Angie's Blog

HealthCap® USA

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

Director of Risk Management

Angie SzumlinskiMs. 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.

Family visiting grandfather in nursing home

Patient and Family Engagement – Approach to Safety

Angie Szumlinski Studies

Engaged families and residents are happier families and residents, and now we may have more insight as to “why” that is! A study recently released by Patient Safety Network (psnet.ahrq.gov) identifies that when families and patients are engaged and involved with the overall care of their loved one, safety improves! Barriers to effective engagement include limited patient/family knowledge, poor communication …

NCAPPS – National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, Training

NCAPPS is an initiative from the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help states, Tribes and Territories to implement person-centered practices. NCAPPS resources are open to the public and are geared toward human services administrators, providers and people who use long-term services and supports. These are also a great resource for families as …

American Flag With Lock

Latest LEIE File Released

Angie Szumlinski Legal

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released its updated List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) database file, which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in October 2019. https://www.oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp

Statins and Dementia – Connection?

Angie Szumlinski Studies

A study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) will help determine if statin use can prevent dementia and disability in those patients 75 years or older. It has long been said that the side effects of statins often outweigh the benefits (muscle pain, weakness, etc.). Maybe now we can contribute something positive to this important medication and weigh …

Great News – Thank You Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act

Angie Szumlinski Legal

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 a bipartisan pair of lawmkaers introduced a bill that its supporters say would ease persistent staffing strains on the nation’s nursing home operators. Historically, if a provider received a civil money penalty of more than $10,000 (related to a negative survey outcome), the center would be banned from training certified nursing assistants for two years. …

Fall Related Deaths Increasing, Improved Advice for OAs Needed

Angie Szumlinski Studies

A new study suggests that typical fall prevention advice for seniors is mostly ineffective. Almost three times as many adults aged 75 years and older died from falls in 2016 than in 2000 (25,189 people in 2016 compared to 8613 in 2000) (Journal of the American Medical Association). Experts suggest a more personalized approach to fall prevention as well as …

Person Centered Care

Angie Szumlinski Health

We finally got it! Person Centered Care versus Systems Centered Care! Everyone has been talking about it for years and this little video (< 3 minutes) is spot on! Take a look and subscribe to future videos on Person Centered Care! https://ncapps.acl.gov

Caretaker Burnout

Burnout – Are You Falling Prey?

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

A lot has been said about “burn-out” over the years and many studies have been inconclusive regarding how burn-out may impact resident care and safety. In a recent study[1] several interesting outcomes were observed. The study describes burnout in part as a disorder that is directly related to workplace conditions due to the occupational stress health and education workers are …

OIG’s Solutions to Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs

Angie Szumlinski Announcements

Last July the Office of Inspector General released it’s annual report Solutions to Reduce Fraud, Waste and Abuse in HHS Programs: OIG’s Top Recommendations. In it, the top 25 unimplemented recommendations are identified along with the 25 recommendations from 2018 that were put in place. CMS has not implemented the recommendations from the OIG yet, but they have published a …

microphone with headphones for podcast

CMS Podcast Series

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, Podcast

CMS has produced a series of podcasts “Nursing Home Strategy Part I – Strengthening Oversight,” that summarizes what CMS is doing behind the scenes and discusses recently published memos, survey process changes, and “putting patients above paperwork.” This is the first of many podcasts. The podcast largely discussed abuse and neglect, the surveyor’s responsibilities, law enforcement involvement, and reporting consistency …