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Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Quality of Life:
Help Residents Who Require Enteral Nutrition Meet These Needs
If a resident feels self-conscious, you can do this, suggests activity expert. Nurse att... Read more
Clarification:
CMS Pulls Back Revised F322 (Tube Feeding) Survey Guidance
Here's why -- and where to look for the reissued guidance. On Oct. 21, CMS posted a ... Read more
Tool:
The RAI User's Manual's Care Area Assessment Resource for Feeding Tubes Includes Psychosocial Issues
CMS's RAI Version 3.0 Manual Appendix C: CAA Resources 13. Feeding Tube(s) October 2011 A... Read more
Quality of Care:
Medical Expert Shares Views on Lab Testing in Nursing Facilities
Know when to do a digitalis level as soon as possible. Repeating certain lab tests is rea... Read more
Documentation:
Heed This HEAT Training Advice for Documenting Diagnostic Testing
OIG chief medical officer provides 2 tips. Heads up: Providing "clear information showing... Read more
Reader Feedback:
Find Out How This SNF Is Handling Staff Flu Vaccinations
Also find out what CMS rep has to say on this issue. In response to the article on influe... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
Code This RAI Manual Example for Flu Vaccination
How would you code the following at O0250 (Influenza Vaccine)? For the coding questions a... Read more
MDS, Compliance & Clinical News to Use
During CMS' Nov. 3 national provider call on the MDS 3.0, the agency's John Kane clarifie... Read more
Compliance:
Give This Care and Compliance Problem the Boot
Provide this 'gentle reminder' in the chart for physicians, expert suggests. Do your resid... Read more
Survey Management:
Got Gardens? Here's What CMS Could Ask You to Provide
Consider these safety tips from an agricultural pro. In a September survey & cert memo... Read more
Resource:
Check Out This Handy Food Safety Chart From the F371 Survey Guidance
Editor's note: If you're wondering what "PHF/TCS" stands for in the chart above, the F371... Read more
Infection Control:
Ready for a Quick Flu Vaccination Update?
Be aware of these vaccine options. Infection control expert James Marx, MS, RN, CIC, prov... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
K0700A (Proportion of Total Calories the Resident Received through Parental or Tube Feedings in the Last 7 Days)
How would you code the following example from the RAI User's Manual? "Mr. H has had a fee... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: What are some recommended ways to treat a biofilm that you can see on a wound? ... Read more
Survey, Clinical & Research News to Use
In a recent survey & cert memo, CMS says it "made changes to surveyor guidance for fe... Read more
Nutrition:
Shore Up Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation Practices
Check out this medication safety tip. Certain vitamin and mineral supplements can help re... Read more
HIPAA Compliance:
Help Staff Sidestep This Psychosocial Privacy Mistake
Doing this can cause residents harm, warns expert. Nursing facility staff members "need t... Read more
Clinical Tip:
Head Off These Problems With Intended Weight Loss
Consider this approach. "You have to be careful with prescribing weight-loss diets for ol... Read more
Patient Safety:
These 3 OTC Supplements Can Be Dangerous
One of them can cause renal damage, says medical expert. High doses of vitamin A can caus... Read more
Compliance:
Be Aware of This Elder Justice Act Exclusion Provision
Find out what CMS & the OIG are up to, according to a revised survey & cert memo.... Read more
Tool:
Reporting Suspected Crimes -- Here's What CMS Says to Do
Revised survey memo addresses reporting requirements related to residents with dementia. ... Read more
MDS 3.0 Coding Quizzer:
How Would You Code This RAI Manual Example at K0300 (Weight Loss)?
"Mrs. J has been on a physician ordered calorie-restricted diet for the past year. She and... Read more
MDS, Survey, Medication Safety & Compliance News
Make sure you're on top of the Oct. 1 RAI manual revisions. "Several chapters and appendi... Read more
Survey Management:
Don't Let Complaints Back Your Facility Into an F-Tag Corner
Failing to meet these requirements may compound your survey woes. Beware: Attorney Joseph... Read more
Resident Safety:
Are Your Residents Taking Any of These Drug Combos?
Expert warns about drug-drug interactions that can cause negative outcomes. Suppose a pat... Read more
Risk Management:
What Do You Think?
