Emergency Preparedness Report: Identifying and Overcoming Healthcare Communications Vulnerabilities (2/21)

Clinical Care Solutions / DNS / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

ASPR TRACIE Emergency Preparedness Report: Identifying and Overcoming Healthcare Communications Vulnerabilities: Nashville, TN While the Christmas morning recreational vehicle blast outside the AT&T transmission facility in Nashville did not cause a mass fatality incident, it significantly impacted healthcare communications throughout the region. This article describes the impacts, lessons learned, strengths, and challenges …

Emergency Preparedness: Healthcare Cybersecurity Readiness and Response (2/21)

Clinical Care Solutions / DNS / MDS 3.0 and the RAI Process / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Technology and IT

As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities large and small must be proactive and move quickly to protect themselves from cyberattacks that could directly impact the health and safety of patients and the community at large. According to medical health experts experienced in cybersecurity preparedness, cyberattacks are identified …

CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE and Other Equipment (12/20)

Clinical Care Solutions / COVID-19 / DNS / NAC / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers strategies for optimizing the supply of: N95 respirators Face masks Isolation gowns Eye Protection Gloves Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Elastomeric respirators Ventilators https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html Also see: Summary for Healthcare Facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/strategies-optimize-ppe-shortages.html Summary for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators …

CMS QSO Memo: Enhanced Enforcement Actions Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results (2/21)

COVID-19 / DNS / NAC / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

DATE: June 1, 2020 REVISED 01/04/2021 TO: State Survey Agency Directors FROM: Director Quality, Safety & Oversight Group SUBJECT: Revised COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes CMS is committed to taking critical steps to protect vulnerable Americans …

COVID-19 Survey Activities (3/20)

COVID-19 / DNS / NAC / Post-Acute Care News / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

For more recent information about CMS survey priorities, also see QSO memo QSO-20-31-ALL-REVISED. ————————————————————– Background  CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities and clinical laboratories are prepared to respond to the threat of the COVID-19 and other respiratory illness. Specifically, CMS is suspending non-emergency …

AHRQ: Treatments for Acute Pain: A Systematic Review (1/21)

Clinical Care Solutions / DNS / NAC / Post-Acute Care News / QAPI and Quality Initiatives / Survey and Regulatory Compliance

Main Points Opioids are probably less effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for surgical dental pain and kidney stone pain and might be similarly effective to NSAIDs for low back pain. Opioids might be and NSAIDs are probably more effective than acetaminophen for surgical dental pain, but opioids are probably …

Survey Readiness: Critical Element Pathways, Observations, Reviews, and Policy Calendar Tool

DNS / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Tool

Surveyors use critical element pathways (CEPs) to work through the steps of their investigation and to determine compliance with several federal regulations. In addition to CEPs, other tools including observational guides are also used to direct the surveyors’ review of the facility. These same tools are available for facility leaders …

Daily Clinical Rounds Tool

DNS / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Tool

Daily clinical rounds allow the nurse leader opportunities to connect with staff and residents, gain valuable information, reinforce consistency of standards, and model clinical leadership behaviors. The AAPACN Daily Clinical Rounds tool assists the nurse leader to conduct rounds for compliance along with how to look for potential improvements for …

Physician Certification Tracker Tool

NAC / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Tool

AAPACN’s Interactive Physician Certification Tracker adjusts the certification signature due dates when the data entered indicates that a resident had an interrupted stay. This tool will help ensure your team remains in compliance with physician certifications throughout the Medicare stay. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full …

Policy and Procedure Review and Development Guide Tool

DNS / Survey and Regulatory Compliance / Tool

Policies and procedures are essential to the operation of your organization because they provide written structure and clarity for employees and inform all staff of the expectations for how to go about the work they do. Survey agencies review a facility’s policies and procedures as part of their investigation to …