UPDATE Weekly

UPDATE Weekly #1975 – June 27, 2018

On-Line & Mobile Version

This Week’s Table of Contents:

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE SEVENTH ANNUAL NCHCFA SUMMER SYMPOSIUM

Register today for the seventh annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium, August 8-10, 2018 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC for the most up to date information affecting long term care. You can register and pay on line at NCHCFA’s new Website! Visit http://www.nchcfa.org & click on the Calendar or the Seventh Annual Summer Symposium Registration Banner! Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 11.5 hours of continuing education.

Call the Embassy Suites Resort at (800) 876-0010 to reserve your overnight room. Use group code “HCF” to identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation online, visit https://tinyurl.com/ncsummersymposium2018.

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REGISTER TODAY FOR UPCOMING SEMINAR! ACT OF VIOLENCE RESPONSE – HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND DURING AND AFTER AN ACT OF VIOLENCE

The NC Health Care Facilities Association presents Act of Violence Response – How to Prepare For and Respond During and After an Act of Violence. Recent tragedies remind us that the risk is real: an act of violence can happen in any place at any time. Preparing for an act of violence in a long term care facility requires a multifaceted approach. Assessing the risk of violence requires a detailed analysis. The risk assessment will facilitate effective policies and plans for response, communication, and recovery. Training staff involves conveying response protocols as well as being attentive to the emotional stress associated with the training and helping staff understand practical methods to protect themselves. The assessment, plans, and training will all be minimized if the organization has no approach to addressing physical, emotional, and operational recovery. This workshop will walk participants through assessing the risk of an act of violence, examine best practices for training staff, and discuss development of comprehensive plans and policies to manage an act of violence in a long term care facility.

About the Speaker

Will Moorhead, J.D., MEP, is President and Owner of All Clear Emergency Management Group. He has served in the emergency management field both as a first responder and in State and local government capacities. He has over 25 years of experience in the fire service and is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP). His previous positions as Legal Analyst for South Carolina Emergency Management Division and Director of Public Health Preparedness for South Carolina Division of Health and Environmental Control Region 2 provided many opportunities to see first-hand how legal issues impact emergency management. Will has worked in the consulting arena for 11 years where he has been able to share his expertise in emergency management.

This session will be offered in three locations:
July 18, 2018 – Pennybyrn at Maryfield, High Point, NC
July 19, 2018 – Bradley Creek Health Center at Carolina Bay, Wilmington, NC
July 24, 2018 – Aston Park Health Care Center, Asheville, NC

Click here to view and print the brochure with registration form. Click here to register online now!

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AHCA SUBMITS COMMENTS ON CMS FY2019 SNF PPS RULE

As previously announced, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS). The new payment system, called the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), would replace the Resource Utilization Group (RUGs) PPS entirely on October 1, 2019. It is still unclear if CMS’ proposed implementation date is feasible.

Movement from RUGs to PDPM would be the most significant change in SNF payment since the late 1990s. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) submitted two comment letters, an early letter submitted on May 24th emphasizing their key concerns and a formal, detailed comment letter earlier this week. Both letters represent extensive member input and guidance on the part of AHCA’s Reimbursement Committee, Clinical Practices Committee, Clinical and Performance Data Management Committee, and the Legal Committee.

The June comment letter is one tactic of the AHCA PDPM advocacy strategy. In the coming weeks and months, AHCA will be meeting with a variety of senior CMS officials to emphasize concerns, proposed solutions, and member priorities. AHCA will also continue valuable collaboration with over 14 sister associations with whom they are working on PDPM advocacy.

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SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SESSION OF THE WEEK – REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE PRESENTED BY SAM CLARK

NCHCFA Vice President of Finance, Sam Clark, will be reviewing recent and upcoming changes impacting nursing facility reimbursement, including Value-Based Purchasing, Medicaid Managed Care, the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare Part A Payment Rule, the Proposed Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), Fair Rental Value and others.

Don’t miss this informative program on Wednesday, August 8th at 2:45 pm during the seventh annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 8-10, 2018 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC. Register today at our new Website at http://www.nchcfa.org.

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LUNCH AND LEARN WEBINAR SERIES ON JULY 19th

NCHCFA has an additional benefit of membership, a one-hour Webinar on a timely and relevant topic to its members at no additional charge. There will be no CEUs offered for these Webinars.

The next Webinar is scheduled for July 19th, from 12:00 PM -1:00 PM. Webinar details are below:

Title: Roommate Changes and Resident Room Relocations (Under the Revised CMS Requirements of Participation (RoP)
Presenter: Ken Burgess and Iain Stauffer, Poyner Spruill, LLP

This Webinar will focus on CMS’s revised regulations governing notices required before, and limitations on, the relocation of residents within a SNF and roommate preferences- including when residents have the right to refuse a planned relocation from one room to another within a skilled nursing facility.

Click here to register.

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PERSPECTIVE ON PBJ – HEAR FROM CMS AND OTHER EXPERTS

Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting is due every quarter. In this free Webinar, those closest to PBJ share their insights on the reporting process. You’ll hear from Evan Shulman, Deputy Director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Nursing Homes, Quality and Safety Oversight Group. He will be joined by CPA Tamara Basso Bensky of Myers and Stauffer LC, one of the firms that conducts PBJ audits on behalf of CMS. Tom Jegou, SmartLinx product manager and compliance specialist, will round out the panel of experts.

