July 13, 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
Weekly Member Spotlight: Brookdale Tallgrass, Wichita

Brookdale Tallgrass has 30 apartments and is located on E. 21st Street N. in Wichita. Their Executive Director Jennifer Osborn has been there approximately 2.5 years and moved to the ED position after spending a year working for Brookdale in another capacity. They have a strong focus on aging in place and have a very robust programming department focused on doing what residents want to do. According to Jennifer their residents love to have fun and staff are happy to accommodate that request. As you can tell by the photo, their SUPER HERO staff know how to have fun…even during the COVID Pandemic. Welcome to membership!
CDC Updates Guidance on Enhanced Barrier Precautions for Nursing Homes

Coinciding with a new report on antimicrobial resistance, the CDC has updated its guidance on enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) for all health care settings, including nursing homes. The guidance expands to residents that trigger the use of EBP and indicates it should be followed for any resident in the facility with:

  1. An open wound requiring a dressing change;
  2. An indwelling catheter for the duration of their stay; and
  3. Is colonized with MDRO and contact precautions do not apply. 

The EBP requires the use of gown and gloves during high-contact resident care activities that provide opportunities for transfer of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) to staff hands and clothing. Use of eye protection may be necessary when splash or spray may occur but is not necessary in other situations.
AHCA/NCAL Warns To Not Interfere With Resident Coverage Choices After Provider Is Fined Nearly $8M

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (7/13, Brown) reports the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living "is urging providers to properly educate staff on acceptable practices when it comes to discussing changes to residents’ health care coverage in order to avoid the same fate of a New York-based facility and operator that was ordered to pay nearly $8 million to settle fraud accusations." The group said Friday "that federal health officials have made it clear that interfering with resident choice of health care coverage through disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans is a violation of residents’ rights and federal law." 
Monkeypox Waste Guidance Documents

Below you can find guidance documents from the KDHE Bureau of Waste Management for how to treat Monkeypox (MPX) medical waste. 
Members Only Nurse Advisory Call – Friday, July 15, 2022 at 10:00 AM

Please join KHCA’s Nurse Advisory Committee President, Teresa Coover on this month’s Members Only NAC Call to discuss Quality, hot topics, and the latest happenings.

Microsoft Teams Meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or join by entering a meeting ID
Meeting ID: 260 251 561 040
Passcode: rXpDcw
Members Only Facility Standards Call – Friday, July 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM

Join Linda Farrar - KHCA Consultant and Polly Berkley - VP of Operations and Education as they discuss the latest SNF survey findings. 


Microsoft Teams Meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or join by entering a meeting ID
Meeting ID: 269 513 481 395
Passcode: mxR3MN
The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available for pre-order!

Order your copy today for September 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.
In Case You Missed It
Precedent-setting arbitration ruling could lead to more nursing home lawsuits

A nursing home arbitration agreement that forced residents or family members to split fees in a dispute has been deemed “unconscionable,” a ruling that may pave the way for more lawsuits against providers. READ MORE
Biden team secures 3.2M doses of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine ahead of FDA action

The Biden administration said Monday it secured 3.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax ahead of authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

The Department of Health and Human Services said the vaccine will provide another option for Americans who’ve remained on the sidelines during the vaccine push. READ MORE
2022 Staff Recognition Program Nomination

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. 

Click here for more details.
Education Spotlight
Person-Centered Dementia Care...From the Perspective of the Resident

8/31/2022
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Olathe, KS
This course is limited to 45 attendees.

This Lunch and Learn course includes the common framework and the stages of Dementia with a focus on improving the quality of care for individuals with dementia living in Long Term Care communities including Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Home Plus settings. Presented by Linda Farrar, RN, LNHA this course will look at how care partners can approach prevention and de-escalation of challenging behaviors and will help you to intervene when behavior escalates. You will know how to recognize, respond and calm the individual using non-pharmacological approaches. 

Learning Objectives:  
  • Participants will demonstrate an understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias and the impact on cognitive function.
  • Participants will demonstrate ability to identify key care approaches for stages of dementia promote the highest practicable level of well-being for elders with dementia.
  • Participants will demonstrate understanding of strategies to enhance communication and minimize negative behaviors.

Click here for more details.
Upcoming Education
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Adept Antibiotic Stewardship for the Infection Preventionist

7/19/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
Webinar: Documentation for Social Services

7/26/2022 2:00PM-3:15PM
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.
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