More Than a Thousand Nursing Homes Reached Infection Rates of 75 Percent or More in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic; Better Protections Are Needed for Future Emergencies (OEI-02-20-00491)Nursing homes had a surge of COVID-19 …
Participants will learn to identify the risks for medical emergencies for skilled nursing facility residents and select basic actions to follow when a medical emergency occurs. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool …
Participants will learn to understand the effects deconditioning may have on a resident, identify risks for deconditioning, and identify what can be done to recondition a resident. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this …
Participants will learn to identify at least two residents who wander and discuss the factors that could cause their wandering, guide learners in developing a plan to reduce these residents’ wandering based on their unique …
Performing bed safety checks is often an essential duty of the maintenance supervisor. However, the risk to residents of injury or even death while they are in bed is a serious matter, and the DNS …
It is important that a resident’s bed is in good working condition to maintain safety and provide the highest quality of care for the resident. Utilize AAPACN’S Bed Safety Guide to ensure each bed in …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care Facility Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology offers protocols, tools and other resources at this site: …
This series provides nursing homes with the facts on COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics that support better resident outcomes. In these conversations with Dr. Lee Fleisher, the CMS CMO, nursing home leaders will hear from Centers for …
AMDA-The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine partnered with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants/Associates …
Prevention Process Measures: Hand Hygiene, Gown and Glove Use Adherence Most Recent Updates Protocols Supporting Chapters Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only PPM Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey FAQs …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care Facility Urinary Tract Infection Module provides forms, tools, and other resources at this site: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/uti/index.html Most recent updates Protocols Supporting Chapters Data …
The National Forum of ESRD Networks has shared a communication tool, updated on Dec. 2, 2022, that covers nursing home communication to dialysis facilities, as well as dialysis facility communication to nursing homes: LTCF-Dialysis Infection …
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has released an updated online course that explains options for assisting individuals who need decision-making support. Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship is a free, …
JAMA Network Open Study found that “several common phrases are misunderstood when used in a medical setting, with the interpreted meaning frequently the exact opposite of what is intended.” Free full text available: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799079
Effective Oct. 24, 2022, nursing homes are required to implement revised pain management guidance under F-tag 697 (Pain Management) in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual for residents with active opioid use disorder or …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings, also known as Core Practices, are now available on CDC’s Infection Control webpage. These …
Question: What is the difference between a Stage I pressure injury and a deep tissue injury? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) defines a stage one …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Rob Leffler, RPh, FASCP, the vice president of clinical services for Synchrony Pharmacy, talk …
by Michele Mummert, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, Director of Research and Development, The Compliance Store Care planning is the foundation of resident care in the long-term care setting. Everything done to care for the resident …
Psychosocial harm is such a critical issue in nursing homes that resident psychosocial outcomes are equally important to physical outcomes when surveyors are determining a deficiency’s severity level. Surveyors assign the severity level of a …
The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) has developed a new toolkit with their partners. This free toolkit provides resources for clinicians to help them navigate challenging questions. This toolkit includes: For permission …
Participants will learn what diabetes is, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, and what certified nurse aides (CNAs) should do when they see a resident might be experiencing hypoglycemia. Download now. For …
Note that this memo is for all healthcare providers, but there are several “nursing homes in particular” statements, including but not limited to: “Nursing homes, in particular, should review and reinforce their infection control protocols …
There is a new Quality in Focus tab at the CMS QSEP Training site: https://qsep.cms.gov/ProvidersAndOthers/publictraining.aspx Available LTC-focused resources now available include: Quality in Focus Resources for Addressing LTC Free of Accident Citations Training for Providers …
TMF Health Quality Institute, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), works with nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Puerto Rico and Texas to …
A report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlights patients’ experience of Long COVID to better understand its complexities and drive creative responses by government leaders, clinicians, patient advocates and …
Long-Term Trends of Psychotropic Drug Use in Nursing Homes(OEI-07-20-00500) OIG found that from 2011 through 2019, about 80 percent of Medicare’s long-stay nursing home residents were prescribed a psychotropic drug. While the Centers for Medicare …
Over the last two years, the holidays have been difficult for many residents, families, and providers. However, things seem to be looking up as we near the end of 2022! The Centers for Disease Control …
The RAI User’s Manual states that “A previous fall, especially a recent fall, recurrent falls, and falls with significant injury are the most important predictors of risk for future falls and injurious falls” (CMS, 2019, …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing updated and expanded recommendations for clinicians providing pain care for adult outpatients with short- and long-term pain. These clinical recommendations, published in the CDC Clinical Practice …
[11-8-2022] Health care professionals should be cautious of possible xylazine inclusion in fentanyl, heroin, and other illicit drug overdoses, as naloxone may not be able to reverse its effects. FDA is aware of increasing reports of …
Participants will learn to understand why dining is an important activity, know at least three factors that make residents high risk for aspiration, describe first aid measures for choking and burns, and discuss at least …
