT Help the Residents and ThemselvesThe clinical skills that nursing home staff need to care for residents are just one piece of the care puzzle, says Joan Devine, RN, LNHA, the Weldon Springs, MO-based director of education for the Pioneer …
- Part A Physician Certs/Recerts: Don’t Strike Out on This Condition of PaymentPhysician certifications and recertifications are a technical requirement of payment (i.e., a condition of payment) under fee-for-service Medicare Part A. These certifications are needed to verify that a resident requires daily skilled care in a …
- Coding Diagnoses in MDS Section I: The Art of the Physician QueryThe coding instructions for MDS section I (Active Diagnoses) in the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual require that every diagnosis coded in this section be documented by a physician or a …
- Becoming a Fiscally Savvy DNS – Part 2: Budget, Revenue, and Five-Star RatingsWhen one considers financial management, thoughts usually go to managing expenses first, which part one of this series discussed. However, managing revenue, Five-Star ratings, and the budgeting process are equally important to keeping the nursing department and …
- Preventing Unnecessary ED Visits: Steps That Can Reassure Residents and FamiliesResidents or their family members sometimes demand to be sent to the emergency department (ED) for an issue that the nursing home can handle in-house. Unnecessary ED trips can disrupt the continuity of care, be …
- Updated MDS Item Set Proposed for FY 2024The last MDS item set update nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) had to prepare for was v1.17.1. When it went into effect Oct. 1, 2019, that version provided the changes needed to implement the Patient-Driven Payment …
- Coding Malnutrition and Morbid Obesity on the MDS: Two Core Rules Must Be FollowedThe most common mistake that nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) and other MDS assessors make when coding malnutrition, at risk for malnutrition, or morbid obesity on the MDS is being unaware that a dietitian cannot diagnose …
- Family Reluctance for Hospice: Keys to Overcoming Stigmas“When does Mom get the black pill?” Families sometimes ask hospice providers this type of question—mistakenly thinking that hospice is a form of assisted suicide—even though hospice services were introduced in the United States more …
- Becoming a Fiscally Savvy DNS – Part 1: ExpensesWhen I was in my first DNS role, I remember looking at the budget that the administrator put in front of me and thinking it looked like a foreign language. I told the administrator, “I …
- Changing ARDs and Assessment Windows: When to Consider This StepNurse assessment coordinators (NACs) often set assessment reference dates (ARDs), which determine the look-back periods for MDS assessments, using a fairly regimented schedule to establish consistency in the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process. However, an …
- PDPM: Clearing Up Nursing Component Confusion – Part 5 – Behavioral Symptoms and Cognitive Performance and Reduced Physical FunctionEditor’s note: This is the fifth and final article in a series on the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) categories for the nursing component, covering various missteps to avoid in PDPM calculation, as well as …
- Resident Safety and Nurse WorkaroundsResident harm is every nurse’s nightmare. Four years ago, a nurse administered the wrong medication to a patient, which resulted in the patient’s death. RaDonda Vaught was recently criminally convicted of negligent homicide and neglect …
- The SNF/HHA Handoff: Keys to a Strong Transition of CareIn the survey process, two F-tags primarily govern interactions between skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs): F660 (Discharge Planning Process) addresses the requirement for nursing homes to assist residents and their families …
- Highlights from CMS’s 2022 Updates AAPACN Conference SessionLast week, the AAPACN 2022 Conference was held in Las Vegas, bringing together nursing professionals for exceptional learning opportunities. One outstanding session occurred on Thursday, April 14, when representatives from the Centers for Medicare & …
- Section GG: What It Takes to Get the Coding RightHow can nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) lead the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to develop a workable plan to ensure that MDS section GG (Functional Abilities and Goals) is coded accurately per the coding guidelines in the …
- New Measures and New Rules Will Change the SNF VBP LandscapeWith the release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has signaled a significant commitment to pay-for-performance via …
- FY 2023 SNF PPS Proposed Rule Pushes SNFs Out of Emergency ModeWhile the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) put the brakes on many nursing home initiatives over the past two years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is ready to get back to business …
- Retain Nursing Home Staff with Stay Interviews and an Action PlanSince the start of the pandemic, the healthcare system has experienced significant job losses, but in recent months, all sectors have slowly begun to recover—except for nursing homes and assisted living communities (AHCA, 2021). Despite …
- Long-Term Care Needs DNSs to Step Up and Advocate: How to Get StartedDirectors of nursing services (DNSs) and other nurse managers in nursing homes may at times feel powerless in the face of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the ongoing staffing crisis, and years of changing …
- Running From Fire to Fire on QMs? Develop a Systematic ApproachEven with the implementation of other quality programs over the past few years, the Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) quality measures (QMs) remain the core public-facing quality thermometer of long-term care. Taking the time to …
