The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) developed a toolkit to help long-term care employers and administrators promote influenza vaccination among their workforce and to help anyone working in LTC facilities understand the importance of influenza vaccination for LTC workers. The toolkit is available now to aid in early flu vaccination planning efforts! This toolkit is …

With the recent on air slayings of a well-loved television reporter and photographer, the recent release of the OSHA Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence publication release is timely.  This publication is a guideline/recommendation and not a requirement or law.  That said, our communities are home for frail, elderly, dependent seniors and our responsibility is to provide a safe environment.  Per …

Model supports quality and care improvements for patient’s transition from surgery to recovery   Hip and knee replacements are some of the most common surgeries that Medicare beneficiaries receive. In 2013, there were more than 400,000 inpatient primary procedures, costing Medicare more than $7 billion for hospitalization alone. While some incentives exist for hospitals to avoid post-surgery complications that can …

2015 FOCUSED DEMENTIA CARE SURVEY EXPANSION EFFORTS   Upon completion of the initial 2014 Focused Dementia Care Survey Pilot, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised survey materials and tools based upon surveyor feedback and data analysis. CMS is now expanding upon the work of the focused survey pilot and has invited states to conduct such surveys in FY2015 (ends …

For Immediate Release                   June 2, 2015   AHCA/NCAL Taking Steps to Ensure the Responsible Use of Antibiotics Association pledges support of President’s antibiotic stewardship initiative at White House event   Washington, DC — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) today reinforced its commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics in assisted living, long term …

Nursing Home Survey Evaluation: For the past 10 years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the States have used two standard survey processes that assess the quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents. Enclosed is a review of both the traditional survey and QIS processes.   Survey Efficiency and Effectiveness: The CMS is …

A newly revised Arbitration Agreement template is the first product being made available as part of the AHCA’s Professional Liability Toolkit. The revision replaces earlier versions, dated 2002 and 2004, said a memo about the product from Dianne De La Mare, AHCA vice president of legal affairs. “The association continues to assert that one of the best ways to avoid …

Jackson Lewis P.C. and Lyn Bentley, AHCA OSHA recently released an update to its Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers The publication includes industry best practices and provides some insight on how to reduce the risk of violence in various health care and social service settings. In the document, OSHA recommends that health care providers …

Association Applauds Rep. Courtney for Reintroducing Bill to Help Fix Observation Status Issue Legislation ensures time spent as outpatient, satisfies Medicare requirement Washington, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) today commended Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-2) for reintroducing the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015. The legislation ensures that time spent …

Philadelphia, March 3, 2015 — The American College of Physicians (ACP) published two evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in Annals of Internal Medicine for the prevention and treatment of bedsores, also called pressure ulcers. Bedsores commonly occur in people with limited mobility, such as those in hospitals or long-term care settings.   “Up to $11 billion is spent annually in the United States …