Question: Should a nursing facility contact its insurer if it receives a complaint survey... Read more
Survey Trends:
Find Out Who Makes Most of the Complaints to the State About Nursing Facilities
Recent GAO report provides the stats for 2009. Family members and residents provided over... Read more
Compliance:
Get the Inside Scoop on the Duty to Report 'Reasonable Suspicion of a Crime'
Consider these compliance tactics. As reported in the last LTC Survey & Compliance Al... Read more
MDS, Research & Compliance News
Did you catch the July 13 RAI manual update? On its MDS 3.0 website, CMS notes that it ha... Read more
Reporting To Law Enforcement Of Crimes Occurring In Federally Funded Long-term Care Facilities
Excerpts - Section 6703 - Elder Justice Act - Reporting Reasonable Suspicion of ... Read more
Resident Safety:
Escape This Facility's Fate: Stop Resident-to- Resident Sex Abuse Before It's Too Late
3 strategies help you cover the bases. If your facility doesn't take the right steps to p... Read more
Survey Trends:
GAO Wants CMS to Home In On Complaint Investigations
Find out the number of complaints survey agencies received and the % that resulted in F t... Read more
GAO Report Provides a Rundown of Different Types of Complaints
Quality of care and treatment accounts for 40.6% of reported complaints. Source: GAO analy... Read more
Legal Requirements:
Don't Let This Tough New Reporting Duty Catch You Off Guard
Failure to report 'reasonable suspicion of a crime' could cost you big time. Facilities t... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: Should a Facility Code Pain Education as a Non-pharmacological Pain Remedy on t... Read more
Behavioral Management:
Experts Share Creative Supervision Approaches for Dementia Residents Who Act Out Sexually
You can make this type of day club an attractive option, says former DON. How can a facil... Read more
Quality of Care:
When a Pressure Ulcer Doesn't Seem to Be Healing, Consider These Key Reasons
Know what to consider if you see this when wound bed slough clears, advises expert. First... Read more
Survey Management:
Getting Up to Speed on Upcoming CMP Rules Can Pay Off
Know the downsides of accepting the 50 percent discount for self-reported deficiencies. C... Read more
Survey Management Tips:
Don't Get Tripped Up During Your Next Survey: Simple Tips Help You Avoid Missteps
Orient surveyors to your EMR but make sure these safeguards are in place. Ever had that s... Read more
Research:
Orthopedic Trauma Can Impact Your Rehab Patients' Mental Health
Elderly hip fracture patients may also have a fear component, says orthopedics expert. Pa... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: Can long-term care residents who are private pay or Medicaid and have Part B re... Read more
MDS, Compliance & Clinical News to Use
The FY 2012 proposed SNF PPS rule seeks to roll out two new rehab-related MDS assessments... Read more
Compliance:
2 Steps Can Help You Ward Off Payment Suspensions for 'Credible' Fraud Allegations
Home in on these 3 potential sources of complaints. Your facility no doubt has a plan to ... Read more
Risk Management:
These Documentation Strategies Can Keep Surveyors and Litigators Off Your Case
Beware injecting personal bias -- or leaving room for the reader to do this. Solid medica... Read more
Prepayment Audits Can Help You Maintain Clean Claims
Apply what you find to prevent future problems. If your facility doesn't yet have some fo... Read more
Management:
Use This Clever Tool to Get Staff to See the Good They Do
Also find out free ways to help staff in need and how to turn around chronic complainers.... Read more
Tool:
Staff Can Use This Form to Share How They Are Helping Residents
Nursing expert puts a new spin on 'incident report.' POSITIVE INCIDENT REPORT Dear Boss: ... Read more
Compliance Tip:
Don't Cross the Line When Teaching Staff How to Respond to Auditors, Surveyors
Beware ever saying this. Solid bet: "With all the different entities out there doing audi... Read more
What Do You Think?:
What Kind of Support Documentation Do You Need for This Service Coded on the MDS?
Question: When we have a resident who receives IV fluids to prevent dehydration in the nu... Read more
Professional Management:
Conferencing Soon? Check Out These Cost-Saving Tidbits
Find out how to shave $100 or more off your tab. When planning your conference travel bud... Read more
MDS & Survey News to Use
Keep an eye out for the RAI User's Manual update this spring. The last thing you want to ... Read more
Risk Management:
Is Your Facility Harboring a Criminal? OIG Report Uncovers a Disturbing Finding
3 steps can help prevent this scenario from occurring on your watch. A March Office of In... Read more
Quality Improvement:
Adopt This Winning Equation: Surveyors + QIO = More Person-Centered Care
If your facility is waking up residents to give TID meds, take a look at that practice. N... Read more
OIG to CMS:
Consider These Steps to Shore Up Background Checks
Pointing to the healthcare reform act-mandated National Background Check Program, the OIG ... Read more
Tool:
Chart Gives Quick Look at State Nursing Facility Criminal Background Check Requirements
The OIG provides this list of what states require. OIG Report Shows Nursing Facility Emplo... Read more
Quality Assurance:
Shore Up Wound Care, Impress Surveyors
Get the real-time scoop on doctor visits for wound patients. How does your facility follo... Read more
What Do You Think?:
When Would the RUG Rate Change in This Scenario?
Question: When you combine a 5-day assessment with a significant change in status assessm... Read more
What Do You Think?:
Does a Nursing Facility Have to Treat Psych or Substance Abuse Records Differently Under HIPAA or Other Laws?
