August 24, 2022
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Weekly Member Spotlight: Village Shalom (Assisted Living)
 
Village Shalom’s Assisted Living is part of a Life Plan Community dedicated to nurturing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of every individual that they serve. They have a long tradition of providing quality, compassionate care to Kansas City area families dated back to 1912. The team at Village Shalom is always looking for new ways to serve their residents, and their progressive approach to senior living has been recognized by health care associations in Kansas and other senior advocacy groups. Brett Pu serves as the Director of Assisted Living and Memory Support and currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the KCAL Board.
Retention 911: Reviving, Inspiring, Engaging, Retaining!

Finally, here is your Golden Ticket to an event especially created for those of you who:  
  • Have struggled mightily through this season of “unprecedented” headaches and heartaches!
  • Have recently considered trading in your credentials for a one-way ticket to a tropical paradise without a forwarding address!
  • Desperately need real and immediate solutions to the “Great Resignation!”
 
Nothing in the HR Handbook offers relief from the last 3 years of unending global mayhem. Variants, political pandemonium, and racial distress has left us all stranded on the corners of Depleted and Numb. Take a moment to imagine the positive outcomes when we create workplace cultures defined by passion, purpose, cooperation! How ready are you to make this the "Year of Retention?" You don’t have to rely on wishing, hoping, or crossed fingers to keep folks from rushing for the exits! No more “churn and burn!” No more floor wars or cross-shift conflicts!
 
Staffing inconsistencies are robbing our residents of the peace and quality of care they expect and deserve! Haphazard, nonspecific retention and engagement strategies guarantee elevated hospital readmission rates, abysmal morale, no-call-no-shows, high accident rates, and pervasive overtime costs. The sheer impact of replacement costs alone threatens organizational survival.
 
Great news ahead! Retention 911: Reviving, Inspiring, Engaging, Retaining! dives deep into the hearts and minds of your colleagues to reveal what inspires and motivates them to STAY! This session promises to transform the energy traditionally reserved for worrying into countless strategies designed to kick the “workforce crisis” in the tail! How can you afford not to attend this session? Strap in!

Don’t miss this Pre-Conference Session on September 28th presented by Chris Ridenhour. If for some reason you forgot to register for it, just email us at khca@khca.org and we’ll get you enrolled.

Click here for the full brochure or get registered here!
Focus F-Tag of the Week

Each week through October, AHCA will be focusing on a particular F-tag(s) to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance.

§483.80-Infection Control

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made changes to the §483.80-Infection Control, and include the following:
  • F880-Infection Control. Facility must have an infection prevention and control program that includes explanations of standard and transmission-based precautions, droplet precautions, contact precautions, cleaning and disinfection and a water management program. 
  • F881-Antibiotic Stewardship Program. Facility must monitor closely the antibiotics being prescribed to residents and provide feedback to prescribing practitioners. 
  • F882-Infection Preventionist. Facility must have a specially trained infection preventionist working at least part time in the facility.
  • F883-Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is no longer routinely recommended.
  • F868-QAA Committee. Infection Preventionist (IP) must be a member of the QAA committee and report to the committee on a regular basis.

AHCA members may also refer back to the following existing member resources:

Detailed information can be found in the Appendix PP-State Operations Manual.
Please email regulatory@ahca.org for additional questions or visit the Survey Preparedness page for more information.
OIG to Audit Nursing Homes’ use of Related Parties 

A federal watchdog plans to audit nursing homes’ use of related parties, and the results could ultimately lead to even more oversight for the already highly regulated sector.

The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General will determine whether the use of related parties is being accurately reported, and if dependence on affiliates might have increased overhead costs. READ MORE
2022 KHCA/KCAL Staff Recognition Program Nomination

Time is running out to get your staff nominated!

The 2022 Staff Recognition Program is here again and this is a way for you to honor your staff and volunteers. Our yearly awards ceremony is just a small way of honoring some of the great men and women who care for the elders of our great state! The time taken from your busy schedules to fill out this nomination is very much appreciated. 
 
