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.
- Understanding OBRA and PPS Discharge Assessments:What NACs Need to Know
In the complex world of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment scheduling, discharge scenarios can often confuse even experienced interdisciplinary team (IDT) members. When a resident’s stay changes, due to either leaving the facility or a … - AAPACN Urges Reconsideration of Key SNF PPS Proposals for FY 2027
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releases a proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) rule, outlining potential payment updates, quality reporting changes, and regulatory revisions that will affect … - Don’t Short-Change Significant Correction MDSs: Learn When and Why to Do Them
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The OBRA Significant Correction to Prior Assessment (SCPA), which includes the Significant Correction to Prior Quarterly Assessment and the Significant Correction to Prior … - ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 5: Getting Ready for Summer: Obesity and BMI Coding
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As summer approaches, many people begin thinking about health goals, wellness check-ins, and how to prepare for more outdoor activities in the warmer … - CMS Maps Out Four Years of Big Changes and Forecasts Even More
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, officially published … - Falls MDS Coding: Why the DNS Should Get Involved—and How to Do It
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In September 2025, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) rang the alarm bell on MDS coding inaccuracies involving falls with major injury, and … - Preparing Psychotropic Practices for Survey: Strengthening Oversight Before It Becomes a Deficiency
Psychotropic medication use continues to be one of the most heavily scrutinized areas in long-term care, for good reason. At this juncture, clinical decision-making, resident quality of life, and regulatory compliance all come together. The … - SNF QRP: FY 2026 State-Level Compliance Gaps
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP), often regarded as merely an exercise in reporting compliance, also has direct payment implications. … - Leave of Absence versus Interrupted Stay: The Effect of EHR Census Decisions
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) frequently manage residents who temporarily leave the building or experience a break in Medicare Part A coverage. On the … - ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 4: Slips, Trips, and Fragile Bones: Why Not All Fractures Are Created Equal
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As winter gives way to spring, many are relieved to leave behind icy sidewalks and the inevitable steady number of fall-related injuries that … - CMS Maps Out Four Years of Big Changes and Forecasts Even More
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, officially published … - Sustainable DNS Leadership: How to Lead Without Losing Yourself
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The role of leadership can’t be turned on and off at the end of a shift. For the director of nursing services (DNS), … - Incentive Spirometry: A Win-Win for Residents, Nursing Teams, and PDPM Accuracy
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Article contributed by AAPACN Solution Provider Limitlessli By Mary-Beth Newell, RN, BSN, MS, SVP of Clinical Reimbursement at Limitlessli In skilled nursing facilities, … - Ancillary Billing Review: Why the DNS Must Lead the Financial-Clinical Conversation
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As the clinical leader of the largest operational department in a skilled nursing facility, the director of nursing services (DNS), in tandem with … - Three iQIES Reports That the NAC Should Review Regularly for the SNF QRP
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Under the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP), SNFs must meet an annual 90 percent MDS submission threshold to help avoid … - ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 3: Sweet Details Matter: Navigating Diabetes ICD-10-CM Coding
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Seasonal celebrations often remind us how quickly small choices can add up. A little handful of candy or a few fruit jelly slices … - Keys to Coding IV Fluids on the MDS for Hydration Clinics and Beyond
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Once uncommon outside of hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, intravenous (IV) hydration has gone mainstream. Average Americans often seek IV hydration through hydration … - Quality Measure IQ Series: Ability to Walk Independently Worsened
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. When a long-stay resident loses the ability to walk independently, it is rarely just a functional decline. It is often the early signal … - Supporting Those Who Stand at the Bedside: A Message to Directors of Nursing Services
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Successful leadership in long-term and post-acute care is not defined solely by metrics or regulatory results. It is also measured by what residents … - Nurse Leaders: It’s Time to Take on the Role of Data Detective
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. While the director of nursing services (DNS) and other nurse leaders should keep residents at the heart of every decision, data should provide … - From Coding to Compliance: Avoiding Pitfalls in the 2026 MDS Landscape
