The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the “Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines” guidance several times since requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to be coded on the MDS as of October 2024. Facility teams can track these changes by using AAPACN’s COVID-19 Vaccine “Up to Date” Guidance …
Release of CMS-2567: Statement of Deficiencies and Plan of Correction Memo # QSO-25-19-All Fiscal Year 2025 Memorandum Summary • CMS is committed to the transparency of quality of care findings, so that patients, residents, and their families can make informed health care decisions. • The official Form CMS-2567: Statement of …
Memo # QSO-25-20-NH Posting Date 2025-06-18 Fiscal Year 2025 Memorandum Summary • Post Performance Data for Nursing Home Chains – “Chains” refers to groups of Medicare-certified nursing homes that are connected through common owners, and operators (also called “affiliated entities”). CMS will begin posting aggregated performance information for these nursing homes on …
AHRQ has released an updated Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS) Nursing Home Survey Version 2.0. This revised survey is designed to help nursing homes assess staff perceptions of resident safety culture in their organizations. The survey was developed using a comprehensive process, including feedback from nursing home staff and technical experts, …
Medical directors at nursing homes are responsible for implementing resident care policies, coordinating medical care, and participating in quality assessment and assurance activities. Nursing homes are required to report hours worked by medical directors to CMS’s Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ). The reported hours have raised concerns about nursing homes’ employment and …
CDC’s Project Firstline and the American Medical Association (AMA) recently hosted a webinar to share important measles updates and help providers and clinics stay prepared for measles. The recording is now available to watch and share. The webinar featured a panel of CDC experts covering current trends in measles epidemiology, clinical recognition of measles, the importance …
In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss how the director of nursing services (DNS) can advocate for resident-centered care by navigating Appendix PP updates, reducing …
Podcast (ltc_don_chat): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:54 — 5.3MB) | Embed
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) reporting definition of Up to Date. Individuals aged 65 years and older are Up to Date when they have: Individuals younger than 65 years of age are Up to Date when they have: For …
Vision and hearing loss, as well as diminished taste, touch, or smell, can significantly impact residents’ ability to communicate, navigate their environment, and engage in daily activities. By implementing individualized care plans, utilizing assistive devices, and fostering an inclusive atmosphere, certified nursing assistants can enhance residents’ quality of life and …
Question: When a resident returns from an interrupted stay, is an IPA required or any kind of readmission assessment if no change? Answer from Jeff Taylor: IPAs are always optional. In an interrupted stay, no new Medicare MDS is required. You would do the required OBRA Discharge assessment and an …
