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. A summary of the training requirements and a brief power point presentation that can be used in the required training can be found below. 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 2014 AHCA Quality Award Application Packets are now available.

2014 Dates/Deadlines

• Application Process Opens: December 16, 2013
• Bronze and Gold Application Deadline: January 30, 2014
• Silver Application Deadline: February 27, 2014

Educational Resources

• 2014 Bronze Criteria Series: The Bronze Criteria Series is a sequential series of videos, or seminars, that address each of the twenty Bronze Criteria. This series was developed to help applicants understand and meet the demands of the Bronze criteria.
  To check out this series; please download the 2014 Bronze Viewing Guide.
• AHCA/NCAL Management Series: Geared toward Silver and Gold applicants, this is a series of management seminars designed around the Baldrige Criteria. To get started, applicants should download the AHCA/NCAL Management Series Viewing Guide. This viewing guide provides a direct link to the seminar for each of the categories, as well as supplemental seminars on process, results, and developing an organizational profile. The seminars are designed to help facilities understand how to build systems that are fully responsive to the demands of the criteria at the Silver and Gold levels. Repeat applications can use the series to specifically focus on improving low scoring categories as identified in their feedback reports.

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Long Term Care (LTC) Prior Approval (PA) requests require a valid Physician (MD) signature that is dated within 30 calendar days prior to the date of submission. Providers must use one of the following forms to submit the MD signature:

• Long Term Care FL2 Form (DMA372-124)
• Physician’s Signature for Authorization of Level of Care (DMA-0100)

Both forms are NOT required. These forms are located on the NCTracks Provider Portal at https://www.nctracks.nc.gov/content/public/providers/prior-approval.html. The NCTracks LTC team recommends that you use the Long Term Care FL2 form with all your LTC PA requests. This form provides the most information possible so your request can be processed more quickly.

The prior approval (PA) number is not required on the claim and it is not used in processing the claim. The system will automatically match the claim information to the appropriate PA in the system. Including the PA number on the claim has no effect on the payment of the claim.

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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM ET.

Planned Agenda:
I. Opening Remarks
II. Announcements & Updates
• Medicare Announcement
• JIMMO Announcement
• National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes
• MDS Training
• Questions from previous SNF/LTC ODF
III. Open Q&A

To participate on the call, dial (800) 837-1935 and reference Conference ID 14947458.

Encore is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering the Conference ID. Encores for ODFs held on Thursdays can be accessed the following Monday. The recording is available for 3 business days.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums.

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Train your entire staff on the importance of fire safety with this comprehensive training program. The instructor manual provides objectives, activities, and a list of required equipment and procedures. The included videos, Flashover: Point of No Return and Human Behavior in Fires, reinforce your lessons by demonstrating fire containment and emergency procedures and by examining how people react to a fire emergency.

Please visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343 to order this product.

Product #6732
AHCA MEMBERS $55.95

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Does your facility need an extra copy of the Membership Directory around the office? This informative guide lists the NCHCFA Board of Directors, member facilities (by facility, administrator and district), staff contacts, and the NCHCFA trade members. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order one for your facility.

NCHCFA Members only: $35.00 plus tax and shipping

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‘Virtual hands’ take stroke rehabilitation into a new realm, researchers believe.

http://www.mcknights.com/virtual-hands-take-stroke-rehabilitation-into-a-new-realm-researchers-believe/article/321536

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Male turkeys are called gobblers, because they are the only ones that can make the gobbling sound. Female turkeys communicate through clucks and small, chirp-like noises.

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