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. By: Kristine Martinez BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, DNS-CT and Lavatus Donaldson LPN, BPS-HIM, RAC-CT, MBA, QCP With the multiple regulatory bodies that … - Managing Resident Behaviors Before and After a Catastrophic Incident
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The director of nursing services (DNS) faces two key behavioral health issues that have unfolded simultaneously: Residents with behavioral health concerns are increasingly … - ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 2: Navigating Genitourinary Conditions in Long-Term Care
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As National Kidney Month arrives in March, so does an important reminder: our kidneys work quietly every day, filtering waste, balancing fluids, and … - How the NAC and the IDT Can Be Predictive vs. Reactive With QM Data: AAPACN 2026 Conference Highlight
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The watchword that increasingly defines federal (and some state) programs that drive nursing home operations and payment is connectedness, says Scott Heichel, RN, … - MDS Accuracy: It’s Time to Get Back to the Basics
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. All signs point to one universal truth for the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC): MDS accuracy is paramount, says Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-MTA, … - Clinical Judgment for the MDS: Code Sections GG and J with Confidence
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) are often tasked with navigating the complex process of following the Minimum Data Set (MDS) instructions precisely while still … - Defensive Documentation: Protecting Residents, Protecting Care
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In today’s regulatory environment, accurate and timely nursing home documentation is more than dutifully recounting what occurred to a resident on a given … - Change Management: How to Implement and Sustain Positive Change
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Change Management: How to Implement and Sustain Positive Change A Greek philosopher once pointed out that “change is the only constant in life.” … - Better Healing, Fewer Citations: The Power of Wound Rounds
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Wounds are a significant clinical, regulatory, and financial concern in nursing homes. One of the most effective strategies to improve wound care is … - Quality Measure IQ Series: The Re-Specified Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. For years, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) managed the long-stay (LS) antipsychotic quality measure largely through section N of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). … - Crack the Code: P0100, Physical Restraints
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Few Minimum Data Set (MDS) items carry as much regulatory weight and ethical considerations as physical restraints. The decision to use any device … - ICD-10-CM Coding Spotlight Series – Part 1: Coding with Heart: Navigating ICD-10-CM Cardiac Coding in Long-Term Care
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. February’s designation as American Heart Month offers an important opportunity to reflect on the role of cardiovascular health in long-term care (LTC). Cardiac … - Care Planning MDROs: What the NAC Needs to Know
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. A strong infection prevention and control plan should serve as the foundation of the comprehensive care plan for any resident with a multidrug-resistant … - Strengthening Quality Through the Director of Nursing Services/Medical Director Partnership
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC), few leadership relationships have as much influence on clinical outcomes, regulatory compliance, and organizational culture as the … - How to Handle Difficult Conversations with Staff: A Leadership Guide
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. One of your nurses struggles with timely, accurate documentation, but you dread talking with her about the situation. She is a valuable team … - Why Directors of Nursing Services Must Be Well-Versed in PDPM and How to Ensure Documentation Accuracy
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In today’s skilled nursing facility (SNF) landscape, the director of nursing services (DNS) is critical not only in overseeing resident care but also … - Major Changes on Falls with Major Injury QMs
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The Oct. 1, 2025, update to the definitions of “fall” and “major injury” in the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s … - Navigating Resident/Representative Notifications About Care Plan and Condition Changes
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Mandates to notify or inform the resident and/or their representative about an array of clinical and service issues are woven throughout the resident … - F641: The Importance of Accurate MDS Coding
F641, Accuracy of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), remains one of the most frequently cited F-Tags during surveys, for good reason. The MDS is a critical foundation of resident assessment, care planning, reimbursement, and quality … - Simplifying the SNF ABN: Helping Residents Understand Their Options
When a resident’s Medicare Part A skilled stay ends, two types of resident notification processes may be required under the Beneficiary Notices Initiative: the standard denial process and the expedited appeal process. In the standard … - Is It Time to Roll Out the SBAR Again?
