The QIO program offers an article and resources here: The QIO program offers an article and resources here: https://qioprogram.org/quality-in-action-blog-series/hqi-helps-nursing-home-successfully-implement-motivational
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has teamed up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop a new resource, the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …
WHO has updated its guidelines for COVID-19 therapeutics, with revised recommendations for patients with non-severe COVID-19. This is the 13th update to these guidelines. Updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19 …
To meet residents’ individualized needs, the director of nursing services (DNS) requires the expertise of many healthcare professionals working collaboratively, including the dietitian. This tool provides guidance on how to enhance collaboration between the nursing …
To meet residents’ individualized needs, the director of nursing services (DNS) requires the expertise of many healthcare professionals working collaboratively. For expertise on nutrition, the DNS should collaborate with the registered dietician (RD), who is …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Anna Sherman, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at RD Nutrition Consultants, discuss the registered dietitian’s role as a …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its website to include new respiratory toolkits. This webpage features toolkits and resources to help prepare for the 2023 respiratory virus season including: This AAPACN …
In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) for the treatment of certain adults with COVID-19. However, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir was initially only available from Emergency Use Authorization …
The director of nursing services (DNS) has many issues to prioritize each day, such as resident falls, staffing, and grievances. Unfortunately, the DNS may be tempted to relegate clinical rounds to “later,” considering them a …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to expand their Project Firstline infection control training series. This free series includes multiple topics with training resources the DNS can use to educate the nursing …
Overview from the World Health Organization The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for infection prevention …
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has released a new free resource to assist providers with tools and information to encourage vaccinations among residents and staff. The toolkit includes: Find these, plus additional resources on …
Transmittal #R12283CP Issue Date 2023-10-05 Subject Internet Only Manual Updates to Pub. 100-02 and 100-04 to Implement Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 Changes for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Policy: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. …
Weekly / October 6, 2023 / 72(40);1095–1098 Summary What is already known about this topic? Long-term care (LTC) facility residents are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection because of their advanced age, medical complexity, and congregate living situation; …
Preparing for and responding to nursing home residents or healthcare personnel (HCP) who develop signs or symptoms of a respiratory viral infection: Find the toolkit at https://www.cdc.gov/longtermcare/prevention/viral-respiratory-toolkit.html
The guidance to surveyors in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual addresses behavioral health education, training, and competencies under two separate F-tags: Did the facility have sufficient staff who provide direct services and implement …
Fall is fast approaching, and colder weather increases prevalence of respiratory illness. Colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) become more common in colder months as people stay …
Patient safety research is growing, spanning across more healthcare settings, and considers a wide array of contextual factors. The combination of emerging patient safety threats and the growing amount of published patient safety research, patient …
The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), which opened its online doors in December 2022 thanks to a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is …
As people age, oral health often declines. Teeth can lose enamel, and gums may recede, causing tooth loss and pain. Oral health is much more than just brushing and flossing. Symptoms in a resident’s oral …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Dr. Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW, associate professor in the baccalaureate social work program at the University of Maryland, …
F740 (Behavioral Health Services) is not a frequently cited F-tag so far in calendar year (CY) 2023, according to QCOR data posted on Aug. 13, 2023. However, the consequences can be severe—surveyors often issue this …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new resources on enhanced barrier precautions (EBPs). EBPs are recommended by the CDC to reduce the risk of transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). These …
Infection Control Assessment Tools Acronyms & Definitions ICAR: Infection Control Assessment and Response Program IP: Infection Prevention Healthcare Personnel IP Competency: The proven ability to apply essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to prevent the transmission of pathogens during …
Infusion therapy services are so inherently complex that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies “intravenous or intramuscular injections and intravenous feeding” and “enteral feeding that comprises at least 26 percent of daily …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program manager for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …
