UPDATE Weekly

OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. All nursing centers and assisted living centers must train staff on this new standard by December 1, 2013. Attached is a summary of the training requirements and a brief power point presentation that can be used in the required training. These were prepared by Jackson Lewis LLP, AHCA’s OSHA consultant. A summary of the OSHA Final Rule related to these changes can be found here.

November Update Training Requirements for OSHA HazCom (DOCX)

Revised Hazard Communication Standard (PPTX)

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The NCHCFA Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held February 23-26, 2014 at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons/Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC! Call the Sheraton at (800) 242-6556 to make your room reservation. Identify that you are with “NC Health Care Facilities Association 2014” to receive the group discounted rate. Brochures outlining specific program information will be mailed in December.

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The North Carolina Culture Change Coalition is accepting culture change grant applications from every certified nursing home.

The Coalition has made major changes to its grant program in accordance with new rules from CMS which took effect in 2012. Facilities may apply for grants using the updated RFA, which is available throughout the year. Once the coalition receives the proposal, trained members will review the application to make sure it meets CMS criteria. Each section of the application will be scored on the basis of incomplete, needs improvement, acceptable, or exceptional. Any section of the proposal receiving an incomplete or needs improvement will be sent back to the facility, and a trained coalition member will mentor the facility to help refine the section(s). Once all sections meet the acceptable or exceptional score, DHHS will help the facility convert the application into CMS’s required format and will then send the application to CMS for review. CMS has 45 days to make a determination on the application and may contact the facility for further information if necessary. Approval or denial is made by CMS and all decisions are final.

While this represents a major change in the method for reviewing grant proposals, the Coalition is willing to work with any eligible facility wishing to use CMP money to fund enhancement projects so they have the best chance of having their application approved by CMS. The revised RFA became available in early April and was sent to the administrators of all eligible North Carolina facilities. If you have any questions about the program, or need assistance with the application process, please contact Becky Wertz at becky.wertz@dhhs.nc.gov.

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A Special Edition article describes SNF Consolidated Billing (CB) as it applies to ambulance services for SNF residents. The SNF CB requirement makes the SNF responsible for including on the Part A bill that it submits to its MAC almost all of the services that a resident receives during the course of a Medicare-covered stay, except for a small number of services that are specifically excluded from this provision. Click here to read additional information.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a memo related to full sprinklering of nursing centers. This memo includes actions that a nursing center may take to substantially lower exposure to fire risks while a sprinkler system is being installed. As well, there is additional information related to enforcement actions that may be taken when a nursing center has not met the required deadline for full sprinklering, and an update Question and Answer document about full sprinklering. (NOTE: this sprinklering requirement and memo applies to all SNFs, NFs, and any other provider who is inspected for fire safety using nursing center fire and life safety requirements.)

This memo can be found by clicking here.

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This RFB clarifies information on issues to consider before a change in the scope of services for: hospice and space leasing, peritoneal dialysis, ventilator dependency, mobile ventilators, outpatient rehabilitation, and Alzheimer’s and Other Related Dementia Special Care Units. This is pursuant to 10A NCAC 13D .2104 REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE RENEWAL OR CHANGES which includes “(c) The facility shall notify the Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section of the Division of Health Service Regulation within one working day following the occurrence of (4) changes in magnitude or scope of services”. Given this requirement for notification, it is recommended that facilities involve NCDHSR staff early in the scope of services change process. Please access this RFB by link: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/nhlcs/pdf/rfb_administration.pdf.

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Based on years of research, this practical guide illustrates the far-reaching benefits of empowered work teams in long-term care organizations and explains in everyday terms how to implement the concept. The authors present a fully-validated model for introducing the empowered work team concept to direct care staff, gaining support from the administration, and supervising the teamwork process over time. Hands-on tools include assessment forms, staff training materials, and step-by-step implementation guidelines. Guidance and troubleshooting tips are provided in the resource’s final chapter. Facility and program administrators, directors of nursing, staff supervisors, and team leaders will find this guidebook an invaluable tool for nurturing a more effective and motivated staff and, as a result, an improved care environment.

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343.

Product #8250
AHCA MEMBERS $34.95

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Important information for residents and families. This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order brochures for your facility.

NCHCFA Members: $30.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping

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Nearly half of all boomers are gaming, survey shows.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/baby-boomers-video-games_n_4297675.html

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While a member of Congress and as President, John F. Kennedy donated his entire salary to charity. Kennedy began donating his salary to charity in 1947, when he became a congressman for Massachusetts’s eleventh district. Between his nearly two years as president (as of the end of 1962), eight years as a Massachusetts senator, and six years as a congressman, he donated a total of nearly $500,000.

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