This month’s Commitment to Care (C to C): Telemedicine – Creating a Culture of “Care in Place”

Learn from this month’s article how Telemedicine is being used by Nexion Health  to improve the quality of care of those they serve.  Read about some of the unexpected benefits they have experienced since implementation and how they plan to expand their use of Telemedicine in their centers.

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Webinars

◊   NF Specialized Services Webinar Scheduled for April 25

There is a lot of focus on how nursing facilities are providing specialized services for PASRR Positive residents and DADS is looking closely to make sure that the process is being done correctly. Make sure that your facility is following the process to avoid any related deficiencies as failure to provide needed specialized services such as those for Habilitation like PT, OT and ST can be seen as Neglect.  THCA recommends that at least one person from each facility takes part in this important Webinar.

Nursing facility providers can register now for a Specialized Services webinar April 25 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. This webinar will provide information on the following areas related to Specialized Services:

  • What are Specialized Services, why are they important, and the rules and regulations related to them?
  • How to assess and determine is an individual needs Specialized Services
  • Examples of Specialized Services
  • Myths related to:
    • Billing
    • Rehabilitation vs. Habilitation
    • Professional licensure concerns
  • Resources available

◊   Register Now for Free ANE Training Academy Sessions

Nursing facility providers can now sign up to learn how to screen for, identify, and prevent abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation (ANE). The 2-day ANE Training Academy sessions are free and continuing education hours will be provided. Sessions run from May through July 2017. Exact locations and dates can be found on the registration site.

Each 2-day course is open to all nursing facility staff, most especially those providing direct care to facility residents.

Email questions to karen.lose@hhsc.state.tx.us.

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Building Prevention into Every Day Practice: Framework for Successful Clinical Outcomes Series – Part 9 of 13

This is part of a series featuring one element of the Building Prevention into Every Day Practice: Framework for Successful Clinical Outcomes.  Success in achieving positive resident/patient outcomes is even more critical now than ever before.  The link between quality and payment in long term and post-acute care is growing stronger, as evidenced by the SNF Value Based Purchasing Program (VBP), Improving Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act, SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and more.

In addition, regulatory activity is intensifying through focused surveys on adverse events, dementia care and MDS. The Five-Star Rating system and Nursing Home Compare have been revised and will add items in the future as it broadens public reporting and transparency.  Most importantly, consumers expect and deserve high quality care.

The entire framework outlines key elements from both an organizational and clinical nature that are critical to successful clinical and organizational outcomes. Positively, these elements reflect common denominators that cross multiple care situations.  Therefore, instead of being yet another initiative or single focused project to achieve just one outcome, it is a way of acting, thinking and being that will benefit multiple areas across an organization.  Each element is addressed in detail throughout the framework.

 

This month THCA is featuring the element of Clinical Foundation: Cause Identification

Key Takeaways: Cause Identification

  • Cause identification refers to finding the reason(s) for an event or a situation.
  • Finding causes allows us to intervene and figure out whether and to what extent we can correct the underlying issues related to a problem, situation, or symptom.
  • By gathering information systematically to clarify issues or problems, organizations can make improvements to avoid potential near misses in the future.
  • Cause identification methods should be built in to everyday processes so they are used in real time throughout the day, as well as retroactively to analyze situations that already occurred.

 

♦  Probing Questions for Team Reflection and Discussion:

  1. What processes do we have in place currently to support cause identification? How can we make it better?
  2. How are lessons from investigations and cause analysis activities communicated with all staff and acted upon?
  3. Do staff from all disciplines participate in cause analysis?

 

Visit the AHCA Clinical Practice website to learn more about the element of “Clinical Foundation: Cause Identification” and answers to these key questions:

What does this mean? Why is this important? What are some examples? What is my part (as an individual employee, manager or practitioner)? What can my organization do?

Start somewhere, pick one element and work through it with your team.

Enjoy the journey through the framework!