Participants will learn to identify factors that give rise to ethical dilemmas in nursing, identify measures that assist in making ethical decisions, and apply the core principles in ethical decision making. Download now. For permission …
AAPACN’s Laboratory Test Tool provides useful knowledge to nurses regarding the most widely ordered laboratory tests. Areas of knowledge include components of each test, reasons the physician may order the laboratory test, if the resident …
Date Issued: October 31, 2022 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting patients, caregivers, and health care providers that there is a shortage of tracheostomy tubes, including Bivona tracheostomy tubes manufactured by ICU …
Help your clinical team to understand the MDS Drug Regimen Review (DRR) process and to identify clinically significant medication issues that need immediate physician follow-up. Use the Drug Regimen Review Quick Guide tool to shore …
Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) should take the time to build a shared vision and a shared approach with the director of nursing services (DNS), suggests Melanie Tribe-Scott, BSN, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, director of quality initiatives for …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss some …
Question: Where can I find a list of possible intravenous (IV) solutions that can be administrated for hydration? Answered by Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, CPC: Almost any IV fluid can be for …
The new surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual that went into effect on Oct. 24, 2022, takes a multi-pronged approach to opioids, starting with the critical risks associated with using opioids …
Question: Is a concave mattress considered a restraint? Answer from Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, CPC: According to Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual, a restraint is defined as, “Any manual method or …
Optimizing post-acute care patient safety: A scoping review of multifactorial fall prevention interventions for older adults Abstract: Accidental falls are preventable adverse events for older post-acute care (PAC) patients. Yet, due to the functional and …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Lindsay Schwartz, Ph.D., FGSA, Founder and Principal of Workforce & Quality Innovations, discuss what …
Participants will learn to summarize potential risks associated with pain medications and identify non-pharmacological interventions for pain management. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, please complete …
The Age-Friendly Health Systems: Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes and the Age-Friendly Health Systems: A Workbook for Nursing Home Teams are designed to be used simultaneously to help care teams in …
When a nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) reviews the speech language pathologist (SLP) evaluation notes and encounters the term globus sensation, he or she may not even consider that the phrase could indicate a potential swallowing …
One way or another, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures eventually will come to nursing homes across the country. Meaningful Measures 2.0, the framework that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established to guide quality …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed some new resources to assist with educating staff, residents, and families regarding sepsis along with updated graphics to use in the facility or on social …
Question: Are there regulatory requirements regarding the use of outdoor patios by independent residents that should be included in a facility policy? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: There is no regulation …
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of September 23, 2022 In most circumstances, asymptomatic HCP with higher-risk exposures do not require work restriction. Updated …
Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of September 23, 2022 Conventional strategies were updated to advise that, in most circumstances, asymptomatic healthcare personnel (HCP) with higher-risk exposures do not …
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes has been replaced by Infection Control Guidance and it applies to “all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including nursing homes and …
Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 (REVISED) Memo # QSO-20-39-NH REVISED 09.23.2022 Memorandum Summary • CMS is committed to continuing to take critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus …
Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements Memo # QSO-20-38-NH REVISED 09/23/2022 QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (PDF) Memorandum …
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of September 23, 2022 Updated to note that vaccination status is no longer …
The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has published a new version of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines. This version of the Guidelines includes the following key updates: Oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry …
QSO-22-25-CLIA DATE: September 26th, 2022 TO: State Survey Agency Directors FROM: Director, Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG) SUBJECT: CMS Rescinds December 7, 2020, Enforcement Discretion for the Use of SARS CoV-2 Memorandum Summary CMS …
The recognition of nurses for their roles in diagnosis is critical to achieving diagnostic safety improvements and advancements. Contemporary recommendations from the diagnostic safety literature highlight actions nurse leaders and educators can take to improve …
The FDA published the FDA Voices: “FDA Issues New Guidance to Help Facilitate Availability of Naloxone to Prevent Opioid Overdoses and Reduce Death,” by Marta Sokolowska, Ph.D., Deputy Center Director for Substance Use and Behavioral …
Do you know what trauma-informed care is and who is at risk? In AAPACN’s 10 Fast Facts About Trauma-Informed Care tool, you’ll get the quick and important details you need to know about trauma-informed care in …
Certain Life Care Nursing Homes May Not Have Complied With Federal Requirements for Infection Prevention and Control and Emergency Preparedness 09-15-2022 | A-01-20-00004 | Complete Report | Report in Brief Why OIG Did This Audit At the start …
Advancing Excellence Collaborative for Long Term Care (AELTCC) has compiled a set of resources to assist nursing and direct care staff with strategies for identifying potential alteration in skin integrity specifically for individuals with dark …
COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: CMS Needs to Continue to Strengthen Oversight of Infection Prevention and Control GAO-22-105133 The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe illness and death in many nursing homes across the U.S. We also found that some …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its updated guidance for the 2022-2023 flu season. There are three recommended adjuvanted, or high-dose, vaccines available for adults 65 years and older and include: Quadrivalent …
