Topic: 2021 Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Long-Term Care Facilities Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST Register in advance for this webinar:https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_wQWphrcdRvCy4ATVbJ6BpQexternal icon After registering, you will receive …
This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). It is a one-stop shop containing a multitude of reference materials that are provided to the surveyors going into …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers nursing homes and other long-term care providers guidance on how to ensure their residents and staff have access to COVID-19 vaccines, including booster shots. It covers …
Investigation of an Outbreak of COVID-19 in a French Nursing Home With Most Residents Vaccinated Catherine Burugorri-Pierre, MD; Carmelo Lafuente-Lafuente, MD, PhD; Christel Oasi, MD; et al. This cohort study investigates an outbreak of COVID-19 among residents and health care professionals …
Ref: QSO-20-38-NH REVISED 09/10/2021 TO: State Survey Agency Directors FROM: Director Survey and Certification Group SUBJECT: Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related …
Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of Sept. 10, 2021 Updated outbreak response guidance to promote use of contact tracing approach. Alternative broad-based approaches to outbreak response at a facility-wide or unit level are also …
Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of September 10, 2021 Updated source control recommendations to address limited situations for healthcare facilities in counties with low to moderate community transmission where select fully vaccinated individuals could …
Combined application for American Rescue Plan rural funding and Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 will open on September 29 The Biden-Harris Administration announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through …
Overview During this COCA Call, presenters will discuss Post-COVID conditions (PCC), an umbrella term for the wide range of health consequences present four or more weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2, which includes Long-COVID. It can be …
Cross-setting Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the Maintenance and Development of Vaccination-Related Items and Measures for the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Nursing Home (NH), and Home Health (HH) …
2022 ICD-10-CM From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/icd-10/2022-icd-10-cm The 2022 ICD-10-CM files below contain information on the ICD-10-CM updates for FY 2022. These 2022 ICD-10-CM codes are to be used for discharges occurring from October 1, 2021 through September …
The section “SNF Qualifying Hospital Stay (QHS) and Benefit Period Waivers” in MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been updated. The …
PUBLIC HEALTH SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 Estimates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Among Nursing Home Residents Not Reported in Federal Data Karen Shen, PhD; Lacey Loomer, PhD, MSPH; Hannah Abrams, MD; et al. This cross-sectional study examines the magnitude of unreported COVID-19 …
CMS’s COVID-19 Data Included Required Information From the Vast Majority of Nursing Homes, but CMS Could Take Actions To Improve Completeness and Accuracy of the Data (A-09-20-02005) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) COVID-19 data …
Overview During this COCA Call, presenters will provide updates on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2021-2022 influenza vaccination season and guidance for coadministration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Call Details …
Memo # 21-07-ALL Posting Date 2021-09-03 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary To provide guidance on how the CMS Location staff will conduct Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS) in FY2021. Admin Info 21-07-ALL (PDF) Excerpt: For FY2021, there …
An effective in-service program not only ensures competency and meets regulatory requirements, but also incorporates many learning styles and fosters the enjoyment of learning. Given the resources that a facility must dedicate to its in-service …
Lead certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs can create positive change in nursing homes. While program goals often vary from facility to facility, lead CNA programs may improve resident quality of life and quality of care, …
Preference Based Living is offering nursing homes an Individualized Positive Psychosocial Intervention (IPPI) Quality Improvement Project (QIP) to nursing homes who sign up by Dec. 31, 2021. This program guides direct care workers to engage …
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 …
Question: Is there specific guidance regarding staff working in multiple facilities? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-CT, QCP: Currently, there are no federal guidelines specific to staff who work in multiple facilities. However, …
Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) Overview Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Funds About Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Funds A CMP is a monetary penalty the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may impose against …