- Hospice Requirements: Significant Changes and Care PlanningWhen it comes to the MDS and hospice, there are several rules the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) must be aware of, especially with the requirements of the Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA). While many …
- Handle Urgent or Emergency Situations Better With Rapid Evaluation TeamsNursing homes have to prepare emergency operations plans to be compliant with the emergency preparedness regulations that are detailed in Appendix Z of the State Operations Manual, points out Amanda Thorson, MSN, BSN, RN, CMSRN, …
- CNA Longevity Part 2: Money Isn’t a Cure-All—Management Style MattersEditor’s note: In this two-part series, this article covers management techniques that can help directors of nursing services (DNSs) and other members of the administrative team improve long-term certified nursing assistant (CNA) retention. The first …
- PDPM: Clearing Up Nursing Component Confusion – Part 4 – Focus on Clinically ComplexEditor’s note: This is the fourth article in a series on the PDPM categories for the nursing component, covering various missteps to avoid in PDPM calculation, as well as essential coding tips. Part one focused …
- Accurate ICD-10 Coding Requires a Deeper DiveA nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) needs an ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for MDS section I (Active Diagnoses) or a Medicare claim. They enter the physician-documented, active diagnosis into a software tool or online lookup tool and …
- Handling Loss and Working Through Grief in Nursing HomesThe loss nursing home staff members have experienced over the last two years has been unprecedented. Many have lost well-loved friends, family members, and residents—and nearly all have had their sense of normalcy upended. Healthcare …
- CNA Longevity Part 1: Make Operational Changes to Re-enforce the CNA ProfessionEditor’s note: In this two-part series, this article addresses operational steps that can boost long-term retention of certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The next article will cover management techniques that can help directors of nursing services …
- Utilizing Social Determinants of Health in Discharge PlanningSocial determinants of health (SDOH) are items most long-term care professionals are familiar with, but they may not immediately recognize how the determinants affect their job. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health …
- Frustrated by Managed Care Payment Denials? Learn to Spot Key LandminesMedicare Advantage (MA) plans, the most common type of Medicare managed care organizations, are an attractive option for healthy Medicare beneficiaries in the community because they often provide a range of supplemental benefits that aren’t …
- PDPM: Clearing Up Nursing Component Confusion – Part Three – Focus on Special Care LowEditor’s note: This is the third article in a series on the PDPM categories for the nursing component, covering various missteps to avoid in PDPM calculation, as well as essential coding tips. Part one focused …
- QAPI, More Than a MeetingImagine sitting in a quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) meeting while different team members take turns reporting count data or the number of occurrences of an issue in the month. For example, the director …
- Nursing Competencies and Changes in Condition: Are You Survey-Ready?In calendar 2020, F-tag 726 (Competent Nursing Staff) was the 35th most-cited tag nationwide—up from 41st in pre-pandemic 2019. However, as the staffing crisis continued to worsen, F726 declined to the 46th overall most-cited tag …
- Solving the IPA Mystery Can Help NACs Show Their WorthThe nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) is still commonly stereotyped as a paper pusher or desk nurse in some sectors of long-term care, but the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment …
- How to Improve the Facility’s Collaboration with HospiceThe diversity of care required to meet the individualized needs of each resident means that the director of nursing services (DNS) must seek the expertise of a variety of healthcare professionals and work collaboratively. When …
- Crisis Leadership: How Nurse Leaders Can Step UpWhile COVID-19 justifiably takes up a lot of bandwidth, the next big crisis could hit a nursing home from any direction, points out Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, AAPACN’s vice president of Education …
- The Substantial Impact of the PHQ-9Nearly two years into the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), nursing home staff continue to see its impact on all residents, not just those who have recovered from COVID-19. According to the CMS memorandum QSO-20-39-NH, CMS’s …
- NACs Working the Floor: Tips to Keep the RAI Process AfloatThe COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has upended many systems in nursing homes, including the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process. Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) working the floor should be a last resort—even in a PHE—because …
- High Levels of Agency Staff? Try These Five Steps for Team-BuildingTeamwork is essential to providing high quality of care and quality of life to nursing home residents. However, it can be hard to establish between agency staff and permanent staff, points out Amy Franklin, RN, …
- Turnover and Retention of the Director of Nursing Services (DNS) PositionCauses and Contributing Factors of DNS Turnover The 2021 AAPACN survey found that 37% of DNS respondents changed their job in the last 12 months, and 40% intend to change their job within the next …
- Dementia Care: Use MDS and Other Tools to Interpret Behavior, Boost ComfortComfort—palliation—should be a critical component of all nursing home care, suggests Ann Wyatt, a palliative and residential care consultant for CaringKind in New York City. “It is not about giving up. It’s about deciding, Why …
