UPDATE Weekly

UPDATE will not be published next week due to the Association’s Annual Summer Symposium. UPDATE will resume publication on September 2nd, 2015.

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There is still time to register for the Fourth Annual Summer Symposium, August 26-28, 2015 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the most up to date information affecting long term-care.

NCHCFA’s registration desk will open at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26th and will remain open until 5:30 p.m. Registration will be located in the lobby beside the hotel registration desk. The first session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will be located in Kensington DEF.

What do I wear? Dress for the Summer Symposium is business casual. Do not forget to bring a sweater if you are cold natured. Room temperatures are very difficult to control in such a large setting!

Weather Forecast for the Myrtle Beach Area:

We are looking forward to a great week!

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The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association would like to thank our 2015 Summer Symposium Corporate Sponsors for supporting the upcoming Fourth Annual Summer Symposium in Myrtle Beach, SC: Healthcare Services Group, Medipack Pharmacy, QMX Mobile Health and Southern Pharmacy Services.

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Please plan to join your friends and colleagues in beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina, on September 16th and 17th for the Fourth Annual Autumn Classic Golf Tournament. The event will begin Wednesday with golf, a reception, dinner and program held at the world famous Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. The Pinehurst Autumn Classic is being sponsored by the NC Health Care Facilities Association to benefit our political action committee (PAC). You do not have to play golf to participate! Click here for registration materials.

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On Thursday, August 27, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. ET, there will be a national provider call about ICD-10. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the American Health Information Management Association and the American Hospital Association will provide coding guidance and tips, along with an update on the implementation of ICD-10. Click this link to register for the “Countdown to ICD-10” call.

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It is time once again for the NCHCFA “Fabulous 50” awards! This time-honored event provides the opportunity to acknowledge front line, unlicensed personnel who have provided outstanding care. The Fabulous 50 awards program honors individuals who are the backbone in our facilities because of the support they provide to our residents. A panel of judges from the Education and Programs Committee will select ten nominees from each district. Each of the award recipients will be honored at a dinner and awards presentation in their district. The deadline to receive completed nominations is Tuesday, September 8TH. Please encourage your facility to participate in this special award program.

The dates for the 16th Annual Fabulous 50 Celebrations are:

District I – October 20, 2015, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville
District II – October 22, 2015, Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte
District III – October 27, 2015, Grandover Resort, Greensboro
District IV – October 29, 2015, Mad Boar Restaurant, Wallace
District V – November 5, 2015 Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham

To fill out nomination forms on-line, visit the Member Center of the Association Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Click on “News & Updates”, select “2016 Fabulous 50 Nomination Packet” and choose “Survey Monkey”. If you have any questions about the Fabulous 50 awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827. Pictures for nominations submitted online may be e-mailed to karenl@nchcfa.org or mailed to the Association office.

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As you know, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule change for the SNF/NF Medicare and Medicaid Requirements for Participation on Monday July 13th 2015. The rule is extensive in scope and contains both new requirements and some that have already been issued by CMS via Survey & Certification memoranda. In fact, this proposal represents the first comprehensive change to the conditions of participation (CoPs) since 1991.

NCHCFA is initiating a campaign to impress upon CMS just how important these changes are to skilled nursing facilities in North Carolina. Polly Welsh and Eric Kivisto will oversee this effort. In order for this campaign to be effective, we will need you and as many individuals in your organization as possible to submit comments to CMS on these proposed changes. We are offering members a tool kit to make it easier to participate in this campaign.

Included are:

• Reed Smith’s, AHCA’s Legal Counsel, redline version of the proposed rule indexed according to the specific reference section of the proposed rule
• “Tips on Organizing Your Comments” handout
• Staff distribution chart (These are only our suggestions and these distributions may not be applicable in each facility)
• Response Template which indexes the specific reference section of the Proposed Rule
• Examples of public comments submitted to CMS

We are asking that every administrator, director of nursing, corporate officer, support staffer, everyone with a vested interest in the future of this profession carefully review these proposed changes. Your first assumption may be that the rule changes will only mean bigger challenges, but that may not be the case for all changes. A thoughtful and analytical assessment of the proposed regulations is necessary to assess both the costs and the benefits of the intended changes.

Members are asked to send their concerns and suggested changes to NCHCFA no later than September 2nd.

Filing comments is not as daunting as it may sound. A thoughtful letter will be very helpful. Your comment doesn’t even have to be that long. A meaningful paragraph about how the proposed rule will affect you and your patients and residents will have significant impact. And you can easily submit your comment electronically or by regular mail. We have seen the success of these efforts in other sectors. If done right, we can influence the final rule that CMS issues.

