Content contained in this newsletter may have been previously published in prior issues of the QCC newsletter.  
Nursing Home Icons
The Florida Nursing Home
Quality Care Connection
This QCC Newsletter is your monthly National Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative (NNHQCC) in Florida member update that provides information on the latest activities. It is a quick reference for information on links to improvement tools, resources, news, best practices, and success stories. 
We have changed our email address.
Look for future communications from flnursinghome@hsag.com . Add this email to your list of approved senders to
assure you continue receiving HSAG notices.
Updated MDS 3.0 Quality Measures User's Manual v12.0 Effective January 1, 2019
The latest version of the MDS 3.0 Quality Measures User's Manul v12.0, effective January 1, 2019 is available here.
QAPI Corner
STEP 12: Take Systemic Action

Systemic Action is often the most challenging step in improving performance. After identifying root causes to an issue, it is important to implement changes or corrective action that can improve or reduce the chance of an event happening again. These actions should be tightly linked to the root causes in order to have a higher likelihood of being effective. It is vital to avoid quick fixes. The goal is to make strong changes that will result in lasting improvement. Actions can be defined in the following ways.
 
  • Weak: Actions that depend on staff to remember training or policies. These actions enhance or enforce existing processes.
  • Intermediate: Staff must remember to do the right thing, but these actions provide tools. These modify existing processes.
  • Strong: Actions that do not depend on staff to remember to do the right thing. Strong action redesign the process.
 
Pilot testing is one tactic nursing homes can use to test systemic change ideas. Think about testing or "piloting" changes in one area of your facility before launching something facility wide. Sometimes, changes can have unintended consequences.

For more information on this topic, read page 19 of QAPI at a Glance .
Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Resources
Contact us with any questions at flnursinghome@hsag.com
Infection Preventionist Training
We know you are hard at work ensuring your Infection Control Programs are in place for Phase 3 implementation in accordance with Regulation § 483.80 of the Final Rule for Long-Term Care Facilities. By November 28, 2019 all nursing homes are required to have an Infection Preventionist(s) (IP), who is/are responsible for the facility’s infection control program.
 
In support of your facility and this regulation, the CMS has approved this no-cost Infection Preventionist Training Course developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This course has been developed and approved to support the specialized training indicated in the Final Rule requirement for the designation of at least one Infection Preventionist. 
The course will include information about the core activities of an effective IPC program, with a detailed explanation of recommended IPC practices to:
  • Prevent pathogen transmission
  • Reduce healthcare-associated infections
  • Decrease antibiotic resistance in nursing homes
No Cost CEs Available!
HSAG Resource Spotlight
Care coordination resources aim to improve transitions of care and lower unnecessary hospital readmissions. Learn more.
 
In addition to the NNHQCC Change Package v2.2., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just released an important new resource: All Cause Harm Prevention in Nursing Homes Change Package.
 
This package is a compendium of successful practices of high performing nursing homes, illustrating how they prevent harm while honoring each resident's rights and preferences.
This material was prepared by Health Services Advisory Group, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization for Arizona, California, Florida, Ohio, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. Publication No.
FL-11SOW-C.2-04252019-02