Draft MDS 3.0 Item Sets version 1.20.1v2 The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.20.1v2 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument …
A quick review of the draft revised surveyor guidance in Quality, Safety, and Oversight (QSO) memo QSO-25-14-NH that goes into effect on April 28, 2025, may initially concern the director of nursing services (DNS) and …
On April 28, 2025, new and revised surveyor guidance, as well as revised critical element pathways, will go into effect during survey, according to the March 10, 2025 Quality, Safety, and Oversight memo QSO-25-14-NH, which …
The AAPACN 2025 Conference will be hosted in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 22 – 25. Attendees will immerse themselves in information and best practices with peers who share their passion for post-acute care and can …
Hearing a staff member say, “State just walked in the door,” shouldn’t ignite survey panic mode in the director of nursing services (DNS) and other department leaders in the nursing home, says Michelle Synakowski, RN, …
An effective Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) goes beyond compliance with policies and ideally reflects a cultural shift toward personal responsibility. The nurse leader has a key role in helping healthcare professionals recognize their …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how directors of nursing services …
Telligen QI Connect™ has an attend-as-you-can series focusing on infection control topics relevant to SNFs and aimed at enhancing infection control efforts. Each session provides guidance, relevant tools, and helpful interventions to support quality improvement …
The Essential Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in-service education will equip staff with the knowledge and strategies to identify and reduce the risk of several types of infections including respiratory, foodborne, urinary tract, and …
This user manual provides information for CMS, Providers, Vendors, Accrediting Organizations, Contractors, and State Agencies to effectively perform Reports functions and the processes necessary to request, view, download, and save reports in iQIES. From https://qtso.cms.gov/software/iqies/reference-manuals
Memo # QSO-25-14-NH Memorandum Summary: Revised Surveyor Guidance: CMS is releasing the following revised guidance for nursing home surveyors: Admission, Transfer & Discharge, Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medication, Resident Assessment, Nursing Services, Payroll Based Journal, Quality …
Memo # Admin Info 25-07-NH Summary The iQIES Nursing Home launch is currently scheduled for July 14, 2025. The CMS iQIES team is developing a training and support plan to help all State Agency and CMS …
Data Set Links Provider Information General information on currently active nursing homes, including number of certified beds, quality measure scores, staffing and other information used in the Five-Star Rating System. Data are presented as one …
Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico and offer guidance …
March 2025 Updates Person-Level – Data Collection Forms and Instructions LTCF Resident Optional Person Level Reporting for Long Term Care Residents (Form 57.216) [PDF – 264 KB] – February 2025 LTCF Healthcare Personnel Optional Person Level …
Several sections may be useful, including Recommendations for Skilled Nursing Facilities to Improve Medical Record Documentation https://acentraqio.com/newsletter/crc/February2025postacute
A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/shakes-022025/index.html Key Points: What You Should Do: What Businesses Should Do: Listeria Symptoms: If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please …
The Section S portion of the forthcoming MDS Data Specifications V3.10.1 (FINAL) is now available for download under the Downloads section at the bottom of this webpage. This MDS version will be implemented in production on October …
Results from AHRQ’s 2025 Surveys on Patient Safety Culture® (SOPS®) Nursing Home Survey User Database Report are now available. The Database Report includes 107 nursing homes representing 4,411 healthcare providers and staff. Key findings include: Area for Improvement: …
Cupid CrewOn Valentine’s Day this year, AAPACN staff joined Wish of a Lifetime as Cupid Crew volunteers to deliver 300 roses to staff and residents at local post-acute care facilities in Denver, Colorado. In the …
In this podcast, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, discuss self-care and …
The director of nursing services (DNS) and the facility administrator (or other executive leadership) share the overarching goal of providing nursing home residents with the best possible quality of care and quality of life, says …
Nursing homes that achieve successful operational, clinical, and regulatory outcomes tend to share at least one common characteristic, says Stacy Grondel, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, CMAC, QCP, vice president of clinical reimbursement at Brickyard Healthcare in …
Past noncompliance occurs when noncompliance previously existed, but the facility has already corrected the deficiency and is in substantial compliance at the time of a current survey (CMS, 2024). Facility leadership can use this template …
The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is releasing new in-service toolkits. These toolkits address essential topics such as de-escalation, substance use disorder, and major depressive disorder. Designed to guide facility …
The director of nursing services (DNS) received a call in the middle of the night that a resident with a diagnosis of dementia had eloped, and it appeared she had been missing for several hours—a …
More than 15,000 nursing professionals working in long-term care take AAPACN education online courses each year. One of the common questions AAPACN receives from new students is, “How can I access my Learner Dashboard?” The …
Current emergencies Southern California Wildfires – California (2025) Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on January 10, 2025, giving us the flexibility to support our …
CDC announces no new ICD-10-CM codes effective April 1, 2025. The April 1, 2025 diagnosis code update files now available address revisions and typographical errors. Use these files for discharges occurring from April 1, 2025 …
Memo # Admin Info: 25-06-NH Posting Date 2025-01-17 Fiscal Year 2025 Memo Name Contact or Reference Memo Posting Revised: Guidance for Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS) Memorandum Summary • Guidance on Conducting Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS) – FY2025 Guidance on how CMS Location staff will …
To register at QSEP and take the course, you just need to provide an email address. https://qsep.cms.gov Updated: January 16, 2025 This course consists of four presentations by the Division of Nursing Homes outlining the …