If you would like to receive an electronic copy of the Requirements of Participation (ROP) NCHCFA Tool Kit, please e-mail Eric Kivisto at Erick@nchcfa.org.

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They say things in Texas are bigger and better. The AHCA/NCAL 66th Annual Convention & Expo is shaping up to be just that, all from historic and beautiful San Antonio. Experience the food, the landmarks, and the fun of this Texas-sized destination, while you network, learn, and enjoy yourself at this must-attend event. This is not just a networking and educational event: this helps AHCA/NCAL further their mission to deliver solutions for quality care. The 66th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo is a chance to share your knowledge and learn from your peers, your contemporaries, and experts in long term and post-acute care. The fact that it takes place in San Antonio, one of the southwest’s most colorful and entertaining cities, just makes it even better!

Register now! Additional savings are available when multiple people register from the same facility. There is something for everyone at the 66th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo.

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The North Carolina Directors of Nursing Administration Long Term Care, Inc. (NCDONA) are celebrating 20 years. The 20th Annual NCDONA Multistate Conference will be held at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort from September 23-26, 2015. There will be opportunities for multiple continuing education credits for Directors of Nursing as well as Administrators and for the first time, NCDONA will be offering the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) Course. At the completion of this course, attendees will be eligible to apply for certification. Visit http://ncdonaltc.com/register to register today! Seating is limited so do not wait to reserve yours!

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It’s not too late to sign up for the Advancing Excellence 2015 Do You Webinar Series. Immediate registration is available on http://www.AELTCC.org! Most webinars dig deeper into an Advancing Excellence Goal plus a couple more spotlight some of the hot topics to LTC and LTSS.

2015 Do You Webinar Series fast and easy registration. It’s all there!

Not sure you’ll be available for one or more or has the Webinar already happened? No worries. We’ll send the link to the Webinar to those who don’t get on the live event. Note: no administrator CEUs will be given for those not watching the live event.

Latest insights, trends and tips on hot topics in the field to be presented by AELTCC-affiliated power-house thought leaders. Earn NAB CEU credits with cutting-edge Webinars. Learn from top experts in areas ranging from dementia care to wellness, staff engagement and beyond.

AELTCC recently launched its one-of-a-kind Webinar series. The 10 DO YOU Webcasts line up some of the nation’s foremost thought leaders as they discuss their latest insights and tips on some of the hottest topics and current issues facing today’s long-term care communities.

“This is a great opportunity for administrators and directors of nursing to bring their teams together,” says Doug Pace, AELTCC Executive Director, “and watch how these issues relate to the 9 Advancing Excellence Goals, QAPI and other national quality-improvement initiatives. We’ve been working with educators, researchers and long-term care professionals to develop these teaching sessions so that senior leaders can sit down and watch them with their nursing and direct-care staffs.”

Each Webinar is $49 if ordered individually; $39 each for 3 to 5; and $29 each for 6 to 10. All Webinars must be registered for at the same time. One NAB continuing education credit is available per Webinar.

Check out all 10 Webinars — beginning July 1:

• Aug 26 Do You Want Better Outcomes?
• Sep 16 Do You Want Your Residents to Remain Mobile?
• Sep 30 Do You Minimize Infections & Hospitalizations in Your Community?
• Oct 14 Do You Know the Impact of Green House on Medicare Spending and Nursing Home
Quality of Care?
• Oct 28 Do You Know How High Tech Meets High Touch?
• Nov 18 Do You Know Your Residents’ Preferences?

Practical tips and take-aways will be provided for each topic, making each Webinar a valuable resource to help navigate our ever-more challenging field.

Register now to get the full value of the DO YOU Webinar series!

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Mark your calendars for this wonderful opportunity to earn CEU’s while hearing from the best about this important topic! This seminar will be held in Greensboro, NC on September 30th, 2015. Brochures will be mailed next week.

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This book will show you the true financial consequences of unchecked resident readmission and provide you with the tools to do something about it! It delivers several practical strategies your facility can employ, such as enhanced resident assessment and documentation policies, provider partnerships that improve transitions of care, staff education tools, and methods to achieve resident and staff involvement. You will learn how to ensure smooth care transitions through resident education and effective communication with staff and other care providers, reduce costs associated with re-hospitalizations and maintain or improve the resident’s quality of life.

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

Product #8238
AHCA MEMBERS $129.00

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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. To order, e-mail your request to Donna Snyder at donnas@nchcfa.org.

• NCHCFA Member: $30.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping
• Non-Members: $60.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping

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Connecting kids with seniors

http://www.mcknights.com/news/connecting-kids-with-seniors/article/429426/C

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When Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, he carried with him a piece from the Wright brothers’ first airplane.

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