- THCA

Volume XXXI, Number 1
January 2016

**Receive Free Assistance to Report Clostridium Difficile Data and Stop Infection**

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will place an increased focus on steps nursing homes across the nation can take to protect residents against antibiotic-resistant infections, such as Clostridium difficile (CDI).

One of the first steps is monitoring the number of occurrences of CDI within each state. Knowing where and how often these occurrences are taking place will help provide information on where antibiotic prescribing practices can possibly be improved.

As part of that effort, CMS has awarded TMF Health Quality Institute, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Texas, with a contract to begin working with nursing homes to voluntarily report CDI data into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) database. This is the same system, supported by the CDC, which hospitals across the nation use for reporting a variety of infections.

The TMF QIN-QIO will begin recruiting nursing homes from March – May 2016 to participate in its Nursing Home CDI Reporting and Reduction project. Participating nursing homes will work directly with TMF QIN-QIO consultants and receive free assistance to learn how to correctly enter their data each month into the NHSN system. Data entry will begin in early fall of 2016 and occur monthly thereafter. Nursing homes that participate in the TMF QIN-QIO’s CDI Reporting and Reduction project will have the advantage to receive free technical assistance and become proficient with the reporting process while it is still voluntary. Details are still forthcoming on when the mandatory reporting period will begin. To receive additional information about participating in the TMF QIN-QIO’s CDI Reporting and Reduction project, email nhnetwork@tmf.org.

President’s Report

President’s Report

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Legislative Update

Warren Tells House Committee that High Workforce Turnover, Low Wages Threaten Long Term Care

Representative Four Price Honored As Long Term Care Champion

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Commitment to Care

Cutting Edge CMS Funded Dementia Training is Texas Bound

CMS Clarifies Coding “Present on Admission” for Pressure Ulcers in MDS Item M0300

Receive Free Assistance to Report Clostridium Difficile Data and Stop Infection

If you have any questions about the THCA C to C Initiative or would like to share your facilities successes please contact Gloria Bean-Williams at gbwilliams@txhca.org or call (512) 458-1257.

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