Revisions to: QSO-25-07-NH Original release date: November 18, 2024 QSO-25-12-NH Memorandum Summary Revised Surveyor Guidance: CMS is releasing the following revised guidance for nursing home surveyors: • Admission, Transfer & Discharge, Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medication, …
Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only MDRO/CDI Events Denominator Forms Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey See more …
January 2025 Updates Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only UTI Events Denominator Forms Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/uti/index.html
At its October 2024 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices* (ACIP) approved the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2025. The schedule supports health care providers, as well …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the admission process and ways …
Nurses play a key role in the early identification and treatment of sepsis, assessing the resident and reporting to the physician or nonphysician practitioner (NPP), as well as potentially managing residents with sepsis in-house in …
For both residents and their loved ones, admission into a post-acute care facility can be an overwhelming experience. In addition to the condition that brought residents to the facility, the transition itself involves changing environment, …
The transition from home to nursing home can be difficult and emotional for new residents and their loved ones. The thought of living in a space that is not their own, having their privacy invaded, …
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, facilities are required to electronically report new information about COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). According to the Dec. 31, 2024, Quality, Safety …
Over one million Americans rely on nursing homes for care, yet nursing homes face challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Nursing homes rely on registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nursing assistants (NAs) …
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Mission & Priorities document (MPD) – Action Admin Info 25-05-AllFiscal Year (FY) 2025 Mission & Priorities document (MPD) – Action For questions or concerns relating to this memorandum, please contact your …
The HCP Flu Vaccination Module, which is part of the HCP component in NHSN, is used to input required NHSN data for the SNF QRP. This site provides access to the HCP Vaccination Module: Influenza …
The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual Version (V)17.0 is now available. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V17.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 QMs and includes a Notable …
Memo #QSO-25-11-NH Posting Date 2024-12-31 Fiscal Year 2025 Memorandum Summary • Acute Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements: The LTC facility requirements for reporting COVID-19-related data expired on December 31, 2024, except for reporting COVID-19 resident and staff vaccination …
The Department’s Office for Civil Rights seeks to update HIPAA Security Rule for the first time since 2013 On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for …
FFS & MA NOMNC/DENC What’s New 11/18/2024: New NOMNC and DENC for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved a revised Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC / CMS-10123) …
Improving Care Through Increased Staffing Nursing home staffing has a significant impact on the quality of care that residents receive. Feedback from both nursing home staff and residents consistently highlights staffing as their primary concern. …
The career path of a director of nursing services (DNS) is both challenging and rewarding. Long-term care nurses who choose to take on the DNS role can have success with the right resources. Part one …
Quick Reference Guide: Re-Submitting COVID-19 Vaccination Data using the Person-Level Vaccination Forms Introduction This Quick Reference Guide (QRG) will provide information on using the Re-submit all changed weeks button for your facility’s person-level COVID-19 vaccination …
Upcoming proposed and final regulations from CMS, CDC, and other HHS entities https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain HHS/CDC Proposed Rule Stage Respirator Fit Capability Standard Test Method, Filter Shelf Life, and Application Requirements for Air-Purifying, Half-Mask Facepiece, Particulate Respirators …
Members: $24 | Non-members: $48Continuing Education: 1.25 CE hoursRecording Date: Jan. 30, 2025Duration: 75 minutesSpeaker: Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC The alphabet soup of the Medicare beneficiary notices initiative (BNI) recently got a new recipe, and understanding …
CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. The Nursing Home Compare Web site features a quality rating system that gives each nursing home …
Use of Additional Doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults Aged ≥65 Years and Persons Aged ≥6 Months with Moderate or Severe Immunocompromise: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2024 …
Written by Kristine Martinez BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, QCP Completing a Minimum Data Set (MDS) correctly is no small task. With approximately 510 answers or choices on a comprehensive MDS (not including CAA investigation), and approximately530 answers …
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the risk of developing sepsis has increased nationwide, according to the September 2024 report An Assessment of Sepsis in the United States and Its Burden on Hospital Care …
Emergency preparedness is a vital component of maintaining safety and ensuring continuity of care in post-acute care settings. Facilities face unique challenges in emergency situations. The vulnerable people they care for, including the elderly and …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some common pitfalls of the …
Long-term care facilities face unique problems when disasters strike. Staff’s quick thinking and correct action can protect staff members, residents, and families. Use this in-service education to prepare staff for when a disaster occurs. This …
AAPACN in collaboration with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has released a practice guidance tool and resource guide to help healthcare personnel in long-term care facilities implement enhanced barrier precautions …
Memo #QSO-25-09-ALL Fiscal Year 2025 REVISION TO QSO-19-09-ALL REVISED ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON MARCH 5, 2019 • Core Appendix Q and Subparts – Appendix Q to the State Operations Manual (SOM), which provides guidance for identifying …
Weekly / November 21, 2024 / 73(46);1052–1057 Summary What is already known about this topic? Nursing home residents are at increased risk for severe COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness. Vaccination reduces risk for …
