TIP OF THE WEEK

How you can help reduce pressure ulcers

• Focus on pressure ulcer prevention as a part of your organization’s culture.
• Provide consistent education to staff, residents and families about pressure ulcer prevention.
• Complete a head to toe skin assessment at time of admission using a valid assessment tool like the Braden or Norton scales.
• Establish a process for communicating risk for and/or actual skin breakdown to nursing staff, activities, dietary, rehabilitative services and other involved parties at time of admission.
• Provide systematic daily skin inspections of all residents at risk with documentation and involve licensed nurses in this process.
• Act on adverse findings immediately.
• Prioritize nutritional assessments and provide nutritional supplements to assist with prevention and healing.
• Individualize positioning/re-positioning programs, mobility and exercise programs.
• Practice proper transfer techniques; reduce friction and shearing.
• Provide pressure relieving support surfaces.
• Decrease skin exposure to moisture from incontinence, perspiration, or wound drainage.
• Incorporate all of the above into the resident’s plan of care at time of admission and as needed.
• Involve the Medical Director in developing wound care protocols and a wound care product formulary.

From the Illinois Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Illinois.

 

 

 

 

IN THE NEWS

 

OHIO LAGS IN PROVIDING SENIORS IN-HOME CARE

February 6, 2007 -- Akron Beacon Journal -- Ohio's Medicaid costs for senior citizens' long-term care are among the most expensive in the country, and the state's reliance on costly nursing homes can't be sustained as the number of older people swells, according to a study released Monday by a group that advocates in-home care.

 

Ohio ranks 49th in home care spending, according to the study, which means that every state in the nation except Mississippi spends a higher percentage of Medicaid long-term care funding for home care. The study said, if Ohio makes an upfront investment in home care programs, the savings could be as much as $900 million a year by 2030, when the percentage of people 65 or older in Ohio will jump from 13 percent to 20 percent. Read More >>

 

 

NATIONAL QUALITY FORUM RELEASES PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE QUALITY REPORT

February 6, 2007 -- NQF -- The report’s national framework for palliative and hospice care is intended to be the first step in developing a comprehensive quality measurement and reporting system for palliative care and hospice services. The report also identifies a set of preferred practices designed to improve palliative and hospice care. The National Quality Forum (NQF) recently identified palliative and hospice care as national priority areas for healthcare quality improvement. Read the report’s executive summary >>

 

 

ONE DOCTOR'S CRUSADE FOR HOSPITAL REFORM

February 6, 2007 -- CBS Evening News -- Dr. Donald Berwick, a Harvard-trained pediatrician, has dedicated his life to tracking a killer in a place that's supposed to make you well, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports. Berwick runs the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and two years ago, he launched the 100,000 Lives Campaign. That's the number of lives he hoped to save by getting hospitals to have standard operating procedures for the way they care for patients. This includes properly connecting a patient to a ventilator to eliminate the risk of pneumonia and ensuring that a patient's medication is monitored from the ICU to the hospital room to home.
Read More >>

 

 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GIVE AND GET THE FLU SHOT! (PDF)

2007 -- Medicare Learning Network -- The peak of flu season typically occurs between late December and March. However, flu season can last until May. Protect yourself, your residents, and your family and friends by getting and giving the flu shot. Talk with your residents about the importance of getting an annual flu shot and a lifetime pneumococcal vaccination. Remember - influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and their administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are NOT Part D covered drugs.
Read More (PDF) >>

 

 

OHIO KEPRO EVENTS

 

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Objectives:

• Identify the basic principles of quality improvement
• Describe the role of data collection in the quality improvement process
• Discuss ways to improve team performance
• Identify strategies to improve the effectiveness of team leaders and team members

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Nursing home administrators, directors of nursing, clinical managers, direct care professionals, QI team members

 

Continuing education credits for nurses and NAB credits for administrators are pending. Please contact Donna Maynard at 1.800.385.5080 to learn the program’s status.

 

February 8, 2007 through March 8, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in various locations throughout Ohio.

 

If you are interested, please download the flyer and register online.

 

View all Ohio KePRO educational opportunities for nursing homes >>

 

 

OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS

 

CMS SNF/LTC Open Door Forum

February 15, 2007 2:00 p.m

Dial-in: (800) 837-1935

Conference ID: 9399803

 

Navigating the MDS Through the Ohio Medicaid Reimbursement System
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
June 11, 2007 or August 23, 2007
Call Cheryl Robertson at (614) 466-9088 for more information.

 

Roadmap for Change: 2nd Annual Person Centered Care Coalition Conference
March 20, 2007 – Columbus, Ohio

 

 

Medicare Learning Network: Learning resources and products for the healthcare professional.

 

Alzheimer’s Association Training Events

 

AOPHA Events

 

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Courses

 

Kendal® Outreach

 

Ohio Department of Health, Technical Assistance Program – New Programs

 

Ohio Health Care Association Events

 

 

 

An archive of The Nursing Home Weekly Update is available on our Web site. Click here >>