Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This blog title is the same as the title of a February 17, 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation data note.  It is an interesting read, to be sure. “This data note presents completed vaccination and booster rates among nursing home staff, by state. This analysis does not…… Continue reading Nursing Home Staff Vaccination Rates Vary Widely by State as Vaccination Mandates Take Effect 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Nursing homes face a broad range of challenges from public emergencies, such as emerging infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters. To protect residents and prevent disruption of care during emergencies, nursing homes must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness program that addresses a wide range of…… Continue reading Nursing Home Capabilities and Collaboration to Ensure Resident Care During Emergencies

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted an updated version of the Five-Star Users’ Guide 2022 – Updated 2/15/2022 (PDF) on February 15, 2022.  The first January 2022 version was posted on January 14, 2022. Here’s what’s new in the updated version: The addition of the Table of Contents brings the…… Continue reading January 2022 Five-Star Users’ Guide Updated Again

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare AHCA/NCAL’s BLS January Jobs Report provides data for LTC, in particular to digest: Note also that Assisted Living communities have also lost staff – 6.7% as have Hospitals (2%) and Home Health agencies (1.7%). Additional information can be found here.

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The submission deadline for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) is approaching. MDS assessment data for July 1 – September 30 (Q3) of CY 2021 (is) due with this submission deadline. All data must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on February…… Continue reading Reminder: SNF QRP Upcoming Data Submission Deadline

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare February 14, 2022 … 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. The clock is literally ticking loudly for submitting your FY2022 Quarter 1 PBJ data to CMS. Don’t be late! “CMS has long identified staffing as one of the vital components of a nursing home’s ability to provide…… Continue reading PBJ Submission Deadline Fast Approaching!

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Thanks to all that attended our Let’s Talk … QSO-22-08-NH: Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Weekend Staffing Levels webinar on February 10, 2022. If you missed the webinar, want to listen again or know someone that would benefit from the information, below is the location of…… Continue reading Webinar Recording and Handouts: Let’s Talk … QSO-22-08-NH: Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Weekend Staffing Levels

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare jRAVEN (version 1.8.1) is now available for download which contains the following update: The new version number for the PDPM Grouper, v2.0003. The release notes and install instructions are found here on the QIES Technical Support Office website. The release date for this update was February…… Continue reading Update: jRAVEN 1.8.1 Released 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued this News Alert just a few minutes ago: As part of its commitment to improve transparency and help families and caregivers find the best nursing home care for their loved ones, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now posting data on…… Continue reading CMS Makes Nursing Home COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Data Available Online, Increasing Transparency for Consumers

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “Nursing staff turnover is a substantial concern for nursing homes that care for millions of older individuals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low pay is considered as one of the key reasons for high turnover. However, we do not know whether increasing wages can lead to…… Continue reading Association Between Wages and Nursing Staff Turnover in Iowa Nursing Homes