Case Western Reserve University researchers, in partnership with Brown University, examine vaccine’s effectiveness over time on seniors and their caregivers 1-Sep-2021 5:00 PM EDT, by Case Western Reserve University Newswise — CLEVELAND—A new, multi-institutional study led by …
2021 Hurricane Ida Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PDF) (PHE) on August 30, 2021, giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries in Louisiana, effective …
Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2021–22 Influenza Season Recommendations and Reports / August 27, 2021 / 70(5);1–28 Summary This report updates the 2020–21 …
This video [1 minute, 29 seconds] explains how to navigate the Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network’s resources site, find the latest news, and search for materials by topic or other filters. Audio description version
The following data sets were updated Aug. 1 and released Aug. 25 at https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/search?theme=Nursing%20homes%20including%20rehab%20services. Note: The First Two data sets were updates Sept. 3. Provider Information General information on currently active nursing homes, including number …
With the introduction of the vaccine mandate for nursing home employees, many organizational leaders fear staff, especially certified nursing assistants (CNAs), will quit rather than get the vaccine. This week, several industry experts have voiced …
The Individualized Positive Psychosocial Intervention (IPPI) kits and training videos show effective techniques that direct-care workers can use to lead brief personal care and leisure activities specially designed for residents with dementia. The program uses data nursing …
Weekly health care personnel (HCP) & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting Long-term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. August 2021 update Updated …
Since the public health emergency began, both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and directors of nursing services (DNSs) have been focused on infection control and prevention—and rightfully so. Yet while crisis-oriented actions …
Editor’s note: This is the final article in a three-part series on elopement prevention and response in nursing homes. The first article looked at risk assessment and care planning, and the second article addressed staff …
Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared a new fact sheet and graphic that reiterates important infection control strategies and can be emailed or used …
Question: How can I be part of the Director of Nursing Services – Executive Advisory Panel (DNS-EAP)? Answer from AAPACN: If you are interested in contributing to AAPACN and serving on the DNS-EAP, please send …
Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Long-term Care Facilities Date: Wednesday, Aug 25, 2021Time: 2:30 – 3:30 PM EST In anticipation of recommendations for additional vaccine series, new questions on vaccine doses …
On Aug. 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the …
An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Risk Adjustment Appendix File is now available. This document has been updated to reflect the risk adjustment coefficients for quality measure calculation to …
CMS has an online home for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program. Note: FY 2022 SNF VBP User Guide updated Aug. 17, 2021. See below. Landing page: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/SNF-VBP/SNF-VBP-Page.html Measure Scoring Methodology & …
Yesterday, President Biden announced that nursing homes must vaccinate their staff or lose Medicare and Medicaid funding. The exact guidance and compliance requirements are expected in September. Although this mandate is an effort to help …
Sustained Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 Associated Hospitalizations Among Adults — United States, March–July 2021 Summary What is already known about this topic? COVID-19 mRNA vaccines provide strong protection against severe COVID-19; …
Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Nursing Home Residents Before and During Widespread Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant — National Healthcare Safety Network, March 1–August 1, 2021 Early …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 18, 2021 Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following statement on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is developing an emergency regulation requiring staff vaccinations within the nation’s more than 15,000 Medicare and …
The Five Star Preview Reports are available as of August 16, 2021. To access these reports, select the CASPER Reporting link located on the CMS QIES Systems for Providers page. Once in the CASPER Reporting …
Joining a professional nursing association empowers you with the resources, education, and tools you need to be an educated leader in your profession. You’ll also be able to interact with a strong community of professionals …
Participants will learn to define pressure injury, shear, and friction and complete a risk assessment and identify interventions that address the risk factors for pressure injuries. Download now.
