![North Carolina Health Care Facilites Association [logo]](https://www.nchcfa.org/wp-content/themes/nchcfa/images/logo.png){kind=logo}
UPDATE Weekly #1841 – October 7, 2015
On-Line & Mobile Version
This Week’s Table of Contents:
- COMMENT PERIOD ON REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION CLOSES OCTOBER 14TH
- CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NCHCFA 2016 FABULOUS FIFTY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- AHCA 2016 QUALITY AWARD INTENT TO APPLY (ITA) WINDOW OPENS
- REGISTER FOR ALLIANT NATIONAL NURSING HOME QUALITY CARE COLLABORATIVE (NNHQCC)
- REGISTER TODAY FOR IMPORTANT SEMINAR
- AHCA PRODUCT OF THE WEEK – SURVIVAL OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT
- PHYSICAL RESTRAINT BROCHURES
- NEED TO GO
- DID YOU KNOW?
| COMMENT PERIOD ON REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION CLOSES OCTOBER 14TH |
|
The CMS deadline for the extended comment period for the Requirements of Participation proposed rule, October 14, is fast approaching. We must ensure that CMS continues to hear us. The over 7,600 comments that have been submitted so far are helping CMS realize this is a very important issue that has a significant effect on our profession. NCHCFA’s objective is to impress upon CMS just how important these changes are to skilled nursing facilities in North Carolina. To be effective, we need you and as many individuals in your organization as possible to continue to submit comments to CMS. We are asking that every administrator, director of nursing, corporate officer, support staffer, everyone with a vested interest in the future of this profession carefully review these proposed changes. Please visit AHCA’s dedicated Webpage for resources to assist in your comment submission. You can view everything from simple step-by-step instructions on how to write and file comments to instructional videos to comments that have already been submitted. It’s easy to file your comments electronically. Although the proposed changes are very broad, you should not feel like you must address every issue. Focus on a few items that will have the greatest impact on your residents, your staff, or your facility. Resources to help you: • Mark Parkinson Video Additionally, AHCA is compiling a database of those who have submitted a comment to CMS – either electronically or by mail – on the Requirements of Participation Proposed Rule. Many NCHCFA members have commented directly to CMS so the AHCA database is not reflective of North Carolina’s efforts. We realize this is another step to take, but we are asking NCHCFA members to please click here and provide the requested information so that AHCA may count your submission. If you have any questions regarding the proposed changes or this effort, please do not hesitate to contact Polly Welsh, pollyg@nchcfa.org, or Eric Kivisto, erick@nchcfa.org, or (919) 782-3827. |
| AHCA 2016 QUALITY AWARD INTENT TO APPLY (ITA) WINDOW OPENS |
|
The 2016 Quality Award application year has started. Completing applications can take months and the opening of the ITA window is a great time to begin the process. Bronze, Silver and Gold applications are on the Quality Award Website now. The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program recognizes member skilled nursing care centers and assisted living communities for quality care and performance excellence. The program sets high standards based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence criteria. The program has three distinct levels; members must receive an award at each level to progress to the next. WHY PARTICIPATE? The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is designed to encourage continuous learning and help members: • Increase efficiency and effectiveness of their performance improvement system Superior Outcomes AHCA/NCAL research has demonstrated that Silver and Gold recipients (2012-2014) have superior performance in a number of key outcome areas: • lower rates of readmissions and antipsychotic use To learn more about all of the 2016 AHCA Quality Award Program, click here. |
| REGISTER FOR ALLIANT NATIONAL NURSING HOME QUALITY CARE COLLABORATIVE (NNHQCC) |
|
Alliant Quality wants to encourage SNFs to keep signing up for the National Collaborative – or SPACE. Alliant recommends having as much time as possible to get started on QAPI improvement work and improving facility quality measures in a systems approach to improve their five star and composite scores. ABOUT ALLIANT QUALITY Alliant Quality is the Medicare Quality Innovation Network (QIN)-Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for North Carolina. Under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Alliant Quality invites your nursing home to participate in a collaborative designed to ensure that every nursing home resident receives the highest quality of care. Specifically, the Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative (NNHQCC) will strive to instill quality and performance improvement practices, eliminate healthcare acquired conditions, and dramatically improve resident satisfaction. The Collaborative offers an exciting opportunity to learn from high performing nursing homes regarding their processes as they pertain to consistent/permanent staff assignment, teamwork and communications, leadership, regulatory compliance, clinical models, and quality of life indicators. The Collaborative aligns national nursing home quality initiatives and partnerships such as the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign, The Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI). Targeted focus areas will include increasing mobility, decreasing unnecessary use of antipsychotics in residents with dementia, decreasing potentially avoidable hospitalizations and decreasing healthcare acquired infections and conditions. If you are ready to register, click here for the Participation Agreement and fax or e-mail it back to Lis Klemis. For more details, e-mail Linda Kluge at, Linda.Kluge@area-F.hcqis.org or reach her at (678) 527-3675. |
| REGISTER TODAY FOR IMPORTANT SEMINAR |
|
Register today for the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association’s “The Future of SNF Payment Models and Post-Acute Regulatory Reform.” There is little debate that the country’s healthcare economy is undergoing unprecedented reform which is rapidly shifting provider reimbursements to a system that rewards quality, efficiency and collaboration. The SNF providers that wish to thrive in this new economy stand at a tipping point whereby the strategies and tactics they employ today will profoundly impact their opportunity for success in the years to come. As regulatory payment methodologies shift from volume to value, many SNFs are finding themselves behind the curve relative to the pace of change. Please join us on the critically important topics of: • Bundled Payments This information will be presented by Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLC in Greensboro, NC on November 10th, 2015 at The Sheraton Greensboro/Four Seasons. The cost to attend this seminar is $185 for members and $370 for non-members. This fee includes handouts, lunch, and breaks. YOU CAN REGISTER AND PAY ON-LINE! TO REGISTER, GO TO http://NursingHomesNC.com AND CLICK ON The Future of SNF Payment Models and Post-Acute Regulatory Reform. Members may be invoiced. Non-members must submit payment online or mail with registration. Registration is open to anyone who would like to attend! |
| AHCA PRODUCT OF THE WEEK – SURVIVAL OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT |
|
High-quality clinical care comes from high-quality education. Prove the value of your staff development program with help from author and staff development expert Adrianne E. Avillion, DEd, RN, in this new groundbreaking book. Avillion offers clear guidance to help you put your program’s worth into quantifiable terms and align staff development with your organization’s goals. Educators of all levels will be able to evaluate the effect of training on retention, staff competency, and patient outcomes. To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343. Product # 8333 |
| PHYSICAL RESTRAINT BROCHURES |
|
Important information for residents and families…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 |
| NEED TO GO |
|
UK end-of-life care ‘best in world’ |
| DID YOU KNOW? |
|
On October 9, 1888 – The Washington Monument officially opened to the public. |
North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association
5109 Bur Oak Circle | Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 782-3827 Fax | (919) 787-8418 | NCHCFA.org | NursingHomesNC.com
[email_link] | [print_link]