Category winners will be recognized during the Staff Recognition Award Ceremony during Convention on Friday, September 30, 2022 in Mulvane, KS 
 
Deadline for nominations is Friday, August 26, 2022!
 
Click here for more details.
Registration is open for the Annual Convention & Trade Show!

"Tropical Escape - Rejuvenating Your Why"
Kansas Star Event Center Mulvane, KS
September 28 - 30, 2022

Join us for our 72nd Annual Convention & Trade Show in Mulvane, KS! Registration is now open. To learn more about all the offerings this event brings, click the brochure cover or click here to register!
In Case You Missed It
KDHE Follows CDC Recommendations for Primary Series of Novavax COVID- 19 Vaccine in Adolescents Ages 12-17 Years

On Monday, August 22, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo that Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine be used as another primary series option for adolescents ages 12 through 17. This recommendation follows the August 19, 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of the vaccine for this age group. READ MORE
Feds’ Antipsychotics Program Fails to Reduce Prescriptions in Assisted Living

In a federal initiative to reduce unnecessary antipsychotics prescribing, results in assisted living didn’t match the successes seen in nursing homes, a new study reveals. READ MORE
Spread the Smiles

National Assisted Living Week® | September 11-17, 2022

​​Established by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995, National Assisted Living Week® provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding comm​​unities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. The annual observance encourages assisted living communities around the country to offer a variety of events and activities to celebrate the individuals they serve, as well as to help educate members of the public about this distinctive aspect of long term care.​​​​​​​​​​​

​This year's theme for National Assisted Living Week® is "Joyful Moments." Please use these resources, including a planning guide, promotional resources, products, and graphics​​ - to celebrate life's “Joyful Moments” during NALW this year. Participants are asked to share their celebrations throughout the week on social media with the hashtag #NALW. ​
The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available for pre-order!

Order your copy today for October delivery.*

Phase 3 of The Long Term Care Survey manual includes all the updates from CMS' three-phase implementation.
Survey guidance for Phase 3 was released in June 2022. Surveyors will begin using this guidance on October 24, 2022. 

Save money by ordering through KHCA!

Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today! E-mail Jennafer Sumner with desired quantity.
Education Spotlight
Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials

Starts September 8th!

5-Part Webinar Series
On June 29, 2022, CMS released revised Long-Term Care surveyor guidance, including clarifications and technical corrections of Phase 2 guidance issued in 2017, new guidance for Phase 3 requirements which went into effect in November 28, 2019, and guidance on the new arbitration requirements which became effective September 2019. Surveyors will begin using this guidance to identify noncompliance on October 24, 2022. This education series will explain the updates and changes of the regulations and guidance, with an emphasis on developing action plans for achieving compliance related to the updates and changes.
 
What to Expect:
At the conclusion of each session, the learner will be able to:
  • Identify the updates and changes of regulations and guidance that will go into effect October 24, 2022.
  • Develop an action plan to achieve compliance related to the updates and changes
 
All registered participants will receive a link to the recorded sessions.
 
Click here to register for the 5 part webinar series and save $$.
 
Register for individual sessions by viewing our education calendar at www.khca.org
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: Survey Readiness

8/31/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Person-Centered Dementia Care...From the Perspective of the Resident - Lunch & Learn

8/31/2022 10AM-3PM
Olathe, KS

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! #8 Top Citation: F695 Respiratory/Tracheostomy Care & Suctioning

9/6/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: MDS and Medicare Essentials

9/7/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials Session 1: Resident Rights; Abuse, Neglect, & Exploitation; Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Requirements

9/8/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Looking for options for required Staff In-Service?

KHCA’s online learning platform is BACK! We’ve loaded the in-services for SNF and for AL first. Many more education sessions to come.

Access the new learning platform by clicking here

Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living
1100 SW Gage Blvd. | PO Box 4770 | Topeka, KS 66604
PH: 785-267-6003 FAX: 785-267-0833