CMS is restarting the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program to help educate providers and reduce future denials and appeals. If your Medicare Administrative Contractor audits you, take advantage of the TPE education, and get up to …
12-Aug-2021 2:55 PM EDT, by Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan Newswise — More than 130,500 nursing home residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic arrived in the United States – 20% of all known American …
This is a public report about a COVID-19 outbreak in a nursing home in Canada where 194 out of 198 residents got COVID-19 (and 39 of them died), and 132 staff also got COVID-19. Obviously …
Staffing data from April 1 – June 30 must be submitted no later than 45 days from the end of the quarter. The final submission deadline for this quarter is August 14, 2021. Aug. 14 …
This Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) resource on best practices for safe vaccine administration is intended to support experienced vaccinators and others administering the COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and staff. The Intramuscular …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MT, AAPACN vice president of education and certification strategy talks about quality measures for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with Pat Newberry. Specifically, they address the differences …
Participants will identify the necessary components of the nurse’s initial post-fall assessment, name potential complications and injuries that can occur from a fall, and identify nursing interventions applicable to stabilize a resident during the initial …
Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual details the requirements for F947 (Required in-service training for nurse aides). To comply with this regulation, a facility’s nurse aide in-service training program must: Ensure competence of all …
Editor’s note: This is the second article in a three-part series on elopement prevention and response in nursing homes. The first article addressed risk assessment and care planning, and a future article will tackle elopement …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo on July 28, 2021, stating that it is removing the 2017 memo regarding the imposition of civil monetary penalties (CMPs) on a per instance …
F947, Required in-service training for nurse aides, requires that each certified nursing assistant (CNA) complete a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training per year starting on the CNA’s hire date. Nurse leaders can customize …
Question: Are there specific requirements for the use of ice packs? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-CT, QCP: Although F697 does name ice packs as a non-pharmacological intervention for pain relief, I do …
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 8, 2021 *Unless otherwise specified, the effective date is the date of service. IMPLEMENTATION DATE: November 8, 2021 GENERAL INFORMATION Background: This CR updates the Medicare manuals with regard to SNF policy …
Friday, August 6, 2021, 1:00 p.m. ET Early Release: Reduced Risk of Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Vaccination — Kentucky, May–June 2021 Early Release: Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 …
The MOQI seeks to reduce avoidable hospitalization among nursing home residents by placing an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) within the care team with the goal of early identification of resident decline. In addition to …
For Older LGBTQ+ Adults, Entering a Nursing Home Can Feel Like Coming out All Over Again New study by Rush researchers calls for a change in practices in long-term care settings 4-Aug-2021 Newswise — As …
National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes: Antipsychotic Medication Use Data Report The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes is committed to improving the quality of care for individuals with …
FY 2022 SNF PPS Final Rule: No PDPM Parity Cuts, but Other Changes Impact SNFs Providers can breathe a sigh of relief that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not move forward …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course for those who are new to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP). This course is designed to provide …
The mAbs Calculator is a free decision-support tool that enables healthcare facilities to make data-informed choices about resource allocations needed to effectively and efficiently provide monoclonal antibody therapeutics to qualified patients. The mAbs Calculator can …
(OEI-01-20-00431) States’ backlogs grew substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, 71 percent of nursing homes (10,913 of 15,295) had gone at least 16 months without a standard survey as of May 31, 2021. By State, …
Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program and Value-Based Purchasing Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2022; and Technical Correction to Long-Term Care Facilities Physical Environment Requirements …
Memorandum Summary CMS is hereby removing the July 7, 2017 Memo (S&C 17-37-NH) from its guidance repository. Discussion CMS is hereby removing the July 7, 2017 Memo (S&C 17-37-NH) from its guidance repository. In that …
The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) is a federal advisory committee chartered to provide advice and guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Secretary of the Department of …
To be a successful director of nursing services (DNS) in a nursing home today and to lead staff in the very important mission to provide the best care possible for our nation’s elderly, there are …
Conflict is a daily reality, yet many of us do our best to avoid it, dreading the time when we will have to navigate interpersonal disputes. Many nurse leaders are similarly uncomfortable with or do …