- PDPM: Clearing Up Nursing Component Confusion: Part Two – Focus on Special Care HighEditor’s note: This is the second article in a series on the PDPM categories for the nursing component, covering various missteps to avoid in PDPM calculation, as well as essential coding tips. Part one focused …
- Preventing and Detecting Drug Diversions: Quick Tips for SuccessRoughly 30 percent of the United States’ total drug abuse problem can be linked to prescription drugs, says Angie Szumlinski, LNHA, RN-BC, RAC-CT, BS, director of risk management for HealthCap/QA Reader in Ann Arbor, MI. …
- Achieving Personal and Professional GoalsIt’s the New Year, and that means it’s time to set goals. These are often lofty aspirations to achieve amazing feats, like transforming into a sleek powerhouse of muscle reflecting the epitome of health. However, …
- MDS Section Q: Unlock the Full Potential of This Foundational SectionSection Q (Participation in Assessment and Goal Planning) is not a high-powered section of the MDS that drives payment or any of the quality measures (QMs). As a result, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) sometimes may …
- The Risky Business of Falls and Care Planning’s Role in PreventionThere are plenty of statistics documenting the hazard falls pose for the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a website sharing important facts about falls. CDC notes that: One out of …
- Tips for the New Year to Get and Stay OrganizedSome 4,000 years ago, ancient Babylonians started making New Year’s resolutions, hoping to avoid famine, illness, and other punishment they believed their gods would cast upon them. Given the motivation behind the beginning of this …
- Get Agency Staff up to Speed on Emergency Preparedness and SafetyF-tag 689 (Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices) was the second most frequently cited at the immediate jeopardy (IJ) level during fiscal year (FY) 2021, according to the Citation and Frequency Report from QCOR (Quality, Certification, and …
- Avoid Costly SNF QRP Coding MistakesMisunderstandings about the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) can involve everything from the risk adjustments to the quality measure (QM) calculations to how to use certain reports. These issues can cause headaches …
- PDPM: Extensive Services Nursing Category SimplifiedEditor’s note: This is the first article in a series on the PDPM categories for the nursing component, covering missteps to avoid in PDPM calculation, as well as essential coding tips. Future articles will address …
- Staffing the DNS Role Turnover, Retention, and DevelopmentThe purpose of this report is to provide skilled nursing facility (SNF) operators with insights into the factors that may contribute to turnover of directors of nursing services (DNSs), as well as challenges related to …
- Family Arguments and Grievances: How to Dial down the TensionFamily arguments and grievances can have a negative impact on residents and families if nursing homes don’t employ an organized approach to setting expectations and communicating with families. The following steps can help directors of …
- Showing Staff Appreciation During the HolidaysBelieve it or not, the holiday season is upon us once again. It’s time for holiday traditions such as baking, caroling, and decorating. (For inquiring minds, yes, my Christmas tree went up in early November!) …
- Survey and Section I: Diagnosis-Related DeficienciesLong-term care leadership often observes that the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) role calls for detail-orientation and strong time-management and assessment skills, because these nurses must coordinate the resident assessment that drives the care plan, quality …
- PHQ-9 Monitoring Can Help Counter Mood/Depression Issues in ResidentsDepression and other mood disorders historically have been a significant risk for nursing home residents. “In 2011 and 2012, the percentage of users of long-term care services with a diagnosis of depression was highest in …
- COVID-19 PHE: CMS Re-sets Key Rules for Nursing HomesThe parameters of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) are shifting at a rapid pace for nursing homes. In the midst of their work to implement (and document) a staff vaccination plan that includes a …
- The Daily Clinical Brief Sets a Nursing Unit Up for SuccessNurse leaders who hear comments like “I didn’t know that happened,” “I didn’t realize that was important,” or “I didn’t know you wanted me to do that” from the charge nurses and certified nurse aides …
- The Era of Agency Staff: How to Prevent Immediate JeopardiesWhile still a small percentage of overall nursing home citations, citations at the level of immediate jeopardy (IJ) have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency, largely driven by an explosion of …
- PDPM: Making the Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Component Easier to SwallowEditor’s note: this article was reviewed and revised December 2, 2021. Without a full understanding of how the SLP component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) is calculated, it can seem complicated. The SLP methodology …
- Coding UTI on the MDS: I2300 Requirements Are Not One-Size-Fits-AllSince the implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in the Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS), urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be coded on the MDS in up to …
- Important CMS Updates for Skilled Nursing FacilitiesAAPACN’s mission is to support the professional development, empowerment, and success of members with resources. We especially want to provide that support during the current COVID-19 emergency. Federal guidance is rapidly developing and changing. AAPACN …