The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel has released the second version of their Standardized Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol – abbreviated as “SPIPP” (pronounced S – PIP). The SPIPP is a shortened checklist of preventive actions …
The use of psychotropic medications in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a controversial issue with implications for resident, regulatory, and financial outcomes. The many requirements can be confusing, especially for a relatively new director …
Recent severe weather events have highlighted the need for and importance of emergency power systems for nursing homes. Nursing homes are required to provide an alternate source of energy (usually a generator) to maintain temperatures …
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released two toolkits to assist facilities in identifying and measuring adverse events: The Medical Record Review Methodology toolkit and the Clinical Guidance for Identifying Harm toolkit. The Medical Record …
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 Lisa Morris, D.Ph., BCGP, FASCP, executive director of clinical services for Consana, discuss changes …
July 5, 2023 Riester MR, Goyal P, Steinman MA, et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2023;38(6):1563-1566. Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing in older adults is common and can lead to medication-related harm. This retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries estimated that the …
Toolkit: Medical Record Review Methodology07-06-2023 | OEI-06-21-00030 | Complete Toolkit Toolkit: Clinical Guidance for Identifying Harm07-06-2023 | OEI-06-21-00031 | Complete Toolkit What are the Adverse Events (AE) Toolkits? The AE toolkits are technical resources to assist the …
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines from GSK and Pfizer for people ages 60 years …
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 …
Question: Do we still need to quarantine non-vaccinated residents? Answer from Kellie VanRee, RN, LNHA: This document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | …
In This Issue This month’s newsletter focuses on establishing and monitoring a Naloxone program for your nursing facility. Become informed about regulatory guidance and share new COE-NF resources that will assist your facility in implementing …
Restorative nursing can impact fee-for-service Medicare Part A payment in the Behavioral Symptoms and Cognitive Performance category and the Reduced Physical Function category of the nursing component in the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), says Carol …
Memo # QSO-23-16-Hospitals Posting Date 2023-06-06 Fiscal Year 2023 CMS is committed to ensuring that the health and safety of patients are protected when discharges from hospitals and transfers to post-acute care providers occur. Therefore, …
From MLN Connects: CMS finalized staff education requirements while ending the COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. These provisions were included in the “COVID-19 …
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 …
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) released the 2023 update to the AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18372). The AGS Beers Criteria® serves as a comprehensive list of medications …
Antipsychotic drug use among long-stay residents decreased steadily from 31 percent in 2011 to 22 percent in 2019, according to the November 2022 report Long-Term Trends of Psychotropic Drug Use in Nursing Homes from the …
Infection Control Guidance Updated May 8, 2023 For healthcare personnel, see Isolation and work restriction guidance. For strategies to mitigate healthcare personnel staffing shortages, see Contingency and crisis management. For healthcare professionals advising people in non-healthcare settings …
Screening for Delirium: What Clinicians Should Know https://www.capc.org/blog/screening-for-delirium-what-clinicians-should-know/ Managing Delirium: What Clinicians Should Know https://www.capc.org/blog/managing-delirium-what-clinicians-should-know/
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) conducting afternoon rounds finds Mr. Smith slumped over in his chair. The CNA notices that he does not appear to be breathing and calls the nurse for help. The nurse …
Emergency crash carts need to be ready at all times to use in case of an emergency. Use AAPACN’s Emergency Crash Cart Checklist and Crash Cart Daily Signature Log to ensure that readiness. For permission …
Following FDA regulatory action, CDC has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. CDC’s …
The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has just published a major update to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines. Key changes include: · A new section titled Pregnancy, Lactation, and COVID-19 Therapeutics has been added to provide …
This is guidance for hospitals but may be helpful to SNFs as well. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/sheaidsaapic-practice-recommendation-strategies-to-prevent-healthcareassociated-infections-through-hand-hygiene-2022-update/FCD05235C79DC57F0E7F54D7EC314C2C
Restorative nursing programs are effective interventions to maintain or improve a resident’s independence in tasks of daily living. According to the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User’s Manual, on page O-42, “Restorative …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now uses the term “post-COVID conditions” (PCC) to label the multitude of physical and mental health consequences that some people—including those who had an initial mild or …
Memo # QSO-23-11-LSC Posting Date 2023-03-31 Fiscal Year 2023 Summary Various CMS regulations governing certain providers and certified suppliers require compliance with the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Health Care Facilities …
