Angie's Blog

HealthCap® USA

Angie Szumlinski, NHA, RN-BC, RAC-CT and BS

Director of Risk Management

Angie Szumlinski Ms. Szumlinski is a nationally-recognized leader in long-term care with experience as an Owner/Provider, Administrator, Director of Nursing, Corporate Quality Assurance Coordinator and independent consultant. Ms. Szumlinski conducts risk management visits at facilities across the country, touching every acuity level within the post-acute care spectrum. Ms. Szumlinski served as an Associated Board Member for NCAL, is a member of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Committee, NCAL Risk Management Committee, HCAM Legal/Clinical Committee and is a Senior Examiner/Team Leader for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program. Ms. Szumlinski is a Nurse Planner for the HealthCap^® ANCC accredited education program.

Social Distancing Activities

Angie Szumlinski June 30, 2020 Announcements, News

This is a challenging time for our Activities and Life Enrichment teams as well as our caregivers/frontline healthcare workers. In an effort to assist with preventing isolation, maintaining activity pursuits and preventing boredom, here are a few ideas to get some fun and energy back in our days! Hallway Bingo – set residents up in their doorways in chairs/wheelchairs with …

Corona Virus - Microbiology And Virology Concept - 3d Rendering

FAQs on Nursing Home Visitation

Angie Szumlinski June 25, 2020 Announcements, News

What steps should nursing homes take before reopening to visitors? Nursing homes should continue to follow CMS and CDC guidance for preventing the transmission of COVID-19, and follow state and local direction. Because nursing home residents are especially vulnerable, CMS does not recommend reopening facilities to visitors (except for compassionate care situations) until phase three when: There have been no …

NHSN – What About ALF?

Angie Szumlinski June 24, 2020 Announcements, News

During this time of fear, anxiety and pain, we are also faced with making decisions that could impact the future of assisted living. We continue to actively focus on caring for our residents who are at high risk for infection while also protecting our staff and providing a safe work environment for them. Most assisted living centers are not prepared …

Documentation Keys

Angie Szumlinski June 23, 2020 Announcements, Health

COVID-19 Guidance It is imperative for facilities to be able to demonstrate the actions they have taken (and continue to take) to protect residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The best way to do this is via documentation. Having a “COVID-19 Response” file to record and store copies of documents will keep a timeline of the preventative actions they …

Focused Infection Control Toolkit

Angie Szumlinski June 23, 2020 Announcements, News

On Friday, March 13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency which triggered the Secretary’s ability to authorize waivers or modifications of certain requirements pursuant to section 1135 of the Social Security Act (the Act). Under section 1135(b)(5) of the Act, CMS is prioritizing surveys, including infection control surveys for nursing homes. This toolkit includes the survey preparation checklist, entrance …

Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients

Angie Szumlinski June 22, 2020 Announcements, News

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed Medicare Administrative Contactors and notified Medicare Advantage plans to cover coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) laboratory tests for nursing home residents and patients. This instruction follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent update of COVID-19 testing guidelines for nursing homes that provides recommendations for testing of nursing …

Illustration of medical staff in front of nursing home

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie Szumlinski June 17, 2020 Announcements, News

Weatherford, Oklahoma What does a tyrannosaurus rex, a rainbow unicorn, and a hippopotamus wearing a tutu have in common? They apparently throw great dance parties! Residents at Corn Heritage Village witnessed quite a scene outside their windows when a group of volunteers got their groove on while dressed up in a wild assortment of costumes. A giraffe, penguin, and dinosaur …

Management Of Neurological And Mental Manifestations Associated With COVID-19

Angie Szumlinski June 16, 2020 Announcements, News

Residents with COVID-19 are at high risk for delirium, and sometimes delirium may be a presenting feature of infection even without respiratory symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are often common reactions for people with a COVID-19 diagnosis, especially for those who are hospitalized. Stressors particular to COVID-19 include: Fear of falling ill and dying Fear of being socially excluded/placed in …

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie Szumlinski June 16, 2020 Announcements, News

Brookestone Acres All of our HealthCap facilities are getting creative with how they engage residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our HealthCap Hero of the day, Brookstone Acres, is doing just that by turning one of their regularly scheduled traditional groups into a “talk show” for their residents! Under normal circumstances, this group meets around a table to share stories, discuss …

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie Szumlinski June 15, 2020 Announcements, News

Staff Moving in to Mitigate Risk When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early March, staff in long term care facilities had to take extra care to not accidentally contract it and bring it with them to work. Heroes Sheryl Zilch, the manager of Frankfort Pines Assisted Living, and Deb Harrison, the Pine’s chef, took it a step further and decided …

Page 1 of 50
1
2
3
...
50
→

Ep 13 - COVID Successes of Cedar Crest Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
HealthCap Risk Manager Cathy Hamblen interviews Tracie Murray, Administrator, and Bethany Murray, Assistant Administrator of Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Sunnyvale, California. They walk us through the implementation and execution of their successful COVID plan that brought them through the outbreak to being declared COVID-free today.
Ep 12. What is Legal Immunity in the Time of COVID-19?
We've been hearing the term "immunity" a lot in the news lately. But when talking about immunity, there's another kind that has nothing to do with antibodies. In today's podcast, Christina Nechiporchik and Marc Feeney discuss legal immunity, and how it affects the senior living industry.
Ep 11 Root Cause Analysis
When an incident occurs, what do you do? Are you just running around putting out fires? Listen as HealthCap Risk Managers Patti Sweet and Donna Long explain the Root Cause Analysis process and why you should be doing it in your facility.
Ep 10 Coronavirus and Infection Control
It's no wonder coronavirus is all over the news. With the number of cases of coronavirus at over 20,000 in China, the number of cases in the U.S. has now risen to over 10. Many of us in the Senior Living Industry are thinking about our community and wondering what we would do it the […]
Ep 9 Great Care Starts with Being Nice
Of course, our #1 priority is providing great care for our senior living residents, but did you know that how you treat your caregivers will affect how residents are treated? In this episode, Peter talks with HealthCap Risk Managers Joy Schultz and Sherry Mastropietro on their experience in skilled nursing and long term care facilities […]