The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment/Analysis, and Recommendation/Request) tool is a standardized, structured communication framework that has been consistently promoted by such quality-focused organizations as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Institute for Healthcare … - Wearable Translation Tech: Convenience, Risks, and the Critical Role of DNS Leadership
Effective communication is essential for safe person-centered care. But even the most dedicated caregivers can face significant challenges when language barriers arise. As resident demographics shift and the post-acute care workforce has grown more diverse, … - Moments of Grace: Leading Compassionate Care for Residents with Parkinson’s Disease
In the cadence of long-term care, few diagnoses demand as much coordination, patience, and understanding as Parkinson’s disease (PD). This progressive neurological disorder affects every aspect of a resident’s life, from movement and mobility to … - Crack the Code: E0800, Rejection of Care
Understanding and accurately coding E0800, Rejection of Care, is essential both to reflect the resident’s behavior patterns and to ensure the care plan captures both the resident’s behaviors and his or her preferences. Misinterpreting rejection … - Quality Measure IQ Series: Need for Help with ADLs Has Increased
In long-term care, maintaining a resident’s functional independence is both a clinical and regulatory priority. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measure (QM), “Percent of Residents Whose Need for Help with Activities of Daily … - MDS Item I1700: Navigate the Complexities of Coding MDROs
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a red flag for a nursing home’s infection prevention and control program that either contact precautions or enhanced barrier precautions may need to be initiated, points out Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, … - Back to PDPM Basics – Part 5: The NTA Component
The Non-Therapy Ancillary (NTA) component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) accounts for the medical complexity and resource-intensive services provided to residents in nursing facilities. This component is calculated using a combination of clinical diagnoses, … - Turning Difficult Conversations into Chances for Collaboration
In long-term and post-acute care, communication is everything. Most days, conversations with residents, families, and staff flow smoothly. But every so often, a chat takes a sharp turn, voices rise, tempers flare, or emotions spill … - Preventing Hospital Readmissions: How Effective Nurse Leaders Can Turn the Tide
Hospital readmissions remain one of the most persistent challenges for long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) facilities. National data shows that roughly 13% to 14% of all hospitalized patients are readmitted within 30 days (Burke et al., … - 7 Tips for Avoiding F656 Care Plan Citations and Building a Culture of Proactive Care Planning
F656, Comprehensive Care Plans, is one of the most commonly cited F-tags during survey in nursing homes; however, with intentional processes in place, these citations are largely preventable. A proactive approach to care planning ensures … - Crack the Code: B1000, Vision
An assessor does not need perfect eyesight to see that vision plays a significant role in the quality of life of residents in long-term care. Accurately evaluating vision, and how it is coded at B1000, … - How to Manage Challenging Admission Assessments
Written by Brenda Schumacher, Staff Writer, AAPACN When a resident discharges before the Admission assessment is complete, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) must make decisions that directly affect compliance, survey readiness, and resident care planning. Jessie … - MDS Item L0200: Teeth Matter—and Not Just to Dentists
MDS section L (Oral/Dental Status) is one of the most frequently undervalued areas of the MDS, says Eleisha Wilkes, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, a senior consultant with Proactive LTC Consulting in Evansville, IN. … - Back to PDPM Basics – Part 4: The Nursing Component – Clinically Complex, Behavioral Symptoms and Cognitive Performance, and Reduced Physical FunctionThe nursing component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) may appear straightforward: calculate a section GG Nursing Function Score and assign the resident to one of six nursing categories. But accuracy relies on a detailed …
- Back to Basics: Reinforcing Clinical Fundamentals
The beginning of a new school year has a particular energy—fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and a renewed focus on learning the essentials. In the long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) world, we can take a cue … - How the DNS Can Use HRSN to Improve Care and Reduce Hospital Readmissions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ultimately chose not to implement MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) on Oct. 1, 2025. Each skilled nursing facility (SNF) will have to make an individual decision … - Should SNFs Collect Removed Section R MDS Data—and Why Do HRSN Even Matter?
MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) did not go into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) followed through on its proposal and eliminated—prior to implementation—items R0310 (Living Situation), … - Section O Overhaul: Changes to Therapy Coding
The Long-Term Care Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual (RAI User’s Manual) version 1.20.1, effective Oct. 1, 2025, will bring major changes to section O of the MDS 3.0. The most significant update introduces … - MDS Item J2100 Feeds Into PDPM: Learn What’s at Stake and How to Boost Accuracy
MDS item J2100 (Did the Resident Have a Major Surgical Procedure During the Prior Inpatient Hospital Stay That Requires Active Care During the SNF Stay?) is the gateway question for receiving enhanced reimbursement in the … - Back to PDPM Basics – Part 3: The Nursing Component – Extensive Services and Special CareThe calculation for the nursing component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) can look deceptively simple. The two steps entail calculating a section GG nursing function score and then placing the resident into one of …
- Behavioral Health Management: Learn How to Better Support Resident Needs
Nurse leaders who want to improve behavioral health management often get stuck in the “I don’t know where to start” or “I don’t know what that should look like” phase, points out Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, … - From Paper to Practice: How the DNS Drives Policy Excellence
Facility policies serve as the backbone of consistent, safe, and compliant operations. Nursing homes rely on well-developed policies to guide staff, protect residents, and maintain compliance of care delivery that must follow state and federal … - Respiratory Season Ahead: Is Your Facility Ready?
