TIP OF THE WEEK
Skin care for residents at risk for pressure ulcers
- Healthy skin is clean and well hydrated. Dry skin is rough and scaly.
- Skin should be washed with warm water, using a mild cleansing agent to minimize excessive dryness.
- Excessive friction and scrubbing are contraindicated.
- Cleansing must be done at each time of soiling and at intervals consistent with good hygiene.
- Non-alcohol based moisturizing agents are recommended.
Although it is important to cleanse and moisturize all skin surfaces, aggressive massage has been shown to cause tissue damage, and must be avoided. Massage over bony prominences is especially likely to cause additional injury to pressure-damaged skin.
Ideally, temperature and humidity should be maintained at levels that minimize damage to the patient's skin, such as maceration, cracking, or decrease in blood flow to the skin. Heat lamps should be avoided because they increase local tissue temperature and metabolic demands, dry the tissue, and may be a safety hazard.
It is important to prevent mechanical injury to the skin from friction and shearing forces during repositioning and transfer activity. The key is to have a sufficient number of personnel available to move patients. Assistive devices such as lift sheets, trapezes, transfer boards, or mechanical lifts may be useful adjunctive devices to minimize tissue injury. Mechanical injury from friction can be reduced with dry lubricants, such as cornstarch, or application of barrier dressings such as transparent films and hydrocolloids.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Workforce Retention Resource CD-ROM *New!
Designed to help you attract and retain the right employees, this resource includes assessments, change ideas, leadership/communication tools, quality/process improvement tools, resources, and references. An interactive index appears when this CD-ROM is inserted into your personal computer to help you learn more and choose resources that are right for you.
To order, click here and select “Nursing Home” in the drop-down box. Then, scroll to the bottom and add the Workforce Retention Resource CD-ROM to your cart. Finally, proceed to checkout. All resources in the Ohio KePRO Shopping Bag are free of charge to Ohio healthcare providers. Please allow 10 business days to process your request.
IN THE NEWS
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CMS 1500 HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIM FORM?
March 9, 2007 -- CMS -- Due to incorrect formatting of some of the new CMS-1500 (08-05) health insurance claim forms, the April 1, 2007 cut-off for submitting its predecessor, the CMS 1500 (12-90), has been extended until further notification.
The old version of the form contains "Approved OMB-0938-0008 FORM CMS-1500 (12-90)" on the bottom of the form (typically on the lower right corner). The revised version contains "Approved OMB-0938-0999 FORM CMS-1500 (08-05)."
The best way to identify if your CMS-1500 (08-05) version forms are correct is by looking at the upper right hand corner of the form. On properly formatted claim forms, there will be approximately a ¼" gap between the tip of the red arrow above the vertically stacked word "CARRIER" and the top edge of the paper. If the tip of the red arrow is touching or close to touching the top edge of the paper, then the form is not printed to specifications. Questions may be directed to Brian Reitz at:
Brian.Reitz@cms.hhs.gov.
OLDER PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE STAY HEALTHIER
March 13, 2007 -- Akron Beacon Journal -- Two separate studies have found that exercise can slow the deterioration of Alzheimer's disease patients and can prevent disability and delay death among healthy older people. According to research from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, the risk of becoming disabled fell seven percent for every hour spent each week being physically active. Plus, each added weekly hour of activity cut the risk of dying by 11 percent over the next several years. Read more >>
SENATE OKS 'HOME FIRST' FOR POOR SENIORS
March 14, 2007 -- Cleveland Plain Dealer -- The Ohio Senate moved the state toward offering seniors more options under Medicaid, approving a bill intended to allow more people to move home from nursing homes. Read more >>
OHIO KEPRO EVENTS
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE CONFERENCE CALLS
Choose one or more topics of interests and dial in to discuss best practices and barriers to improvement with your peers in the nursing home industry. These calls are designed for interactive discussion; come prepared to discuss your successes and barriers.
Dial-In: 1.800.895-1715
Conference ID: COP
Topic |
Call One |
Call Two |
Pressure Ulcers |
3/13/07, 10AM or 3/15/07, 2PM |
4/17/07, 10AM or 4/19/07, 2PM |
Pain |
3/27/07, 10AM or 3/29/07, 2PM |
4/24/07, 10AM or 4/26/07, 2PM |
Restraints |
4/3/07, 10AM or 4/5/07, 2PM |
5/1/07, 10AM or 5/3/07, 2PM |
For more information, please contact the Nursing Home Team at 1-800-385-5080
View all Ohio KePRO educational opportunities for nursing homes >>
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Dementia: The Emerging Epidemic, A support group meeting for family, friends, and caregivers
May 10, 2007, 7:00pm to 8:30pm, Courtyard by Marriott, Springfield, OH.
Call OMH, Rita Brown at 937-525-3000 to register before May 3, 2007.
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.
Upcoming CMS Webcasts
Advancing Excellence in Nursing Homes
April 23, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
From Institutional to Individual Care Part III: Clinical Case Studies in Culture Change
April 27, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
Medicare Learning Network: Learning resources and products for the healthcare professional.
Alzheimer’s Association Training Events
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Courses
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 >>