De-escalation/Behavioral Expression Toolkit De-Escalation Strategies In-Service Toolkit The de-escalation toolkit aims to equip staff with the knowledge and techniques necessary to prevent escalating behaviors and enhance safety within a nursing facility. The de-escalation toolkit offers …
From https://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/nursing-facility-icpg/ The Nursing Facility ICPG—together with OIG’s General Compliance Program Guidance (GCPG) that applies to all individuals and entities involved in the health care industry—serves as OIG’s updated and centralized source of voluntary compliance program guidance for …
Sepsis—a key driver of hospital readmissions—can have negative clinical impacts for residents and negative financial, quality, survey, and even legal impacts for nursing homes. Here is a review of important basics: What is sepsis? The …
When a substance overdose situation occurs, staff must know how to respond. Nurse leadership should provide staff opportunities to practice and perfect their response to these events. The Mock Substance Overdose Toolkit will assist nurse …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how conducting a thorough candidate …
Antimicrobial medications are used to treat infections (and sepsis) caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. Antimicrobial resistance (AR)—when germs conquer the drugs that are supposed to kill them and instead keep growing—occurs naturally. However, …
Revised Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance: Significant revisions to enhance quality and oversight of the LTC survey process Memo # QSO-25-07-NH Posting Date 2024-11-18 Fiscal Year 2025 Memorandum SummaryRevised Surveyor Guidance: CMS is releasing the …
Many residents take opioids to relieve pain, and each of these residents is at risk for overmedication, overdose, or even death. According to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), by 2021, 1 in 370 …
The Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition has developed a new Guide to Addressing Resident Goals, Preferences and Priorities. This free guide supports nursing home staff by offering resources and recommendations to implement a standard …
With so many Quality Measures originating from three different payment initiative programs, it’s a lot to keep track of. AAPACN’s At-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP tool organizes all of the measures for you. This tool has been …
The newly revised Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Setting provides (1) new information on overall goals in diabetes care, (2) detailed information on how to use and …
Report Materials Why OIG Did This Review What OIG Found The National Background Check Program successfully established a program to help States identify efficient, effective, and economical procedures for conducting background checks on prospective long-term …
Directors, Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSOG) and Survey & Operations Group (SOG) Memorandum Summary CMS is releasing the Fiscal Year 2025 guidance for the State Performance Standards System (SPSS), the process used to oversee …
Final FEMA Exception Memo for Milton: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/reconsideration-and-exception-extension Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions & Penalties During a Declared Emergency: 2024 Public Health Emergency for State of Florida in Response to Hurricane Milton October 8, 2024 What: President Joseph R. …
Final FEMA Exception Memo for Helene: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/reconsideration-and-exception-extension Hurricane Helene – South Carolina and Tennessee (2024) Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on September 30, 2024, …
The Moving Forward Coalition, in partnership with A.G. Rhodes, Kansas State University (KSU), Dash Media, and The John A. Hartford Foundation, presents “The Foundation of Our Work: What Matters Most to Residents”! Why do we …
Members: $24 | Non-members: $48Continuing Education: 1 CE hourRecording Date: Nov. 21, 2024Duration: 60 minutesSpeaker: Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT The resident population in long-term and post-acute care environments is growing more diverse. Nurse leaders play a …
This communication pertains to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program performance standards for the Total Nursing Staff Turnover (Nursing Staff Turnover) measure which the Centers …
REVISED: Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures Memo # QSO-25-01-NH REVISIONS TO QSO-23-21-NH, ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON September 20, 2023. • Adjustment to Staffing and Quality Measures: CMS will update the staffing …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how a comprehensive review of …
Identifying and dealing with a suspected change in condition before a clinical crisis occurs is a critical aspect of caring for fragile, elderly nursing home residents. To achieve that goal, nursing staff must think critically …
Over the last decade, a strong orientation and onboarding process has been linked to higher levels of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and job satisfaction among nursing staff—leading to lower staff turnover and improved retention. Conversely, …
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) Falls Free Initiative is providing a falls toolkit offering resources to raise awareness and reduce the risk of falls. The toolkit includes: This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN …
Fall is here, and respiratory virus season is around the corner. Nursing leaders must take proactive steps to protect residents from these viruses, which carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. …
Respiratory viruses carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. Vaccination is an integral part of a proactive infection control program that combats these viruses. Nurse leaders can use this toolkit to …
Provider Bulletin #22a October 1, 2024 Dear Colleague, We are pleased to announce several important updates for the provider community and others who rely on Livanta’s services as a Medicare Beneficiary and Family Centered Care …
Compliance with Residents’ Rights Requirement related to Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote Memo #QSO-24-21-NH Posting Date 2024-09-26 Fiscal Year 2024 Memorandum Summary• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is affirming the regulatory …
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Long-Term Care Facility Component Manual Tracking Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in Long-term Care Facilities The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Manual 2025 COVID-19 VACCINATION PROTOCOL Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for …