PBJ has come a long way since reporting became mandatory in July 2016. This information-packed Webinar will take an in-depth look at PBJ: where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re headed.

In this one-hour Webinar, participants will:

  • See how PBJ continues to impact CMS Five-Star Ratings
  • Understand the methodology and goals of PBJ audits
  • Learn how quality of care has improved since PBJ implementation
  • Get a glimpse into where PBJ is headed

The Webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 17th at 2:00 PM ET. To register, click here.

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AHRQ SAFETY PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING ANTIBIOTIC USE

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University and NORC at the University of Chicago, has developed the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use. They are seeking long term care facilities interested in joining a national program that aims to improve antibiotic prescribing practices and assist facilities with implementing effective antibiotic stewardship programs. This is a one-year program beginning in December 2018. There is no fee to participate. A future cohort will enroll ambulatory practices.

Learn more by attending an informational Webinar:

  • Tuesday, July 10th at 12:30 PM ET
  • Thursday, July 26th at 2:30 PM ET
  • Tuesday, August 9th at 2:30 PM ET
  • Thursday, August 30th at 10:30 AM ET

E-mail the program team at http://antibioticsafety@norc.org for more information.

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NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RECEIVES GRANT TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO 200 NURSING HOMES THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA

Metro Atlanta-based Second Wind Dreams received a $1.5 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand its Virtual Dementia Tour in nursing homes throughout North Carolina. The non-profit’s Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT) is meant to build sensitivity and awareness for caregivers of those with dementia and improve the quality of life for those with dementia. The tour is a simulation that allows people to experience sensory impairments, vision loss, imbalance and confusion those with dementia often experience. The funds will be used to provide this experience in 200 nursing homes in North Carolina beginning March 2018. Applications are first-come, first-served.

Eligible Nursing Homes will receive:

  • VDT conducted by a Second Wind Dreams certified trainer
  • Designation as a “Dementia-Sensitive Environment”
  • Person-centered assessment of staff performance
  • VDT conducted in the local community
  • CEU credit for multiple domains
  • Staff in-service training

ALL AT NO COST TO YOUR NURSING HOME!

All certified, skilled nursing homes are welcome to apply to participate in the CMP Funds project. Contact Ebony Blanding, Grants Coordinator, at grants@secondwind.org for more information or by calling (470) 242-0170. To download the flyer and application, click here.

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NCHCFA SPRING DISTRICT MEETINGS RECAP

Thank you all who hosted and attended the 2018 NCHCFA Spring District Meetings. The sharing of timely information and best practices is one way that NCHCFA members work to improve quality performance in member facilities. One of the items discussed during the spring meetings was steps that facilities could take to continue the positive trend of lowering Long Stay Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) rates. Dr. Adrienne Mims, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AGSF, Vice President, Chief Medical Officer for Alliant Quality was kind enough to share some information that may be of use to NCHCFA member facilities.

  1. To prevent UTIs, ensure that residents are well hydrated, especially those with dementia.
  2. Be sure that staff is proficient in perineal care, especially for residents with an indwelling catheter.
  3. In October 2017, CMS simplified the criteria to report a UTI as:
    • It was determined that the resident had a UTI using evidence-based criteria such as McGeer, NHSN, or Loeb in the last 30 days,
    • A physician-documented UTI diagnosis (or by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or clinical nurse specialist if allowable under state licensure laws) in the last 30 days. (Pages I-8 – I-9)

References:

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NATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND TOP-NOTCH EDUCATION AT THE AHCA/NCAL CONVENTION!

AHCA

It’s time to register and make plans to join your colleagues from around the country in beautiful San Diego for the most valuable long term and post-acute care gathering of the year. AHCA/NCAL has a diverse slate of keynote speakers who will share personal stories of challenge and success that will inspire and motivate you.

Choose from more than 70 sessions with topics to support all professional roles in long term and post-acute care! By attending education sessions from Sunday through Wednesday, attendees can earn up to 16 administrator CEs (separate ticketed sessions can increase CEs). Hear from speakers with advanced degrees, advanced experience, and a passion to further the profession. AHCA’s faculty is ready to share their considerable expertise with you.

Register Today. The early bird registration deadline is July 20th, don’t miss it!

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AHCA PRODUCT OF THE WEEK – DISASTER NURSING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

This new edition addresses climate change, global complex human emergencies, caring for patients with HIV/AIDS following a disaster, information technology and disaster response, and hospital and emergency department preparedness. The text provides a vast amount of evidence-based information on disaster planning and response for natural and environmental disasters and those caused by chemical, biological, and radiological elements, as well as disaster recovery. It also addresses leadership, management, and policy issues in disaster nursing and deepens our understanding of the importance of protecting mental health throughout the disaster life cycle.

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

Product #8320
AHCA MEMBERS $110.00

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PHYSICAL RESTRAINT BROCHURES

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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NEED TO GO

Trust is the ultimate tool to unleash your team’s potential

Smart Brief Article

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DID YOU KNOW?

One 18″ pizza is more pizza than two 12″ pizzas.

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North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association
5109 Bur Oak Circle | Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 782-3827 Fax | (919) 787-8418 | NCHCFA.org

Categories: UPDATE Weekly