Resident Rights ~ January 31

The regulations in the resident’s rights subsection of Appendix PP drive many aspects of the resident’s quality of life. It is important for nursing home leaders to have complete knowledge of what the resident rights regulations are and how they can comply with the regulations to ensure that the residents in their care maintain their highest quality of life while nursing homes maintain compliance.

Abuse ~ February 28

While there are only seven regulations in the freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation subsection of Appendix PP, they contain a vast amount of information. This information is vital to ensuring the nursing home’s policies and procedures related to abuse including all of the required elements, as well as providing notice to covered individuals and thoroughly investigating all allegations of potential abuse.

Admission, Discharge, MDS & Care Planning ~ March 27

Admission and discharge regulations require an interdisciplinary approach to ensure that residents receive effective discharge planning from the day of admission. The same interdisciplinary team is charged with completing the resident’s Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Resident-Centered Care Planning. This session will provide in-depth details about these subsections within Appendix PP.

Nursing Home Administration ~ April 24

Administrators of nursing homes have many duties within the nursing home, including specific regulations that ensure residents are being cared for in the safest manner while maintaining the facility assessment, ensuring that payroll-based journal reports are being submitted timely and accurately along with overseeing so many other tasks. This session will review the Administration subsection of the federal regulations including responsibilities of the medical director, staff qualifications, and binding arbitration agreements.

Quality of Life & Behavioral Health ~ May 29

Quality of life and behavioral health incorporate psychosocial well-being and mental health requirements within the nursing home. This session will review the quality of life regulations including maintaining the resident’s highest physical and mental well-being such as ensuring the residents maintain their level of independence with activities of daily living, activities that meet the resident’s interest level, and ensuring that the nursing home is providing mental and behavioral health services according to resident-centered care.

Quality of Care ~ June 26

The quality of care regulations within Appendix PP incorporate the majority of the regulations that most often result in higher scope and severity and enforcement action. This series will discuss the requirements throughout the quality of care subsection including assessment and intervention, preventing and treating pressure ulcers, ensuring the residents are free from accidents, hazards and supervision, and requirements for dialysis.

Dietary & Food Service ~ July 31

Serving food in a safe and sanitary manner is so much more than simply wearing gloves and ensuring food temperatures are warm or cold enough. This regulation has been among the top five deficiencies for several months. This session will review the regulations that relate to food service including staff competencies, ensuring temperatures are safe for the type of food being served, and the portions served are in accordance with the therapeutic menu.

Nursing & Physician Services ~ August 28

Physician and nursing services include nursing staff competencies, physician visits, requirements of the physician visits, and nurse aide performance evaluations in the training program. This session will review steps that nursing staff should take to ensure that compliance is maintained in these vital subsections of Appendix PP. 

Environmental Services ~ September 25

Environmental services include many regulations such as pest control; safe, functional, and homelike environment; ensuring proper furnishings are included in the resident’s room; and call lights. This session will review the regulations in the environmental services subsection of Appendix PP. 

Outside Services ~ October 16

Outside services in the nursing home play a vital role in much of the resident’s care including rehab, laboratory, radiology, dental, and pharmacy services. This session will review the requirements for these outside services and what nursing home staff must complete to maintain compliance. 

QAPI ~ November 20

Quality Assurance is the process of monitoring all care areas and services to ensure quality and safe care is provided to residents. Performance Improvement is the process of determining steps to improve areas in the care of residents. Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement can be very daunting for those that struggle to understand what to monitor. This session will provide an overview of the regulations related to the QAPI subsection of Appendix PP including who must be in attendance at meetings and how frequently meetings must occur. 

Required Training and Education ~ December 18

It can be overwhelming to gain an understanding of all the required training including what must be completed on hire vs. annually, how many hours of ongoing education are required, and how to determine what additional topics must be included in the training plan. This session will review requirements throughout Appendix PP, including the training subsection, to establish a well-rounded and compliant training program.