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a three-part series on elopement prevention and response in nursing homes. Future articles will address staff training, policy and procedure development, and elopement risk management, including mechanical …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) discovered an error in the calculations for the Discharge to Community measure and will be updating the Care Compare website with the corrected data on Sept. 29, …
Question: Is the 3-day hospital waiver still in place? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-CT, QCP: Yes, the Public Health Emergency (PHE) was just renewed again on July 20, 2021, which continues all …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC offers a fact sheet on Candida Auris for infection preventionists: https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/fact-sheets/cdc-message-infection-experts.html For more information about this fungal pathogen and how to deal with it, see this CDC …
Notes from the Field: Transmission of Pan-Resistant and Echinocandin-Resistant Candida auris in Health Care Facilities ― Texas and the District of Columbia, January–April 2021 Weekly / July 23, 2021 / 70(29);1022–1023 Meghan Lyman, MD1; Kaitlin Forsberg, MPH1; Jacqueline …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) discovered an error in measure calculations for the Discharge to Community – Post Acute Care (PAC) Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program measure, and are re-releasing the …
Arch Phys Med Rehabil . 2021 Mar;102(3):480-487. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.09.375. Epub 2020 Sep 28. Objectives: To examine the association of patient and direct-care staff beliefs about patients’ capability to increase independence with activities of daily living (ADL) and the probability …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 16, 2021 Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the availability of an estimated $103 million in American Rescue Plan …
PBJ Daily Nurse Staffing CY 2021Q1 Special Programs/Initiatives – Long Term Care Facility Staffing Payroll-Based Journal Dataset Payroll-Based Journal staffing data submitted by long term care facilities. Data are presented as one row per work …
Most recent updates: July 14, 2021 CDC’s NHSN provides healthcare facilities, such as long-term care facilities (LTCFs), with a secure reporting platform for reporting outcomes and process measures in a systematic way. Reported data are immediately …
Jul 13, 2021 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to address the widening gap in health equity highlighted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and to expand patient access to …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MT, AAPACN vice president of education and certification strategy discusses the art of interviewing potential employees with Sherry Thomas, BS, RN, QCP, IPCO, director of …
Nursing school does not prepare nurse leaders to interview job applicants, so figuring out the process to find the right candidate is often a challenge. Leaders want to find the best fit for the position—someone …
A physician who always sends residents to the emergency department (ED) when nurses call them about a significant change in condition, an advanced practice provider (APP) who routinely orders expensive and unnecessary tests, a physician …
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a toolkit to assist facilities with antibiotic stewardship. This toolkit focuses on three critical areas: Developing and improving a facility’s antibiotic stewardship program Creating a …
Nurse leaders want to hire candidates with the right characteristics and talents necessary to be successful in their jobs. AAPACN’s new Interview Template Tool allows the nurse leader to customize the desired characteristics and talents, …
Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-CT, QCP:F609 and F610 state that the final results of the investigation must be reported within five working days. This means five business days, not calendar days. However, the …
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19. The agency launched the NEP on March 12, 2021, to focus on companies that put the …
Spring 2021 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions HHS has released the spring 2021 list of rules coming from its agencies here: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain?operation=OPERATION_GET_AGENCY_RULE_LIST¤tPub=true&agencyCode=&showStage=active&agencyCd=0900&csrf_token=0E1B877ADA6F1E9E7B917760AB4DF631E1235A1E80343E41CEE5211522813776D81C588749E57D66DD6727F7D1F1E611994A Key agenda items: HHS/CDC Proposed Rule Stage Respirator Certification Fees; Fee …
Covid-19’s toll in nursing homes highlighted major shortcomings in how these facilities handle infection prevention and control. A federal strike team identifies key challenges and promising practices to improve safety for residents and staff. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.21.0144
Improving Health Care Quality for LGBTQ People (Contact Hours 70 min.) Learn to identify sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) terminology to build trust with LGBTQ patients and recognize health disparities that impact many older LGBTQ adults. …
Participants will learn the definition of osteoporosis, how to identify risks for osteoporosis, and select nursing interventions to care for a person with osteoporosis. Download now.
This learning activity should enable the participate to identify major areas of care that culture affects and at least three actions that can be taken to show respect for residents’ diversity. Download now.
The Long-Term Care Toolkit explains the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making, and has tools to support their implementation and improve prescribing in three areas: developing and improving an antibiotic stewardship program, creating a safety …
This learning activity should enable the participate to identify who the customer is, demonstrate good customer service, and discuss the steps of service recovery. Download now.
