UPDATE Weekly

The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association would like to thank our 2015 Summer Symposium Corporate Sponsors Medipack Pharmacy and QMX Mobile Health for supporting the upcoming Fourth Annual Summer Symposium in Myrtle Beach, SC!

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NCHCFA has made a change to the agenda for the upcoming 4th Annual Summer Symposium. The NEW program Effect of Palliative Care on Reducing Hospitalizations in the Long-Term Care Continuum will now be held on Wednesday, August 26th from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm.

Register today for Effect of Palliative Care on Reducing Hospitalizations in the Long-Term Care Continuum! Successful integration of palliative care into the post-acute, long-term care environment has been shown to reduce resident hospitalizations. Understanding the differences between palliative care and hospice care are crucial to programmatic successes. Hospitals and health systems are more acutely aware of facilities with aberrant admission/re-admission rates than ever before. As the healthcare marketplace changes, having proven strategies that are aligned with your health systems’ priorities are crucial for success. As the reality of Medicare-imposed payment penalties loom for SNF’s, having good aging-in-place strategies for your resident population is imperative.

Explore one facility’s experience and success with developing and implementing a palliative care program, as Trent Cockerham, formerly of Triad Medical Services of Yadkinville, showcases the facility’s successes and discusses the effect an integrated palliative care program had on one facility’s readmission rates over a 9+ month period of time. Join this interactive discussion and express your facility’s interest in exploring the development of a similar program. Trent Cockerham is a licensed nursing home administrator. He and his organization are working collaboratively with NCHCFA to develop interest in a collaborative pilot to measure the effects palliative care has on the comfort and skill levels of clinical staff in the SNF environment.

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NCHCFA has exceeded its block of rooms for the upcoming Summer Symposium at the Embassy Suites. However, additional rooms have been added to our block in the Brighton Tower (located right beside the Embassy Suites) at the discounted rate and will include the complimentary breakfast buffet and evening reception! Please 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 Symposium attendee! To make your reservation on-line, visit http://tinyurl.com/2015symposiumroomblock.

IMPORTANT!!!! If you made a reservation at the Embassy Suites and did not get the NCHCFA Summer Symposium discounted rate, please call the Association office at (919) 782-3827 or e-mail allisonb@nchcfa.org.

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Register today to attend the fourth annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium August 26-28, 2015 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. Visit http://NursingHomesNC.com and click on Fourth Annual Summer Symposium Registration! Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 12.5 hours of continuing education. Early registration ends July 31, 2015!

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The QIO Program is launching a new, free learning series that offers health care providers nationwide the opportunity to participate in virtual training events focused on health care quality improvement. The series, entitled “Sharing Knowledge, Improving Health Care,” will feature training sessions led by recognized experts and through leaders. Speakers will address hot topics in health care delivery transformation like value-based purchasing and meaningful use, and will connect these national themes with related local services, resources and support available to providers through the QIO program.

The first virtual training session, entitled “The QIO Program in Action – National Benefits, Local Support”, will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 from 3-4 p.m. EDT. During this kick-off webinar, Dennis Wagner, Director of the Quality Improvement and Innovation Group with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will describe the vision of the QIO Program, provide information on the benefits of working with regional Quality Innovation Network-QIOs (QIN-QIOs) and share examples of local success stories involving providers, partners and patients. This information will give providers a better understanding of how they can take full advantage of their participation with the QIO Program. Providers will hear why their commitment is so valued and important, and better understand the impact that their local participation makes at the national level.

To register for the first training session, visit https://qualitynet.webex.com/tc and click “Upcoming” to locate the “National LAN Call”.

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Back by popular demand, NC Health Care Facilities Association will present a repeat seminar on August 11th, 2015 in Greensboro, NC! If you missed this seminar in May, you will not want to miss it again! This program will provide strategies for managing the people, records, and processes for responding to an auditor’s request for records and appealing denials. The role each person plays during this process includes coordination, preparation, documentation, and tracking. Preventing denials in the first place is part of a comprehensive compliance program as an internal QA function.

Topics include, but not limited to the following:

• Audits impacting nursing homes
• Who may audit you
• How to respond to audit requests
• Appealing audits
• The parts your employees play
• How to reduce/prevent audits

Here are only a few comments some of our attendees had to say:

“One of the best presentations I have been to in a while!”

“Speaker was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic with significant experience. Would like further trainings to be provided by this speaker!”

“Excellent presentation- so informative and helpful!”

“The speaker was terrific! Her knowledge is so vast! This was one of the best seminars I have attended!”

The cost to attend this seminar is $185 for members and $370 for non-members. This fee includes handouts and breaks (morning & afternoon). YOU CAN REGISTER AND PAY ON-LINE! TO REGISTER, GO TO http://NursingHomesNC.com AND CLICK ON Audit Survival in Long Term Care. You may also download a Brochure here! Members may be invoiced. Non-members must submit payment online or mail with registration. Registration is open to anyone who would like to attend! REGISTER TODAY!

