July 26, 2022
KHCA/KCAL is committed to providing our members with important updates. Below is a list of the most recent information. Please visit our website for a list of complete updates. www.khca.org/dailyupdates
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The Latest News

Whether it’s uttered during an interview, highlighted during an industry conference or referenced in a news release, I’ve heard and seen the word “crisis” quite often during my time reporting on the skilled nursing industry. READ MORE
TOMORROW: Statewide webinar – Catching Up on Health Care Facility COVID-19 Precautions and Treatment in this Highly Fluid Time

Wednesday, July 27th at 1:00 p.m.

We know there is confusion among health care facilities these days about masking and other COVID-19 precautions. Here’s your chance to hear what State officials are saying about CMS and CDC guidance, how it is being interpreted by KDADS and KDHE in LTC and acute care health care settings.

We have asked for time for questions. Come prepared to pose your
questions/concerns/observations in the chat box about what is going on in your
area. 
THIS WEEK: Reminder: Upcoming HCBS Compliance Portal Technical Assistance - July 28, 2022 11am-12pm

One technical assistance guidance session opportunity remains to help providers navigate the new HCBS Compliance Portal and ask questions. READ MORE
In Case You Missed It
NHSN Clarifies Definition of Up to Date Vaccination in COVID-19 Vaccination Modules

In June 2022, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) began using the updated definition of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All facility types reporting data through the COVID-19 Vaccination Module must use the updated definition.
Up to date COVID-19 vaccination includes:
  • An individual who has received all doses in the primary series and all recommended booster doses, when eligible.
  • Most individuals who are 50 years and older and have received a second booster dose.
  • Reporting of up-to-date vaccination status is summarized in the table below.
*Individuals with a moderately to severely immunocompromising condition are considered up to date in the following cases:
  1. Received an additional dose less than three months ago, if primary series was the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; or 
  2. Received an additional dose less than two months ago, if primary series was the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine; or
  3. Received an additional dose and one booster dose less than four months ago; or
  4. Received a second booster dose.​
If data does not reflect the updated definition, facilities are encouraged to go back into NHSN and update their data. READ MORE
Detecting the Root Cause of Infection Events
 
Click here for more information on detecting the root cause of infection events. 
Don’t miss our next webinar in the Infection Prevention series! Learn more and register here!
CMS Releases First-Ever Home- and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set

Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing the first-ever home- and community-Based Services (HCBS) quality measure set to promote consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs. The measure set is intended to provide insight into the quality of HCBS programs and enable states to measure and improve health outcomes for people relying on long-term services and support (LTSS) in Medicaid. The release of this voluntary measure set is also a critical step to promoting health equity among the millions of older adults and people with disabilities who need LTSS because of disabling conditions and chronic illnesses. READ MORE
 
Since the first reported case of monkeypox in the United States on May 18, HHS has communicated public health information about the virus to patients and health care providers, provided access and substantially increased supply of vaccines and treatments, and significantly expand the availability of tests. READ MORE
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
Required In-Services on Demand

KHCA/KCAL offers required In-Services on demand for both Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing.
These 1 hour sessions can be accessed on our new online learning management system.

Click on our course catalog here: https://khcaeducation.com/
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! #7 Top Citation: F677 ADL Care Provided for Dependent Residents

8/2/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Insightful Root Cause Analysis for the Infection Preventionist

8/16/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
Person-Centered Dementia Care...From the Perspective of the Resident Lunch & Learn

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

This 8-week webinar series runs August-September 2022 and focuses on skill building for serving effectively as the Director of Nursing with emphasis on effective leadership and staff engagement, nursing operations and systems of care for common conditions treated in the LTC setting.
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