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Issue 12, December 18, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Ensuring HIPAA compliance during the pandemic

  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects the privacy of...

• OIG recommendations to CMS

  Every year, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) makes recommendations to CMS to ensure federal...

• Battling obesity

  Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States. Approximately 36.5% of adults are obese...

• Ensure successful resident admissions

  The idea of reducing the risk of litigation through person-centered care is the idea that meeting...

Issue 11, December 4, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• What’s the latest with COVID-19?

  Reporting requirements for nursing homes are constantly changing during the pandemic. CMS has been...

• Overcoming staff challenges

  Working in a SNF can take both a physical and emotional toll on staff members. Everyday challenges...

• Influenza or COVID-19? Identify the differences

  While we have all been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for a majority of 2020, the flu season is...

• Protecting your staff: What are your responsibilities?

  Keeping staff safe is not only a moral obligation, but a legal one as well. SNFs need to ensure...

Issue 10, October 30, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Audits: After the pandemic

  Being prepared for an audit is of utmost importance for SNFs. COVID-19 has completely changed the...

• Takeaways from the FY 2021 SNF final payment rule

  As PDPM reaches the end of its first year, the 2021 SNF final payment rule took effect on October...

• Bloodborne pathogens and standard precautions

  Bloodborne pathogens are something that many SNF staff members will encounter, and it’s...

• Mental illness in older adults

  Mental health problems are common among older adults, the chronically ill or disabled, and the...

Issue 9, September 24, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Keeping up to date with regulations and documentation

  As it has for so many aspects of our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way...

• Keep residents engaged during COVID-19

  There are few communities hit harder by COVID-19 than the elderly nursing home population. Not...

• COVID-19 Q&A

  The ever-changing policies for handling COVID-19 in SNFs are sometimes hard to keep track of. The...

• Communication is key

  Communicating clearly and honestly on a one-to-one basis and in groups is an essential skill set...

• Antibiotic stewardship checklist

  Antibiotic stewardship is imperative in ensuring that medications are properly prescribed and...

Issue 8, August 28, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS blanket waivers during the pandemic

  The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken things up for SNFs and affected nearly all day-to-day activities...

• Preventing staff burnout

  The long-term care industry is one of the most regulated industries in healthcare, and at times it...

• Reopening SNFs amid COVID-19

  As organizations around the country are beginning to reopen, the future for SNFs is still up in the...

• Professionalism and accountability

  Being professional at all times and having self-accountability is crucial when working in a SNF...

Issue 7, July 31, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Recognizing skilled care

  I never thought I would see this question in my lifetime, particularly in 2020, the Year of the...

• Acing your SNF survey

  SNF surveys have pivoted over the past few months to focus on infection control amid COVID-19...

• CMS proposes payment rule for FY 2021

  On April 10, 2020, CMS issued a proposed rule [CMS-1737-P] for fiscal year (FY) 2021 that updates...

• Caring for your LGBT residents

  When providing care for residents, it’s important to be knowledgeable and understanding of...

Issue 6, June 26, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Five guidelines for transferring SNF residents to hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic

  During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, resident transfers between SNFs and hospitals require...

• The new dawn: Coronavirus and long-term care

  The novel coronavirus, also known by the more technical name of severe acute respiratory syndrome...

• End-of-life care in SNFs

  COVID-19 has plagued SNFs for the past few months, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths across...

• How to properly don and doff masks

  Personal protective equipment (PPE) has become an integral part of day-to-day life at SNFs. While...

• Plan of correction for survey deficiencies

  While CMS is currently focusing surveys on infection control and instances of immediate jeopardy...

Issue 5, May 29, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• COVID-19: What SNFs need to know

  As COVID-19 spreads throughout the U.S., SNFs are in a vulnerable position. Residents&rsquo...

• Reducing COVID-19 anxiety in SNFs

  The staff at SNFs are currently on the front lines doing the vital work of battling COVID-19...

• Continuing presence of coronavirus brings new obligations related to OSHA

  As employers begin looking beyond the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and start thinking...

• Tracking and trending infections in SNFs

  The only way to ensure your infection control program is effective is to assess its efficiency on...

• Infection control self-assessment tool

  As CMS focuses surveys on infection control in SNFs, it’s important for SNFs to make sure...

Issue 4, April 24, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Emergency preparedness in the time of COVID-19

  In the face of a global pandemic, SNFs across the country need to have a heightened awareness of...

• ROP Phase 3 requirements

  CMS’ Requirements for Participation (ROP) Phase 3 went into effect on November 28, 2019...

• Restorative nursing programs: The win-win solution

  The quality measure with the most impact on revenue is clearly rehospitalization rates. With...

• The CDC 12-step program for antimicrobial resistance

  The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has developed a 12-step program for addressing...

Issue 3, March 27, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The future of Medicaid

  In early 2019, the Trump administration announced the 2021 federal budget, which called for a...

• Utilizing restorative nursing in your SNF

  SNF residents often face a plethora of challenges that hinder their independence. Approximately 96...

• Infection control in the dietary area

  Although infection control is often given great attention within nursing, the dietary area, and its...

• Rehabilitating the short-term resident

  When seniors are discharged from a hospital and need time to rehabilitate, a short-term SNF stay is...

• Range of motion and positioning

  Exercising muscles is an important aspect of rehabilitating SNF residents. The following tips for...

Issue 2, February 28, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Finding success under SNF VBP

  The SNF value-based purchasing (VBP) program began adjusting Medicare payments a little over a year...

• Keys to successful admissions: Putting your best foot forward

  It is important to start the relationship off right with new residents and their families...

• Assessing pressure injuries

  All pressure injury care begins with accurate wound assessment and healthcare provider...

Issue 1, January 15, 2020 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Concern about ICD-10 Return to Provider codes

  The following is a deep dive into ICD-10 Return to Provider (RTP) codes, written by Renee Kinder...

• SNF pain management in the age of the opioid crisis

  Managing resident pain is an important aspect of care in any skilled nursing facility (SNF), but...

• Nonpharmacological approaches to managing dementia behaviors

  Caring for residents with dementia can be a difficult task, and while pharmacological approaches...

• PPS Alert for Long-Term Care 2019 index

  PPS Alert for Long-Term Care 2019 index