Category: AHCA/NCAL

CMS Announces Ending of COVID Staff Vaccine Requirement, Other Protocols

Today, t​he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new regulatory memo QSO-23-13-ALL​ entitled “Guidance for Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023.” The memo outlines each waiver CMS put into place during COVID-19 and how the end of the PHE will affect those waivers. Additionally, the memo outlined timelines for certain regulatory requirements issued through the PHE. This memo applies to Long Term Care (LTC), Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF), and other provider types.
Find out more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Announces-Ending-of-COVID-Staff-Vaccine-Requirement,-Other-Protocols.aspx

Just For LTC RNs – The Spring Gero Nurse Prep Sale is On!

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrant’s can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through June 1, 2023 with promo code GNP4QUALITY (all caps).​

Specifically designed for registered nurses working in long term care, this curriculum provides comprehensive online training that leads to board certification in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for RNs.

Repeated research conducted by AHCA/NCAL since 2016 finds compelling reasons to consider the Gero Nurse Prep course and ANCC Board certification for RNs. Nursing facilities with at least one ANCC Board certified RN experienced:
  • Fewer deficiencies on average
  • Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
  • More stars — nearly twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility
  • Lower re-hospitalization rates
Gero Nurse Prep makes a big difference even for those RNs who are not interested in pursuing ANCC Board certification. Nurses who complete Gero Nurse Prep show an average 24 percent increase between their pre- and post-course test scores. Quite simply, Gero Nurse Prep delivers smarter RNs who are better prepared to deliver quality geriatric nursing care in skilled nursing and assisted living settings. Both two-year RNs and BSNs can take the Gero Nurse Prep course and sit for the ANCC exam.
RNs have one year to complete Gero Nurse Prep and earn 30 quality nursing contact hours – enough to meet the criteria for taking the ANCC certification exam. Gero Nurse Prep grads who choose to sit for the ANCC gerontological nursing certification exam ($395 separate fee paid to ANCC) have a pass rate of 95% on their first try. RNs who pass the ANCC exam can then use the GERO-BC™ credential after their RN credential.
Watch this video or visit the website at geronurseprep.com to learn more about this online program designed to help RNs increase their geriatric nursing skills and to pass the ANCC exam. And don’t forget to use the GNP4QUALITY promo code when registering by June 1 to save $200 off the regular $790 Gero Nurse Prep registration fee.

SAMHSA Establishes Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently established the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) to offer nursing facility staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to training, technical assistance, and additional resources, at no cost. Its focus areas include: Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Co-Occurring Disorders (COD), and Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). In addition to the resources listed below, the COE-NF provides tailored technical assistance, such as an individualized plan to assist facilities with specific behavioral health needs.

Find out more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/SAMHSA-Establishes-Center-of-Excellence-for-Behavioral-Health-in-Nursing-Facilities.aspx

Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in LTC with the AHRQ Safety Program

Skilled Nursing Facilities are invited to participate in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) program to reduce the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multi-drug resistant organisms. This is a free 18-month program that provides tips, tools, and resources to improve bathing and skincare techniques that have been shown to reduce pressure injuries, wounds, and transmission of infectious pathogens.
Beginning in June 2023, this program combines evidence-based guidance with strategies on how to change the culture of infection prevention and effectively implement infection control practices in your facility. This program will help guide infection preventionists to educate and engage direct care staff on best practices including improvement of hand hygiene, proper skin care, antibiotic stewardship, and environmental cleaning.

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MDS Transition on April 17

​The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is preparing to move to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions. In order to ensure access to the new system, please follow these instructions to create a new account and establish credentials by April 13, 2023.
Completed assessments should be submitted before 8 PM on April 13 to ensure users are within the MDS transmission requirements outlined in the Resident Assessment Instrument manual. Between April 13-17, users will not be able to transmit any assessments.
  • April 13 at 8 PM: Access to the QIES system for MDS submission will end.
  • April 17 at 8 AM: Access to iQIES will be available and users will have the ability to transmit assessments, view validation reports, and other MDS-related reports. Once the transition is completed, iQIES will be used for anything MDS-related.
Please note that Payroll Based Journal will remain in the QIES system with the next data submission deadline on May 15, 2023. Please email the iQIES Service Center​ or call (800) 339-9313 for assistance.

It’s Careers in Aging Week!

​This week is Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), a week dedicated to bringing greater visibility and awareness to the wide-ranging careers in long term care and aging services and to celebrate current employees in the profession. A perfect way to celebrate Careers in Aging Week is to amplify your hiring efforts!

https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/It%E2%80%99s-Careers-in-Aging-Week!.aspx

The Winning Combination of Tech and Touch In Falls Prevention

Implementing a Tech-Plus-Touch Approach
In building a prevention-focused mindset surrounding falls amongst elderly residents, long term care and assisted living communities can benefit from establishing a tech-plus-touch approach. This type of approach leverages technology and digital means to nurture genuine human connections. Tech-plus-touch can radically improve the mobility and health status of seniors while increasing their emotional well-being and confidence. This, along with the ability to monitor functional mobility in real-time and identify changes early can greatly decrease the risk of falling and the number of adverse events.

Read more at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/The-Winning-Combination-of-Tech-and-Touch.aspx

Get Involved in Careers in Aging Week!

Save the date for Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), March 26-April 1, 2023​

People are living longer, and the demand for caregivers in our profession is growing rapidly. As our sector continues to face a historic workforce crisis, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to participate in CIAW and raise awareness about the incredible opportunities available. CIAW is dedicated to bringing greater visibility to the wide-ranging careers in long term care and aging services and to celebrate current employees in the profession. Join us in celebrating, starting March 26 through April 1 — to find out how you can participate and spread the word during CIAW go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Get-Involved-in-Careers-in-Aging-Week.aspx

2023 NSNCW Planning Guide and Products Now Available

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is excited to announce that the 2023 National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) Planning Guide and products are now available at www.nsncw.org.

NSNCW will begin on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14th through Saturday, May 20th, 2023.

Skilled nursing care staff, residents, families, and members of the local community are encouraged to participate in activities that cultivate and spread kindness in honor of the annual observance.

The 2023 Planning Guide offers ideas that can be incorporated into new or planned activities. Download for activity and media tips and to explore an exclusive selection of NSNCW gifts and products.

To find out more and to download the planning guide, please go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/2023-NSNCW-Planning-Guide-and-Products-Now-Available.aspx

Free HealthCap® Webinar Will Examine Emerging Infection Control Risks

HealthCap® is hosting a free webinar titled OIG Recommendations: More Than Just Smoke? on Tuesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. EST.  This program will assist providers in identifying areas of risk related to the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent focus on infection control issues.

A recent OIG study found that nursing homes were not prepared for the sweeping health emergency that COVID-19 created. The OIG said that “significant changes are needed to protect the health and safety of residents and better prepare nursing homes for current and future health emergencies.”

Learn more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Free-HealthCap%C2%AE-Webinar-Will-Examine-Emerging-Infection-Control-Risks.aspx