- Resident-Centered Care: How—and Why—to Learn the Resident’s StoryConsider this common scenario: Mr. Smith, a resident with dementia, is scheduled to have a bath on Tuesday, but he’s combative. “Even veteran staff may be set on the idea that Mr. Smith has to …
- How Does Your Daily Stand-Up Meeting Measure Up?Almost every facility has a daily “stand-up” meeting for its management team. When done well, this meeting can be a font of information for everyone involved. However, without structure and focus, it can become cumbersome. …
- I Spy… Behavioral SymptomsImagine you are eating dinner in a restaurant. It is a small, quaint place with a warm, homey atmosphere. A man in the corner picks up his fork and begins to tap it loudly against …
- IPAs: Better Payment Can Drive Better Care DecisionsThe Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) in the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) of the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) is completed solely at the discretion of the SNF—and so far, few providers have …
- How to Be Proactive in a Reactive Staffing EnvironmentAlthough staffing has always been a challenge, the situation has worsened over the last year and doesn’t seem likely to improve anytime soon. An American Health Care Association (AHCA) survey found that 73% of 616 …
- Suspect a Drug Diversion? Here’s What to DoThe September 2021 Full Text of Statements of Deficiencies is chock-full of survey citations involving a facility’s failure to investigate and respond appropriately to drug diversion. For example, some surveyor notes indicate that a facility …
- 2021 AAPACN NAC Work Time Study and Salary Report Highlights: Reassessing NAC Hours for SuccessDuring the pandemic, priorities shifted. They had to. The safety and care of the residents was the number one priority, and it required all hands on deck. Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) found themselves working the …
- Get the Most Out of the BIMS in Care PlanningThe Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) in MDS items C0200 – C0500 or, if appropriate instead, the Staff Assessment for Mental Status in items C0700 – C1000 is the basis of the cognitive level …
- Mock Drills – An Essential Part of PreparationWhen a resident suffers a cardiac arrest in the facility, do nurses know how to initiate a code? If a resident elopes, do facility staff know what to do? When emergency events happen, such as …
- F608 and F609: Are You Meeting Reporting Requirements?While F-tags like F600 (Free From Abuse and Neglect) directly address acts of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, exploitation, and other critical—even criminal—incidents involving residents, the substandard quality-of-care tags F608 (Reporting of Reasonable Suspicion …
- ADR Successful Outcomes with Part B Therapy AuditsIn nursing facilities, one of the primary regulatory requirements from Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual is that goods and services are provided to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial …
- Utilizing the Wound Nurse Role to Champion Skin IntegrityImagine if the infection preventionist’s sole responsibility were to treat residents who have an infection. This suggestion seems odd because it ignores the scope and breadth of activities necessary to control and prevent infections for …
- Staffing Rating Under 4 Stars? Review PBJ Data; Set and Monitor GoalsStaffing is difficult—that was a defining truth for nursing homes before the COVID-19 public health emergency created a full-blown staffing crisis that still is harming providers throughout healthcare. So, it may seem like the wrong …
- PDPM: Clearing Up NTA ConfusionAt first glance, the methodology of the non-therapy ancillary (NTA) component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) seems simple: code qualifying items on the MDS to achieve points. Yet while the purpose of the NTA …
- SNF HAI Measure Puts the Spotlight on Billing, Not Just Infection PreventionThe Skilled Nursing Facility Healthcare-Associated Infections (SNF HAI) Requiring Hospitalization measure is one of two new quality measures (QMs) that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted into the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality …
- In-Service Education Improvements for Regulatory Compliance and Staff CompetencyAn effective in-service program not only ensures competency and meets regulatory requirements, but also incorporates many learning styles and fosters the enjoyment of learning. Given the resources that a facility must dedicate to its in-service …
- Lead CNA Programs: Learn How to Hire and Support the Best In-House CandidatesLead certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs can create positive change in nursing homes. While program goals often vary from facility to facility, lead CNA programs may improve resident quality of life and quality of care, …
- Consequences of Poorly Written CAAs“No one even looks at the care area assessments (CAAs) once they’re done, so why spend so much time on them?” It’s a conundrum that nurse assessment coordinators (NAC) and interdisciplinary team (IDT) members often …
- COVID–19 HCP Vaccination Measure Changes the SNF QRP APU EquationEffective with the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP), SNFs must fulfill two separate but equal reporting requirements to avoid a 2 percent reduction in their annual payment update …
- The Exit of the CNA: Mandate or Me—What Now?With the introduction of the vaccine mandate for nursing home employees, many organizational leaders fear staff, especially certified nursing assistants (CNAs), will quit rather than get the vaccine. This week, several industry experts have voiced …
- Refocusing on Systems Management to Improve Survey OutcomesSince the public health emergency began, both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and directors of nursing services (DNSs) have been focused on infection control and prevention—and rightfully so. Yet while crisis-oriented actions …