COVID-19 in Nursing Homes :Experts Identified Actions Aimed at Improving Infection Prevention and Control Highlights What GAO Found The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), primarily through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …
Candida auris (C. auris), an emerging fungus considered an urgent antimicrobial resistance (AR) threat, spread at an alarming rate in U.S. healthcare facilities in 2020-2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and …
Tuberculosis — United States, 2022 Weekly / March 24, 2023 / 72(12);297–303 Kimberly R. Schildknecht, MPH1,2; Robert H. Pratt2; Pei-Jean I. Feng, MPH2; Sandy F. Price2; Julie L. Self, PhD2 (VIEW AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS) Summary What is already …
Quality of life is a “fundamental principle” that feeds into—and flows from—all resident care and services, according to 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §483.24. The F-tag 675 surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the …
The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), Telligen QI Connect, has developed a new facilitators guide to assist with root cause analysis (RCA). This guide outlines the process to conduct an RCA including steps to prepare and …
Question: Can an LVN who is a certified treatment nurse stage a pressure injury? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: Many states do not allow LVNs to stage pressure injuries. I recommend you review your …
During fall 2022, a resurgence of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection in children and adolescents was observed in two of CDC’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP)* surveillance sites: Colorado (Denver metropolitan area) and Minnesota (entire state). Clinicians should …
The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) will host the annual conference this year April 19 – 21 in Las Vegas, NV. Long-term and post-acute care professionals from across the nation will gather to …
The National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC) has released a workbook for “assessing operational elements for special pathogen preparedness, response, and recovery unique to the long-term care setting.” The workbook is designed …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites falls as the leading cause of injury-related death in adults aged 65 and older (CDC, 2023). It is imperative that nursing facility staff identify fall risk …
Find resources and technical assistance at https://nursinghomebehavioralhealth.org/ Current resources include: Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities – Frequently Asked Questions DOWNLOAD SAMHSA informational pamphlet about bipolar disorder’s definition, signs/symptoms, types and treatment …
In this section, measures address: • High-risk, long-stay nursing home residents with pressure ulcers. • Long-stay nursing home residents with a urinary tract infection. • Long-stay nursing home residents experiencing one or more falls with …
Like every aspect of nursing home operations, staff education and training are critical to providing pain management for residents with opioid use disorder (OUD), other substance use disorders, or an addiction history. Each resident’s pain …
Understanding how to put on (don) and remove (doff) personal protective equipment (PPE) will be critical in mitigating risk for COVID-19. Download AAPACN’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing Competency Tool.
Properly washing hands and performing hand hygiene is an essential skill every healthcare worker (HCW) must possess. The AAPACN Hand Hygiene Competency Tool can assist nurse leaders documenting achievement of competence with this skill.
This podcast is another episode of a special podcast series on the winter wave of COVID-19. Throughout this series, AAPACN will talk with experts about the state of COVID-19, the vaccines and boosters available and …
There are nursing home-specific recommendations: SummaryThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about infections with an extensively drug-resistant strain of Verona Integron-mediated Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and …
From the John A. Hartford Foundation: Public Policy & Aging Report (PP&AR) has released a Special Issue, “2022 NASEM Quality of Nursing Home Report: Moving Recommendations to Action.” PP&AR, a publication of The Gerontological Society of America, supplemental issue focuses …
Dementia is a difficult diagnosis to manage in long-term care. The disease robs individuals of precious memories and their ability to communicate. This loss can cause residents and their loved ones fear, sadness, and sometimes …
Weekly / February 10, 2023 / 72(6);145–152 Summary What is already known about this topic? COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased with waning of vaccine-derived immunity and emerging Omicron sublineages. An updated (bivalent) booster dose enhances protection against …
This podcast is the beginning of a special podcast series on the winter wave of COVID-19. Throughout this series, AAPACN will talk with experts about the state of COVID-19, the vaccines and boosters available and …
Participants will learn to define and differentiate dementia, delirium, and depression, and recognize nursing interventions for each condition, especially dementia. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new resources to assist providers with the implementation of enhanced barrier precautions. These resources include the continuing education (CE) webinar recording and slides from Nov. …
Question: Do we need to obtain an order from a physician to be able to place a new admission or move a current resident to the secured (locked) unit in our care facility? Answer from …
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 …
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: …
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 …
