Long-Term Care Survey Alert
Survey News To Use ~ The U.S. Government Accountablity Office wants CMS to get tougher still on nursing home enforcement.
In a report entitled "Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have Not Deterred Some Homes From Repeatedly Harming Residents," the GAO advises the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop an administrative process to collect civil monetary penalties before facilities exhaust the appeals process, seeking legislation to implement it, and addressing "due process concerns," as appropriate.
The GAO also suggests CMS strengthen its immediate sanctions policy, and expand a program of "enhanced efforts" to oversee homes with a history of harming residents. And it recommended CMS improve its data enforcement systems. CMS generally agreed with the GAO's recommendations.
The GAO report is based on the federal watchdog agency's review of 63 nursing homes with a history of actual harm citations in four states -- California, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Texas, which collectively have about 22 percent of the nation's nursing homes. Access the report at www.gao.gov/highlights/d07241high.pdf.
Long-Term Care Survey Alert
- Case Study ~ Follow This Facility's Path To Reduce Med Passes
A number of strategies can = less time passing pills. When it comes to medication [...] - Time Management ~ Freeing Nurses From The Med Cart Allows Them To Do More For Residents
2 examples illustrate improved outcomes for residents. Nurses who spend less time at the med [...] - Risk Management ~ Zero In On Factors That Put Your Facility At Risk For Lawsuits
Identify 4 risk-reducers that can keep you from court battles. Everyone agrees that managing certain [...] - Program Management ~ Nail Down The Prevalence Of Cognitive Impairment In Your Facility
How to capture this vital risk statistic. Yes, your facility's cognitive impairment quality indicator gives [...] - Special Focus:
Customer Relations ~ Take These 5 Steps To Nurture Residents' Families
Preempt complaints before they trample your survey record. Every facility has dream families and occasional [...] - Resident Assessment ~ Check Out This Useful, Time-Saving 'Identity Assessment'
Ask families to complete, send in this key form. One of the best ways to [...] - Best Practices ~ Don't Be Too Fast To Accept Residents Becoming Bedfast
These key moves will improve outcomes and quality of life. Looking for ways to prevent [...] - Clinical Tip ~ Being In The Know Can Help Residents With COPD Stay On The Go
3 care tactics can address a resident's reluctance to leave his recliner. Residents with chronic [...] - Continuing Education ~ Take Advantage Of These 5 MDS And Clinical Care Audioconferences
You get a 15 percent discount. Mark your calendar for these educational opportunities, which include [...] - Clip & Save ~ Check Out This Handy Checklist For Bedfast Residents
Source: Developed through the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization program. - Survey News To Use ~ The U.S. Government Accountablity Office wants CMS to get tougher still on nursing home enforcement.
In a report entitled "Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have Not Deterred Some Homes From [...] - Survey News To Use ~ CMS has clarified the dimensions for allowable gaps in corridor doors for fire safety.
"In a smoke compartment that is not fully sprinklered, a gap between the face of [...]
