UPDATE Weekly

The following is an update on the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund from American Health Care Association President and CEO Mark Parkinson.

As I shared in the updates sent last week, employees of Texas’ nursing facilities and assisted living communities worked tirelessly and with great sacrifice to keep residents safe as Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Gulf Coast. During the time they were focused on the care and well-being of others, many of the homes of these workers were impacted by the storm’s devastation.

The Texas Health Care Association Education Foundation has established the Heroes of Long Term Care Hurricane Relief Fund to assist the employees of our members who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. You can donate today at: https://txhca.org/harvey

Thank you for supporting our members and their employees.

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Earlier today, Cindy Deporter emailed the SNF Administrator Web group clarifying the role DHSR plays in coping with natural disasters. To view that e-mail, click here. She also sent links to the CMS Emergency Preparedness Web site. The first one is the general link and the second one is the link directly about Irma.

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/surveycertemergprep/index.html

https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/agency-information/emergency/index.html

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As our members are aware, starting October 1, 2018, all Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare Part A rates will be cut by 2 percent to fund an incentive payment pool. At that time, CMS will adjust payments and return some amount to providers based on how well they do in managing hospital readmissions by meeting or exceeding performance standards. This CMS effort, the SNF Value Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, links financial outcomes to quality performance.

Providers may think they don’t have to focus on the SNF VBP program yet as it does not affect payment until 2018. But CMS is currently collecting rehospitalization data that will be used to determine how much centers earn back.

This week we are featuring Culture Change to Reduce Hospitalization Using Person-Centered Care, part eight of a 10-part resource series designed by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) to support members in reducing rehospitalizations.

Hospitalizations can be a detriment to residents, impacting their quality of life and resulting in earlier mortality, immobility, or cognitive decline. Interventions to prevent hospitalization should be person-centered and individualized.

Check out this resource here to learn more!

For more information about the SNF VBP program and to access additional resources and tools, visit the AHCA SNF VBP Web site here.

Take action today!

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Based on your facility’s Medicare Part A claims, you know why you are getting denials. However, do you know how you compare to other nursing facilities? Click here to read the article on the top denial codes for skilled nursing facilities from Palmetto GBA.

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It is time once again to acknowledge front line, unlicensed personnel who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the long term care profession. This 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 a Nurse Aide winner from each of NCHCFA’s five districts. In addition, one recipient in a non-nursing discipline will receive the Riley W. Clapp Outstanding Service Award. Each of the award recipients will be honored at the Annual Awards Gala during the Annual Convention and Expo on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in Greensboro, NC.

To complete nominations on-line or to obtain additional forms, visit the Member Center of the Association Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Click on “News & Updates”, select “2018 NCHCFA Annual Awards Packet” and choose “Survey Monkey”. If you have any questions about the Annual Awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827. Click here to download and print the brochure. Click here to print the nomination forms. Nominations received in the Association office after Friday, October 20, 2017 will not be considered.

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NCHCFA has partnered with nationally recognized speaker, Cara Silletto and her company Crescendo Strategies, to offer you a new online course. Are you having trouble retaining young workers? Do you find it hard to understand Millennials? If you missed our Full Day Workforce Summit, this 90-minute, self-paced online course shows leaders a Millennial speaker’s first-hand stories about the real generational issues on the T.A.B.L.E. (technology, authority, balance, loyalty, entitlement). Course participants will learn critical insights about all of today’s workers in order to bridge the widening generational gaps and reduce unnecessary employee turnover.

How companies use this online course:

• Consistent training across multiple locations
• Catch-up session for those who missed it live
• New supervisor and manager orientation
• Prep for strategic planning or leadership retreats
• Deep-dive diversity training beyond the basics
• Continuing education credits (1.5 NAB-approved credits)

NCHCFA is pleased to offer member discounts! Click here for more information and promotional codes. Click here to start the course (Remember to enter your promo code).

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For decades, horizontal hostility has been known to play a pivotal role in increasing nursing attrition rates. Team-Building Handbook: Improving Nurse-to-Nurse Relationships offers healthcare organizations a proactive approach to creating a healthy workplace for nursing staff. This small guide provides the core tools they need to build strong teams and avoid the unnecessary expense of finding, hiring, and training new nurses to replace burned-out staff.

This handbook can be used as part of healthcare orientation and precepting programs, as well as for in-services and self-study. Nurses will gain the skills they need to build cohesive teams and combat negativity if it arises in the workplace.

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343. Fax orders may also be placed at (800) 869-5605.

Product #8375
AHCA MEMBERS $100.00

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Amid Hurricane Harvey, Texas Care Providers Lead Residents to Safety

http://www.providermagazine.com/news/Pages/2017/0917/Amid-Hurricane-Harvey,-Texas-Care-Providers-Lead-Residents-to-Safety-.aspx

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George Washington was the first President, but Thomas Jefferson was the first President inaugurated in Washington DC.

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