Respiratory illness season is rapidly approaching once again, posing significant health concerns for vulnerable residents. The director of nursing services (DNS) must ensure facility staff can identify, manage, and help prevent these infections. Whether it’s … - Crack the Code: Staff Assessment for Mental Status Items
The nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) plays an essential role in capturing a resident’s cognitive status by coordinating and coding the Staff Assessment for Mental Status in the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Brief Interview for … - Top Four GG Strategies: Preparing for the October Updates
The importance of accurate coding of section GG, Functional Abilities, continues to grow as this data is used in care planning, Quality Measures, reimbursement, and regulatory compliance. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) … - FY 2026 SNF PPS Final Rule: Section R Removal Tops the List of Changes
MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) is officially no more. The big news for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Final Rule for … - FY 2026 SNF PPS Final Rule: Summary of Responses to AAPACN’s Comments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Final Rule for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS), addressing several key recommendations submitted by the American Association … - Back to PDPM Basics – Part 2: The SLP ComponentSince the implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), nursing facilities have had to take a more nuanced approach to how a resident’s needs are assessed and documented. As discussed in part 1 of this …
- Keys to Prioritizing Resident Safety in High Summer Heat and Sunlight
Summer usually is a time for nursing home residents to experience social outdoor activities and meals. It could mean attending barbecues, picnics, parades, outdoor concerts, or baseball games, gardening or birdwatching, doing outdoor crafts, or … - FY 2026 SNF PPS Final Rule: More Money and Consistency, Less Burden
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) did not propose any changes to the previously adopted quality measure (QM) sets for either the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) or the Skilled … - A Fresh Perspective on Fall Prevention in LTPAC
Falls remain one of the most persistent and expensive challenges in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings. For the director of nursing services (DNS), the responsibility to decrease fall risk while maintaining resident dignity and … - MDS Nutrition Is Not Limited to Section K
Written by Kristine Martinez, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, DNS-CT, MDS Consultants Often, section K on the minimum data set (MDS), along with the associated care area assessments (CAAs) and care planning are delegated to … - 2025 NAC Work Study and Salary Report: Support NACs and Determine FTE Needs
The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) surveys nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) every other year on aspects of their work, salary, and time. The 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report offers valuable … - Back to PDPM Basics – Part 1: The PT and OT ComponentsIn skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), staff members often find the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) process complex and unfamiliar, especially when determining how Medicare (and, in many states, Medicaid) payment is calculated. PDPM is based on …
- Crack the Code: A0310EWhen completing any Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, accurate coding of A0310E is critical. This item is completed on OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), scheduled PPS (Prospective Payment System), and OBRA discharge assessments. It asks, …
- Prepared and Compliant: A Proactive Approach to Enteral Feeding Care Management
The director of nursing services (DNS) is preparing for her first annual survey. She wants to take a proactive approach regarding facility residents with enteral feedings. However, as a relatively new DNS, she is unsure … - Coding High-Risk Drug Classes: How to Improve N0415 Accuracy
N0415 (High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication) is much more than just paperwork. This MDS item impacts resident care through the care area triggers (CATs) and the care area assessments (CAAs), as well as facility … - Out the Door, On a Leave, or Gone for Good? Uncomplicating Discharges
In the fast-paced position of a nurse assessment coordinator (NAC), keeping track of all the residents’ whereabouts can be challenging. The NAC must know who is coming into the facility and if this resident is … - From the CATs to the QMs: Key Impacts of MDS Section N
MDS section N (Medications)—in particular item N0415 (High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication)— plays a key role in a nursing home’s ability to provide comprehensive, resident-centered care via the care area triggers (CATs) and the … - Ethics in Medicare Part A Coverage in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Navigating Medicare Part A coverage in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is a matter of regulatory compliance. But it’s also a daily ethical test for facility staff and administrators. In many ways it depends on the … - Nursing Staff Competencies: Keys to Staying Compliant
Ensuring that nursing staff have the “appropriate competencies and skills sets to provide nursing and related services to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each … - PRN Psychotropic Medications for Behaviors: Learn How to Document to Survive Survey
