UPDATE Weekly

You never know when you will need to respond to a crisis. You need to be ready to respond! With the recent explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in Texas where more than 100 residents from West Rest Haven Home had to be evacuated and other unfortunate public tragedies – 2013 is proving to be a challenging year. Adding to this already perilous environment, hurricane season is four weeks away and forecasters agree that the 2013 season will be very active with above average numbers of named storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Register TODAY for NCHCFA’s seminar: ALL HAZARDS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR LONG TERM CARE. This seminar will be held at The Sheraton Hotel in Chapel Hill on May 16th, 2013.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Our recommendation is that you consider who the team is that is going to manage an isolated or catastrophic event and bring them to this program. This would include Owners or Regional VPs, Administrators, Directors, Directors of Nursing, Assistant Directors of Nursing, Maintenance Directors and Staff Development. This is a team effort and everyone involved in your disaster plan should be considered.

Click here to register on-line now!

Click here to download and print the seminar brochure and registration form!

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The national theme for the 2013 National Nursing Home Week (NNHW) is Team Care. NNHW will be observed in skilled nursing facilities throughout America, Beginning Mother’s Day, May 12th and continuing through May 18th, 2013.

NNHW’s theme recognizes residents and patients in long term and post-acute care settings, the dedicated staff who care for them, and the value of care planning where everyone “pitches in” for optimal outcomes. The observance is an opportunity to involve families, community members, youth, and others in a community-wide show of support and respect for these individuals and the staff who provide care or support services. Activities are designed to foster intergenerational contact, strengthen family relationships and to encourage volunteerism by individuals and local organizations.

Team Care should be on display at your facility by using special themed products that are available from the AHCA Bookstore. Order soon as quantities are limited. More information is available at the dedicated Web site http://www.nnhw.org and on Facebook. E-mail inquiries should be sent to nnhw@ahca.org. Please inform your staff of the date and theme!

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The law addressing Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) with respect to therapy services provided on or after January 3, 2013 was changed. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has prepared a listing of frequently asked questions. CMS requests that providers carefully review the document. The FAQs can be accessed by clicking here.

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The American Health Care Association (AHCA) continues its efforts to have the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarify its guidance on Manual Medical Review — which CMS is issuing piece by piece. The AHCA therapy work group members prepared a list of questions that was sent to CMS on April 26th. AHCA just received CMS’ answers. Click here to view this document. Remember to use ManualReview@AHCA.org for all your questions!

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Palmetto GBA will host the J11 Part A Medicare Quarterly Updates, Changes and Reminders Webinar on June 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM ET. The quarterly update Webinars are intended to provide ongoing, scheduled opportunities for providers to stay up to date on Medicare requirements. To register for this Webinar, click here.

This Webinar is designed to provide pertinent updates, changes and reminders to assist the provider community in staying compliant with Medicare rules and regulations and will include:

• New and updated Change Requests (CRs)
• Changes to current billing requirements
• Hot Billing Topics
• Top CERT errors

The Audio for the presentation will be broadcast through your computer. For best results, Palmetto GBA recommends that you utilize headsets/headphones. You should not use your telephone to dial into the conference. A copy of the presentation will be available through the event portal once the session begins.

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This Webinar discusses the different types of Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare required notices; from the Generic and Detailed notice under the expedited determinations process to the Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) and Notice of Exclusion from Medicare Benefits (NEMB). After attending this course, SNF Medicare providers will be well versed in all the required Medicare notices.

The webinar will take place on May 22nd from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM. Click here to register.

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Make plans today to join your colleagues for the second annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 6-8, 2013 at the Marriott Grande Dunes Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC. Call the Marriott Resort at (800) 228-9290 to reserve your overnight room. Identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation online, visit http://tinyurl.com/2013symposiumreserve. Please note that when our room block is full, rooms will be on a first come, first served basis at prevailing published rates.

Please call the Association office at (919) 782-3827 with any questions. Brochures will be mailed later this month!

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The North Carolina Culture Change Coalition will be offering a free workshop at three different locations throughout the state. Each location will offer a 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon session or 1:00 – 4:00 PM session.

• May 22, 2013 at Wake County Commons Building (Raleigh) | 4011 Cary Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
• August 6, 2013 at WillowBrooke Court at Plantation Estates | 701 Plantation Estates Drive, Matthews, NC 28105
• October 9, 2013 at Davis Health Care Center | 1011 Porters Neck Road, Wilmington, NC 28411

Administrator CEUs, drinks and snacks will be provided. To register, contact Patsy Rudolph at patsy.rudolph@kindred.com. Comments and questions can be directed to Becky Wertz, becky.wertz@dhhs.nc.gov or by visiting the NC Culture Change Coalition’s Web site at http://www.ltcenhance.com.

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Now you can use LTC Trend Tracker (sm) to download detailed facility level information for rehospitalization, antipsychotics, and turn over data. With a few clicks of the mouse you can have this data delivered in an Excel format for every facility in your organization. The user can use this feature to benchmark certain facility’s performance at the state and national level. In addition, the tool provides the user with their baseline rate, which allows for a quick assessment on progress towards goals. Users of LTC Trend Tracker can use this report for QA/PI goal setting, marketing with hospitals, conversations with ACOs and for corporate reporting.

To learn how to access this report or to register for this free member service, go to http://www.ltctrendtracker.com or contact Peggy Connorton.

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Submit nomination forms today for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) 2013 Volunteer of the Year awards. Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year award must be submitted through the NCHCFA office — not directly from individual facilities. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 17, 2013. Visit the News and Updates section of the Member Center on the Association’s Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com to obtain nomination forms and to review all rules and criteria. Because the nomination forms are reproduced as is and submitted to judges in the long term care community, please make sure your forms are typed. Variations of AHCA’s nomination forms will not be accepted. Faxed nomination forms will not be accepted. The winners will be honored at AHCA’s 64th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 6-9, 2013 in Phoenix, AZ. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail or call Ms. Claire Krawsczyn at ckrawsczyn@ahca.org or (410) 340-2210.

AHCA will also recognize an honoree of distinction from an ICF/IID facility or HCBS Waiver Home for their dedication to improving the quality of life of clients and advancing community understanding of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The same rules/regulations apply as above. (Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities Hero of the Year Award- ID/DD Hero of the Year)

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Mark your calendar now and plan to attend four value-packed days of learning and networking in Phoenix, AZ, October 6-9, 2013! Choose from over 60 sessions in 11 education tracks ranging from advocacy to finance to person-centered care to quality improvement. Take advantage of terrific networking opportunities, outstanding educational programming, and fabulous entertainment, all in a beautiful location. Visit http://www.AHCAconvention.org for event details and registration information! Early bird discount ends July 19, 2013!

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This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org or (919) 782-3827 to order brochures for your facility.

• NCHCFA Member: $30 per 100 brochures plus tax and postage
• Non-Member: $60 per 100 brochures plus tax and postage

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Relationships Matter, the practice of relational coordination can boost continuous improvement in long term care settings.

http://www.providermagazine.com/archives/2013_Archives/Pages/0213/Relationships-Matter.aspx

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“The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” has the Guinness World Record for the toughest tongue twister.

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