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AHCA has simplified the process to upload Turnover and Retention data into LTC Trend TrackerSM. This new upload function replaces the annual AHCA/NCAL staffing surveys and accepts data for both assisted living communities and skilled nursing centers. Once uploaded, the facilities will have instant feedback on turnover and retention rates, allowing you to benchmark against your peers. As in past years via the survey, members submitting data for several Centers or Communities may upload data for all of them using a single template spreadsheet available after you login at http://www.ltctrentracker.com – there is no need to enter data individually by center on separate excel worksheets.

Utilizing the new Turnover and Retention Upload tool, along with the report, is a great way for AHCA/NCAL members to keep track of progress towards the staffing stability goal of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative, and to prepare for mandatory SNF staffing reporting next year.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named Palmetto GBA as the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Jurisdiction M, which includes NC, SC, VA and WV. The Jurisdiction M contract which begins August 28, 2015 replaces the Jurisdiction 11 contract which covered the same territory and has been held by Palmeto GBA since 2010.

The Webcast is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 10:00 AM ET. Palmetto GBA will host this webcast which is intended for all providers who are currently in Jurisdiction 11 with Palmetto GBA. This 60-minute Webcast is designed to provider pertinent updates regarding the following topics:

Transition timeline
Dark or Dim Days
Claims Processing
Contact Information
EDI Information
Partner Communications
Medical Affairs Rebranding of the Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
Listserv
OPS

Registration is required. To register, click here.

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They say things in Texas are bigger and better. The AHCA/NCAL 66th Annual Convention & Expo is shaping up to be just that, all from historic and beautiful San Antonio. Experience the food, the landmarks, and the fun of this Texas-sized destination, while you network, learn, and enjoy yourself at this must-attend event. This is not just a networking and educational event: this helps AHCA/NCAL further their mission to deliver solutions for quality care. The 66th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo is a chance to share your knowledge and learn from your peers, your contemporaries, and experts in long term and post-acute care. The fact that it takes place in San Antonio, one of the southwest’s most colorful and entertaining cities, just makes it even better!

Everybody likes to save! The early bird registration for the Convention & Expo ends July 17th. What are you waiting for? Register now and get the lowest rates available. Additional savings are available when multiple people register from the same facility. There is something for everyone at the 66th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo.

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It is time once again for the NCHCFA “Fabulous 50” awards! This time-honored event provides the opportunity to acknowledge front line, unlicensed personnel who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the long term care profession. The Fabulous 50 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 ten nominees from each district. Each of the award recipients will be honored at a dinner and awards presentation in their district. The deadline to receive completed nominations is Tuesday, September 1ST. Please encourage your facility to participate in this special award program.

The dates for the 16th Annual Fabulous 50 Celebrations are:

District I – October 20, 2015, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville
District II – October 22, 2015, Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte
District III – October 27, 2015, Grandover Resort, Greensboro
District IV – October 29, 2015, Mad Boar Restaurant, Wallace
District V – November 5, 2015 Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham

To fill out nomination forms online, visit the Member Center of the Association Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Click on “News & Updates”, select “2016 Fabulous 50 Nomination Packet” and choose “Survey Monkey”. If you have any questions about the Fabulous 50 awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827. Pictures for nominations submitted online may be e-mailed to karenl@nchcfa.org or mailed to the Association office.

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This book will show you the true financial consequences of unchecked resident readmission and provide you with the tools to do something about it! It delivers several practical strategies your facility can employ, such as enhanced resident assessment and documentation policies, provider partnerships that improve transitions of care, staff education tools, and methods to achieve resident and staff involvement. You will learn how to ensure smooth care transitions through resident education and effective communication with staff and other care providers, reduce costs associated with re-hospitalizations and maintain or improve the resident’s quality of life.

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343.

Product #8238
AHCA MEMBERS $129.00

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We are pleased to present to you the digital edition of the 2015-2016 NCHCFA Annual Membership Directory and Resource Guide. This year’s directory includes the listing of our facility members and trade associate members.

Please consider NCHCFA members first when looking for long-term care placement and professional services. For quick referencing, click on the Table of Contents and be directed to the page you would like to view. You may view and download the directory through our Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com.

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If you missed the Upcoming Hospice Regulations seminar, the notebook/presentation is now available for purchase. To order, e-mail your request to Donna Snyder at donnas@nchcfa.org. The cost is $25.00 plus tax and shipping.

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Sandwich Generation Worried About Own Long-Term Care

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/poll-sandwich-generation-worried-long-term-care-32331640

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On July 17, 1941, Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak ended. He had 91 hits for a .408 average.

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