PRN Medication Use is one of the few sections of the revised F605 (Right to Be Free From Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medications) in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual that does not have changes … - Enhancing Resident Well-Being: A Nursing Leadership Approach to Sensory Impairments
Sensory impairments, such as loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell, or touch, are common among older adults, and significantly affect their quality of life. These impairments often go unnoticed or may be mistaken for cognitive … - SNF VBP Reminder: Performance-Period MDS Data Collection Is Now Ongoing
In the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not reveal any firm proposals … - AAPACN Responds: FY 2026 SNF PPS Proposed Rule
Every spring, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) anticipates the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a 60-day comment period. … - Deep Dive into ICD-10-CM: Diagnosis Sequencing Guidelines
The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code assignment continues to be a bit of an enigma in the long-term care setting. Members regularly ask questions about ICD-10-CM coding in AAPACN’s online … - SNF VBP QMs: What’s Coming Online to Impact Payment—and What’s Proposed
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not propose any new quality measures (QMs) for the pay-for-performance Skilled Nursing Value-Based Purchasing program (SNF VBP) in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System … - Targeted Prevention: Stopping Urinary Infections in Their Tracks
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain significant concerns in long-term care settings. They contribute to increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life for residents. … - Quality Measures IQ Series: UTIs and Catheters
The long-stay Quality Measures (QMs), Percent of Residents with a Urinary Tract Infection and Percent of Residents Who Have/Had a Catheter Inserted and Left in Their Bladder, have straightforward methodology but complex underlying implications. Managing … - Care Conference 101: Keys to a Meaningful Meeting
A well-run care conference or care plan meeting can help the interdisciplinary team (IDT) improve the resident’s quality of care and quality of life by establishing a more resident-centered, individualized, culturally competent, and trauma-informed care … - QAPI: How NACs Can Boost the Value They Bring to the Process
The nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) brings a unique understanding of facility operations and resident needs that can reap critical benefits for the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program, says Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, … - The Facility Assessment: What It Takes to Create an ‘Operational Care Plan’
The revised surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual that goes into effect on April 28, 2025, does not include any updates to F-tag 838 (Facility Assessment), says Robin Hillier, CPA, STNA, … - Rethinking Pain Management: Non-pharmacological Solutions for a Holistic Approach
Pain management is an essential piece of the care provided in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings. Many residents experience acute or chronic pain due to a variety of conditions, such as postsurgical recovery, arthritis, … - Breathe Easy: Code Respiratory Therapy Accurately
In long-term care (LTC) facilities, many residents need care for chronic and acute respiratory problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, tracheostomy, and post-COVID complications. LTC nurses need to know how to manage … - Ethics in MDS Coding: Reimbursement and Quality Measures
In long-term care, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) ensures appropriate care planning, accurate reimbursement, and quality measurement while maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations. However, MDS coding may pose some ethical challenges. Completing the … - Shifting Mindsets on Infection Prevention and Control: From Policy Adherence to Personal Ownership for Staff
An effective Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) goes beyond compliance with policies and ideally reflects a cultural shift toward personal responsibility. The nurse leader has a key role in helping healthcare professionals recognize their … - Quality Measure IQ Series: Pressure Ulcer Measures
Quality Measure (QM) reporting on pressure ulcers is a significant metric used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help ensure that nursing homes provide high-quality care to vulnerable residents. Those residents … - Compliance in Diagnosis Selection for Skilled Rehabilitation
For skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), diagnosis selection and accurate ICD-10-CM coding are essential for both quality resident care and compliance with regulations. For therapists providing skilled rehabilitation services, the ability to choose the correct diagnosis … - Care Conference: How Do Resident Rights Connect to Care Planning?
Some nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) may believe that having a care conference (aka care plan meeting) with the resident and/or their responsible party or family member is a regulatory requirement. “However, no regulations actually use … - The Keys to Develop a Past Noncompliance Plan
The director of nursing services (DNS) received a call in the middle of the night that a resident with a diagnosis of dementia had eloped, and it appeared she had been missing for several hours—a …