The flu season is here, and yearly vaccination is a key component of an infection control program. The Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccination Toolkit will assist the director of nursing services (DNS) with auditing influenza and …
LANSING, MI – A nurse has been charged with causing serious physical and mental harm to a vulnerable adult, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. Beverly Ann Bratcher, 56, of Newaygo was charged in the 61st District …
Participants will learn the five actions in the medication use process and identify three things the nurse can do to support resident safety related to medications. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this …
AAPACN has a podcast on this topic, CBD Oil Treatment and Care Planning for Nursing Home Residents with Rob Leffler. AMDA provides some information publicly on their website. If your medical director is a member of …
The 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. …
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has released new guidelines on preventing substance diversion in healthcare settings such as nursing homes. These guidelines provide a framework facilities can follow to reduce patient safety issues, …
Discharge planning is the process of transitioning a resident from the facility to a lower level of care. The goal of each discharge is to establish a person-centered discharge plan that prevents avoidable readmissions to …
These FAQs were created to address questions about Enhanced Barrier Precautions as defined in the CDC guidance “Implementation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Nursing Homes to Prevent Spread of Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs)” FAQS addressed …
National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes: Antipsychotic Medication Use Data Report (April 2022) he National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes is committed to improving the quality of care for …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated guidance for the implementation of PPE use in nursing homes to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections. This updated guidance includes: Additional …
Answer from Staci Carstens: If a resident is bullying staff, we try to have that staff person avoid that resident or we do double approach with cares. Also, is there an underlying issue with the …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Dr. Danielle Pierotti, RN, PhD, CENP, discuss about home health and how collaboration with …
This 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 …
Summary of Recent Changes: Added additional rationale for the use of Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) in nursing homes, including the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization among residents in this setting. Expanded residents for …
CMS Issues Significant Updates to Improve the Safety and Quality Care for Long-Term Care Residents and Calls for Reducing Room Crowding June 29, 2022 As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiative to promote the safety and quality …
Long Term Care Regulatory and Interpretive Guidance and Psychosocial Severity Guide Updates – June 2022 (LTCRIGPSG) Access here: https://qsep.cms.gov/pubs/CourseMenu.aspx?cid=0CMSLTCRegIG_PSG OR https://qsep.cms.gov/ProvidersAndOthers/publictraining.aspx Training Description This course consists of a series of presentations by the Division of …
Notes from the Field: COVID-19–Associated Mortality Risk Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents and Community-Dwelling Adults Aged ≥65 Years — Illinois, December 2020 and January 2022 The COVID-19–associated mortality rate among Illinois LTCF residents aged ≥65 …
The 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 …
Answer from Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, RAC-CT, CPC: Nursing should complete a thorough assessment, including a 3-day diary recording the times the resident has been incontinent, the times the resident was continent, and …
Guidance related to Emergency Preparedness- Exercise Exemption based on A Facility’s Activation of their Emergency Plan Memo # QSO-20-41-ALL REVISED 05.26.2022 Posting Date 2022-05-26 Fiscal Year 2022 Summary • Emergency Preparedness Training and Testing Program …
Residents 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 …
Nursing home leaders can reference this resource to ensure that the facility’s emergency preparedness plan is current and captures an all-hazards approach to meeting the health, safety, and security needs of staff and residents during …
These brief videos offer self-paced learning for those on the front lines of nursing home care. This includes nursing assistants, housekeeping, dietary, and maintenance staff, and others. Emotional and Organizational Support for Staff series This …
“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 …
Government entities require mandatory staff trainings to be completed at least annually. AAPACN’s Mandatory Training Checklist is intended to assist the facility leader in ensuring staff have completed mandated trainings per facility policy. For permission …
Question: What does the end of the physician visit waiver mean for SNFs? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT : With the recent QSO memo, QSO-22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC, released April 7, …
Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (PDF) UPDATED (5/6/22) From https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page
This printable flyer infographic describes the Chain of Infection and How to Use it to Prevent the Spread of Infection in Long-Term Care (LTC) https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1666 Files for Download COI in LTC 4.29.2022 Final Compressed.pdf
Resident 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 …
In 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 …
Antipsychotic Medication Prescribing in Long Term Care Facilities Increased in the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic Issue Brief Prescriptions dispensed for antipsychotics in nursing homes and assisted living facilities increased since the beginning of …
From AHRQ Medication discrepancy rates and sources upon nursing home intake: a prospective study Patterson ME, Bollinger S, Coleman C, et al. Res Social Adm Pharm. Epub 2021 Medication errors are common among older adults discharged …
Question: What is the regulation for how often we should be obtaining vital signs for long-term care residents? Answer from Alexis Roam, MSN, RN-BC, DNS-CT, QCP: There is not a federal regulation that states a …
JAMA Network Open Study excerpt: Key Points Question Are scores on a delirium severity measure that was developed using advanced psychometric approaches associated with in-hospital and posthospital clinical outcomes? Findings In this cohort study of older patients …
