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Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes has been replaced by Infection Control Guidance and it applies to “all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including nursing homes and …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 …
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: …
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 Data Collection Forms & …
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 …
This article from JAMDA is open access: The Course of Depressive Symptoms Over 36 Months in 696 Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents Tom Borza, Geir Selbæk, Bjørn Lichtwarck, Jūratė Šaltytė Benth, Sverre Bergh Published online: September …
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 …
Dr. Heather Jones, aa nurse consultant with the long-term care team within CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, has written a blog post on the challenges of identifying sepsis and the benefits of a sepsis …
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
Updated Information on Availability and Use of Treatments for Outpatients with Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Who are at Increased Risk for Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 SummaryThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing …
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 …
2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines Free access: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001063 Abstract Aim: The “2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for …
Three new online resources from AHRQ are available to help nursing homes adopt best practices aimed at controlling and preventing infection and improving the emotional well-being of staff and residents: Best Practices Guide for COVID-19 Infection Control …
Nursing homes have to prepare emergency operations plans to be compliant with the emergency preparedness regulations that are detailed in Appendix Z of the State Operations Manual, points out Amanda Thorson, MSN, BSN, RN, CMSRN, …
Question: Can a weighted blanket be considered a restraint? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: Although the use of a weighted blanket can be a great intervention, if the resident can not …
In this LTC DON Chat podcast, Amy Stewart, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Rob Leffler, the vice president for PCA Pharmacy, talk about the impact of medications on falls for …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Project Firstline, released a new suite of educational resources to help healthcare workers recognize the risks for germs to spread throughout the workday and take action to …
Using social determinants of health (SDOH) when developing a resident’s discharge plan can help identify and address potential risks that could adversely affect the resident’s ability to safely discharge back to the community. AAPACN’s Social …
CMS is providing clarification to recent guidance for visitation (see CMS memorandum QSO-20-39- NH REVISED 11/12/2021). While CMS cannot address every aspect of visitation that may occur, we provide additional details about certain scenarios below. …
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.
US Department of Labor announces enforcement, effort for focused inspections in hospitals, nursing care facilities treating COVID-19 patients WASHINGTON – For two years, millions of the nation’s healthcare workers have been battling the coronavirus. Many have endangered themselves …
New Report published by APIC outlines actions needed to successfully battle future pandemics while fighting the rise of healthcare-associated infections ARLINGTON, Va., March 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, …
AAPACN’s expert-developed in-service education tools are user-friendly training documents to supplement your staff’s knowledge and get your team on the same page. Several of our in-service education tools have recently been updated with new approaches to …
The purpose of this primer is to provide updated information to the patient safety community about the challenges of ensuring the safe care of older adults in Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes (NHs) associated …
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2022 Changes in the 2022 Adult Immunization Schedule Vaccine-specific changes in the 2022 immunization schedule for adults …
Nursing Home Capabilities and Collaboration to Ensure Resident Care During Emergencies Nursing homes face a broad range of challenges from public emergencies, such as emerging infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters. To protect residents and …
Updates as of Feb. 17: Guidance streamlined Added links to guidance on testing for determining length of work restriction for healthcare personnel with SARS-CoV-2 infection or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and for mitigating staff shortages in healthcare settings Time period …
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 Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, executive vice president of PAC regulatory affairs and …
CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is in the process of updating the 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. As of today, the draft updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids is available …
The diversity of care required to meet the individualized needs of each resident means that the director of nursing services (DNS) must seek the expertise of a variety of healthcare professionals and work collaboratively. When …
The Hospice Collaboration Toolkit assists facility leaders to understand hospice services and provides guidance on how to enhance collaboration, thus improving the quality of care and the quality of life for residents nearing end-of-life experience. …
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 Rick Russell, president and CEO of Hospice of Northwest Ohio, discuss the role of …
Question: Can a resident take home medications upon discharge? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: Yes, medications can be sent home with a resident upon discharge. Work with your pharmacy provider to …
Remedies include addressing staff biases, increasing funding for facilities, standardizing advance-care planning, and educating staff and families about evidence-based care and shared decision making BOSTON – A new study published on January 24, 2022, in …
One-page graphic flyer How to safely visit nursing homes (PDF) (01/25/22) https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page
Comfort—palliation—should be a critical component of all nursing home care, suggests Ann Wyatt, a palliative and residential care consultant for CaringKind in New York City. “It is not about giving up. It’s about deciding, Why …
Jan 18, 2022 NETEC COVID-19 Webinar Series presentation: Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) for the Non-Acute Healthcare Providers. For more information on this webinar presentation, please visit https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1659 Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) for the Non-Acute Healthcare …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation recommendations for healthcare and non-healthcare settings. During this COCA Call, presenters discussed the science supporting these changes, the populations and …
The last two weeks of data show steep increases in staff and resident COVID-19 cases, particularly staff cases: https://data.cms.gov/covid-19/covid-19-nursing-home-data
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. Karl Steinberg, president of AMDA and a longtime nursing home medical director and …
Section Q (Participation in Assessment and Goal Planning) is not a high-powered section of the MDS that drives payment or any of the quality measures (QMs). As a result, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) sometimes may …
There are plenty of statistics documenting the hazard falls pose for the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a website sharing important facts about falls. CDC notes that: One out of …
Annual update to national Alzheimer’s plan adds focus on risk reduction Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today announced the release of the annual update to the Department’s National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which …
Participants will learn to define antibiotic stewardship and recognize nurse-driven efforts that support antibiotic stewardship, including nursing assessment and infection-specific interventions. Download now.
This conversation starter will help your team learn more about a new residents’ interests, routines, and goals and engage the resident in their care planning right from admission. AAPACN’s Admission Sample Questionnaire tool (print) can …
In this fun holiday podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, are joined …
A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that massive increases in the use of telehealth helped maintain some health care access during the COVID-19 pandemic, with specialists like behavioral …
Participants will learn to describe the ways that dementia can affect communication and identify different measures that can assist in effectively communicating with residents who have dementia. Download now.
Respirators, including N95s and elastomeric respirators, help protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 and other airborne viruses. Making sure these respirators fit the face properly is essential to maximizing their effectiveness. A new AHRQ guide defines respirator fit …
Question: Is a Significant Change in Status Assessment required for a new stage 3 pressure ulcer? Answer from Janine Cortesa RN, BSN: A stage 3 pressure ulcer may signify the need for a Significant Change …
The American College of Gastroenterology provides updated, evidence-based recommendations and practical guidance for the evaluation and management of GERD, including pharmacologic, lifestyle, surgical, and endoscopic management. https://journals.lww.com/ajg/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=9900&issue=00000&article=00154&type=Fulltext
Published online: November 21, 2021. The abstract is free and open to the public. Rushing Care by Care Aides Associated With Experiences of Responsive Behaviors From Residents in Nursing Homes
