The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) published a final rule on Improving Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. This rule, effective January 1, 2024, modifies existing requirements for reporting workplace injuries and illnesses. This rule directly impacts long term care (LTC) facilities (skilled nursing, assisted living, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ID/DD)) with more than 100 employees.
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AHCA Publishes New Behavioral Health Resource
AHCA’s Clinical Practice Committee has published a Quick Guide to Behavioral Health Resources in LTC. This guide provides a comprehensive list of free Behavioral Health resources for Long Term Care (LTC) providers. LTC providers seeking assistance and support on promoting or managing behavioral health issues among residents are encouraged to check out this guide.
These resources can be used directly by the facility and shared with residents and their families.
Bullying Among Seniors: A Prevention and Surveillance Guide – Updated Resource!
Bullying isn’t limited to the playground. Assisted living communities care for millions of seniors with diverse backgrounds and unique needs and behaviors. Bullying and its adverse effects have received greater focus in recent years, creating a need to have systems and processes in place to prevent bullying among seniors living in long term care.
For this reason, NCAL has updated the Bullying Among Seniors: A Prevention and Surveillance Guide. This guide will help organizations understand:
- What bullying is
- How to identify bullying
- Why bullying might occur
- Victim risk factors
- How to create a positive environment
- How to respond to incidents of bullying
Skin and Wound Care Program Essentials
Making sure that your skin and wound care program is comprehensive and updated is essential to increasing positive outcomes, reducing risk, and saving on costs. Hear more from Melissa Morgan, clinical resource manager at Medline Industries.
CMS Creates a SNF 5-Claim Probe and Educate Review Webpage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the start of the SNF (skilled nursing facility) 5-Claim Probe & Educate Review program. As part of the effort to lower the SNF improper payment rate, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will be reviewing a small number of claims from every Medicare-billing SNF in the country. The SNF will then be offered education to address any errors identified, helping them to avoid future claim denials and adjustments.
Find out more by going to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Creates-a-SNF-5-Claim-Probe-and-Educate-Review-Webpage-.aspx
Get Ready for National Assisted Living Week 2023!
National Assisted Living Week® (NALW) 2023 is quickly approaching, so make plans now to celebrate! Gerald Hamilton, Chair at the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), has a few words of encouragement in this short video message to help you get started.
CMS Final Rule Removes COVID-19 Testing and Staff Vaccination Requirements
This rule will be effective 60 days after it is published in the federal register, which is scheduled to happen on June 5, 2023.
Read more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Final-Rule-Removes-COVID-19-Testing-and-Staff-Vaccination-Requirements.aspx
Collaboration Is Key to Effective Pain Management
Recent estimates indicate more than half of residents in nursing homes suffer from chronic pain. Yet multiple studies over the years show it remains largely undertreated.
That’s not suprising, given the challenges of pain management across the population generally. There’s simply no clear way to measure pain. And identifying the source can be just as tricky.
In senior communities, particularly in nursing homes, there are additional complexities—from residents living with cognitive impairments and communication limitations to access to diagnostic and specialty services.
Making sure pain is being properly evaluated and treated requires a coordinated and personalized approach involving the residents’ doctors, specialists, therapists, nursing center staff, and families.
Read more at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/Collaboration-Is-Key-to-Effective-Pain-Management.aspx
The Quality of Your Care Is Connected to the Competency of Your Staff
The safety of a health care facility is completely dependent upon the competency of its staff.
This may seem like an obvious observation, but this is a challenge health care organizations face every day. They must provide life-saving care to their patients while also simultaneously advocating for their employees’ competence and well-being. If one of these areas slips, the other one suffers. And when the lives of patients are in your hands, your facility cannot afford not to prioritize competency-based staffing.
Find the complete article at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/The-Quality-of-Your-Care-Is-Connected-to-the-Competency-of-Your-Staff.aspx
National Nurses Week Freebies, Deals & Coupons
Every year from May 6th to 12th, nurses are recognized for their service and dedication to caring for others and improving the health of patients nationwide through National Nurses Week. Throughout the week, healthcare organizations celebrate their teams, and you’ll even see nurses featured on the news. People across the nation thank the nurses that have made a difference in their lives.
Nurses Week celebrates the effort, dedication, and sacrifice nurses make every day. Nurses are essential members of America’s healthcare workforce who provide care through every stage of life, working with patients at their most intimate and vulnerable moments. Nurses Week offers a chance to highlight and celebrate nurses for all they do.
Find all the Nurses Week Deals for 2023 at https://nurse.org/articles/free-nurse-week-giveaways/