Question: Are we required to handle medical records requested from a psychiatric or subst... Read more
Clinical Tip:
This Simple Dietary Remedy Can Help Relieve Constipation
It may also help address another all-too-common program in LTC. As you know, constipation... Read more
Compliance, MDS & Clinical Roundup
Get up to speed on Medicaid auditors, which experts say could be coming your way. For one... Read more
Management Tip:
Make Sure Staff Feel Comfortable Letting Managers Know About Residents' Preferences
To promote person-centered care, "you need a culture where people feel comfortable sharing... Read more
Medical Privacy:
Don't Let Your Facility Be Toppled by HIPAA Noncompliance: Perform a Topnotch Security Risk Analysis
Beware 'willful neglect' penalties up to $50,000 per violation now in effect. If you thin... Read more
Management:
4 Ways to Forge Positive Relationships With Families
Are you using your family council in this helpful way? Risk managing relationships with r... Read more
What Do You Think?:
Could HHS Extend 'Willful Neglect' Violations to a Stolen Laptop or Other Device Containing Unencrypted PHI?
It could happen, says HIPAA expert. Willful neglect violations can lead to some humongous ... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Use the MDS to Keep Behavioral Assessment and Management on the Mark
Increased verbal aggression may be caused by this common problem. The MDS 3.0 captures th... Read more
Care Planning:
Is the Resident With Behavioral Sx Taking Any of These Meds?
These drugs can cause socially inappropriate behaviors, agitation, paranoid delusions. The... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Mistaged Pressure Ulcers Can Cost Your SNF a Higher Paying RUG
Mistaged Pressure Ulcers Can Cost Your SNF a Higher Paying RUG Find out how to differentia... Read more
Compliance & Clinical News
In addition to the liability and generic notices you have to give residents related to Me... Read more
Quality of Care:
Boosting Physician Coding Know-How Pays Off for Residents and SNFs
Are your facility's attendings underbilling in these key scenarios? Looking for new ways ... Read more
Resident Safety:
Resident Got Dysphagia? Head Off Serious Danger With This Key Check
This strategy can cure or reduce swallowing difficulty. If a resident appears to have a p... Read more
Clinical Tip:
Look Closely at a Resident's Need for Thickened Liquids
These strategies may allow some residents to safely drink regular liquids. Thickened liqu... Read more
Compliance:
These 2 Physician Billing Patterns Can Raise Compliance Concerns
How many physician visits in a day may signal a problem? Physicians shouldn't be afraid o... Read more
Risk Management:
Vanquish Common Survey Vulnerabilities With 4 Strategies
Analyzing incident reports may help you in this way, says former survey agency director. ... Read more
Trends:
Revisit Your Service Mix to Stay in Tune With a New LTC Landscape
Putting this issue on the back burner can diminish your business over the longer haul. If... Read more
Compliance & Drug News to Use
If you thought the RACs would remain quiet in the SNF realm, no such luck. "SNFs have tre... Read more
Survey Management:
Extinguish the Potential for These Fire Safety Violations
Changing the purpose of a room can open the door to K-tag citations. Even seemingly minor... Read more
Infection Control:
Resident Got a Rash? Stay a Step Ahead of This Contagious Condition
Know the telltale signs and incubation period. A scabies outbreak can be difficult to get... Read more
Survey Trends:
Check Out the Top 10 F Tags Nationwide
Here's the list as of third quarter 2010. 1. F371 Food sanitation 2. F323 Hazard-free env... Read more
Resident Safety:
Don't Let These 3 Common Practices Derail Your Fire Safety Record
Candles are verboten except in this one instance, says fire expert. To prevent fires ... Read more
Case study:
Simple Strategies Rein in SNF Rehospitalization Rates
A team approach to SNF discharge planning and disease management programs can pay off. Ke... Read more
Compliance Trends:
SNFs Should Keep Rehospitalization on Their Radar Screen -- Here's Why
The 2011 OIG work plan addresses this issue. Preventing rehospitalization has definitely ... Read more
Know What Counts as Non-Pharmacological Pain Interventions for Coding Section J of the MDS 3.0
Can you include herbal pain remedies? Answer: According to the RAI User's Manual, says Sh... Read more
MDS & Compliance News to Use
The RUG-III Hybrid is no more. Congress passed legislation in December that repealed the ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get the HIPPA Scoop on How to Handle Resident/Family Requests for Medical Records
Should you automatically fork over records to families who seem to have litigation in min... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get the HIPPA Scoop on How to Handle Resident/Family Requests for Medical Records
Question: How quickly does a nursing facility have to comply with an authorized request t... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get the HIPPA Scoop on How to Handle Resident/Family Requests for Medical Records
Question: What if the facility suspects a family member is requesting records related to ... Read more
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