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 …
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 …
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
Fact Sheet: HHS Announces Intent to Amend the Declaration Under the PREP Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19 APRIL 14, 2023 | NEWS RELEASE Letter to U.S. Governors from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on renewing …
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 …
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 …
FYI 1/26/23SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses to the Ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Strain and Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 Variants in Nursing Home Residents After Receipt of Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine — Ohio and Rhode Island, September–November 2022 Summary What is …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
