Volume XXX, Number 4,
 April 2015

Commitment to Care Update

Thank you to those who have completed the Commitment to Care Survey.  The information you provided will be instrumental in planning for how THCA will structure and implement efforts to provide you resources and to assist with your focused quality improvement efforts as you demonstrate your Commitment to Care. 

The majority of you have indicated that you plan to make Recruitment and Retention of front line employees your primary focus over the next 12 months. 

Therefore THCA will devote our May Commitment to Care: Topic of the Month article to providing you with keys to success, lessons learned and tools to assist you in your efforts.  In the meantime remember that there are lots of resources out there to pick and choose from including educational offerings at our upcoming THCA Spring Conference and Resource Fair April 20 – 22nd, at the Omni Barton Creek Conference Center in Austin.

Much of the research out there indicates that ongoing education of staff is key to attaining the skills needed to lead and grow the long term care workforce and its ability to provide improved quality of care.  The following sessions at Spring Conference, may be of particular interest to understanding your workforce needs and how to meet them. 

• “An Engaged Staff: Why they stay, why they leave”
• “Enhancing Communication and Improving Outcomes involves Teamwork”

If you haven’t registered yet for Spring Conference CLICK HERE to go to the 2015 THCA Spring Conference registration website AND “Share our Passion & Commitment to Care”

If you have any questions or would like to share your successes please contact me at gbwilliams@txhca.org or call (512) 458-1257.

President’s Report

• Budgets are moving……collective voices must be heard

Legislative Update

• State budget on the move in both chambers

• Compromise on three strikes bill moves out of the Senate

• THCA opposes bill allowing guns in nursing homes

• THCA members lobby legislators for long term care

Commitment to Care

• Commitment to Care update

State News

• THCA analysis of survey activity and deficiencies – 1st Quarter FY 2015

• “All aboard the T.R.A.I.N.” – Strategies to stay on track managing antipsychotic (AP) drug usage webinar slated for May 8th

• Activity Professional award winners being recognized at the THCA Spring Conference

• Distribution of resident days by RUG level

Federal News

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) MDS focused dementia care surveys

• AHCA issues guidance on Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) delay

• Emergency preparedness guide for Assisted Living communities

Announcements & Recognitions

• National Nursing Home Week, May 10 – 15, 2015 – “BRING ON THE FIESTA!”

• THCA welcomes our newest facility members

• THCA facility contact information sheet

• THCA Facebook & Twitter pages

THCAPAC

• THCAPAC “500 Club”

• THCAPAC Spring golf tournament

• PAC special for Administrators & AL Managers at THCAPAC Spring golf tournament

Region News

• “A few thoughts from the business community”

• Donate items for our 2015 Spring fundraising silent auction

• Region meetings this month

• THCA contact information sheet

Education

• THCA Spring Conference and Resource Fair April 20-22, 2015 – Omni Barton Creek Conference Center
  Austin, Texas

• Attention Nurses!  2015 Spring Conference & Resource Fair

• Attention Activity Directors! 2015 Spring Conference & Resource Fair

• THCA 65th Annual Convention and Trade Show – “65: Commitment & Devotion” – September 21-24, 2015 – The Gaylord Texas – Grapevine, Texas – SAVE THE DATE

• DADS and DSHS conference: Infection Control in Long-term Care 2015

If you have suggestions for education sessions or questions about THCA education, please contact Sue Wilson at the THCA office swilson@txhca.org.

Calendar

• April 2015

• May 2015