Georgia’s Gov. Nathan Deal recently signed into law House Bill 342.
One interview away from infection control CMPs?
By
Norris Cunningham
Kathryn Cordell
May 19, 2021
With the roll out of vaccines and slowing rates of COVID-19 infections, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not shifted its survey focus away from infection control. Instead, the agency released...
How soon is soon enough?
By
William Vaughan
Jul 31, 2013
The word “immediate” in the State Operation Manual, Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities can be interpreted in multiple ways. Determining the timing of interventions...
The fault in our (5) stars
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Sep 19, 2014
So, let me start off by saying that I am sure a lot of us have our own rating systems. For example, my sisters and I have a tissue-box rating system for tearjerker books and movies. The book the “Fault...
The truth in the stars
By
Jessica Curtis
Jun 07, 2021
Can a one-star skilled nursing facility be the same as a five-star facility? It depends on your zip code. When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigns the health inspection...
Who cares about Five-Star during a pandemic?
By
Steven Littlehale
Jun 15, 2020
Just as the sun continues to rise, the need to objectively monitor and evaluate care in nursing homes has not ceased, nor has the need for providers to continuously work on quality improvement initiatives.
CMS is doing something right: Focusing on safety
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Feb 18, 2022
On Feb. 9, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a memo to state survey agency directors, asking state departments of public health to properly survey for certification requirements....
Does the Quality Assurance Privilege even exist after CMS’ new guidelines?
By
Alan C. Horowitz, Esq., RN
Feb 13, 2019
Anyone who has not yet read the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ recent guidelines for surveyors may be in for an unpleasant surprise.
Control your claims: Pressure ulcer/wound care management
By
Betty Norman
Apr 12, 2017
Our loss trending experience has shown us that the same issues that result in F-tags during a survey can also result in a patient event or claim.
3 surprising reasons to strengthen your resident council
Oct 11, 2016
Forget about worries of them eating up staff time or triggering something bad on surveys, resident councils can be awesome for your facility and here’s why.