Longtime KHCA member passes away.

It is with much sadness that we report on the death of long time KHCA member and friend Jeanie Peay.

Jeanie died Friday, March 13, 2009 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita after a six year battle with cancer. She was an activity part of the KHCA Public Relations Committee and was instrumental in organizing the first
Marty Hegarty Distinguished Citizen Award program. Her obituary is listed below.
 
      Peay, Shirley J. "Jeanie," 57, joined her loved ones in Heaven on Friday,
      March 13, 2009. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Amie
      Montgomery, and father, Kenneth Johnson. She is survived by her loving
      husband, Tom: daughter, Karianne Kirk (Andy); sons, Brent Montgomery,
      Eddie Peay (Rachel), Scott Peay (Kim); mother, Betty Eshbaugh (Alon);
      sisters, Sue Watters (Dave) and Sheri Stallard; and 6 truly blessed
      grandchildren. Jeanie touched many people and will be greatly missed. She
      was a graduate of Southeast High School, and Director of Marketing for
      Life Care Center of Wichita. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March
      19, 10 a.m. at Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Rd. Visitation
      Wednesday, March 18, 5-8 p.m. at Old Mission Mortuary. Memorial: Amie
      Montgomery Student Ambassador Society Endowed Scholarship, Wichita State
      University Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002.
      Published in the Wichita Eagle from 3/15/2009 - 3/16/2009

KHCA did send a memorial on behalf of our members to the scholarship mentioned above.

[ Return to top]

 
  Hope for the Best...Prepare for the Worst!

The 2009 Kansas Legislature is a week away from adjourning.  The Governor’s recommended nursing home rate freeze for FY 2010 is still on the table in the Appropriations legislation.  At this time, the legislators will reconsider this issue when they return at the end of April for the Veto session and final consideration of the remaining legislation still unresolved.  Both KHCA and KAHSA asked the legislators to delay the final decision on our rebasing until everyone is sure of revenues for FY 2010 and what federal stimulus dollars might be available to maintain our rebasing and reimbursements.

We will be sending talking points and a plan for grassroots activity in the next two weeks.  Many of you see your legislators when they are home in their districts.  Remind them reliable and consistent funding is a part of providing the best care to our frail Kansans.

[Return to top]

 
  New KHCA/KCAL Members
Membership News

Jeff Moszetter is the 2009 KHCA Membership Vice President.  Angela Moore, Travis McBride, Staci Cardenas, Wade Taylor and Becky Burke, District VP’s, make up the remainder of the membership team. They are busy recruiting new members and providing customer care to our current ones.  We appreciate their commitment to KHCA.

We are pleased to announce new KHCA/KCAL members:

    Mennonite Friendship Manor- South Hutchinson
    Sandpiper Bay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center- Wichita
    Westwood Manor--Topeka

[Return to top]

 
  2009 KHCA/KCAL Nurse of the Year Awards
Nominate your Nurses!!

The 2009 KHCA Nomination forms for Long Term Care Nurse of the Year, DON/ADON and Assisted Living Nurse of the Year are now available.  Click here.

These nominations are a great way for you to show your nurses how much they are appreciated.  Nominations must be in the KHCA office by 5:00p.m. Thursday, April 16th.  Winners will be announced at the LTC Nurses Conference Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

[Return to top]

 
  2009 KHCA/KCAL Convention and Trade Show
--just around the corner--

The 2009 KHCA/KCAL Convention Trade Show is October 13-14 in Wichita.  We recently sent out the Vendor Information.  Please click here for more information. If you have questions, call the office and speak with Joleen or Karla. 

[Return to top]

 
  Education News
from Linda MowBray

KCAL is excited to once again offer a class for LPNs teaching the basics of physical assessment. This class will work with LPNs to them recognize deviations from normal findings and how to take appropriate action.  At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have learned the basics of physical assessment and will be able to gather enough preliminary assessment information to know when the data obtained deviates from normal assessment findings.  The LPN assessor will understand when to refer the client/resident for additional assessment to a registered nurse or a physician.  The LPN will also understand the importance of documenting accurate information, passing along the information, and having that information in front of them when they call the resident/client’s health care provider.  LPN Brochure

The class will be offered in six different locations across the state. Space is limited in each class so that each nurse can receive individualized attention.

KHCA District Vice Presidents will be hosting classes for CNAs in the months of April and May. Instructor Carol Job, RN will be teaching the CNAs how the work they do translates proper coding on the MDS. CNAs will learn how this information is used to determine the correct RUG value for each resident and why the accuracy of this information is so important. This session will be held in seven different locations across the state and is open all staff involved with MDS but will primarily focus on the role of the CNA.   Brochure

[Return to top]

 
  Assisted Living News
New KCAL Board elected in February

KCAL members elected their new board at the annual meeting Feb. 24 (see attachment)

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as “card check” was re-introduced in Congress Tuesday March 10.  An NCAL webinar presented March 13, 2009 advised that facilities review their policies regarding solicitation in their building; employee use of break room and common area rooms for non-work related activities; and policies regarding hiring, firing and disciplinary practices.

[Return to top]

 
  Fire Marshal Updates

Brenda McNorton sent the following information. You can sign up to receive email notifications from the US Fire Administration.  Go to the following website to sign up for email notifications. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/

Example of a recent notice--

You are subscribed to Coffee Break Training for U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

Means of Egress Components
Take a look at the room where you are right now.  Is the egress path to safety clearly identified? 
Today’s Coffee Break Training, “Means of Egress Components” describes the three elements that make up the means of egress. 

Your Coffee Break can be downloaded from http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2009_12.pdf

 Always refer to nationally recognized design and installation standards, the product manufacturer or listing details for specific information.   

 Please share this Coffee Break Training segment and others with your peers. Previous Coffee Breaks may be found at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/coffee-break/

Oxygen Tank Issue   Fire safety inspectors have recently written tags concerning half full/empty oxygen tanks.  The memo below is from the fire marshal to the inspectors.

NFPA 99, 4-3.5.2.2 states empty cylinders shall be marked to avoid confusion and delay if a full cylinder is needed hurriedly.   

There is nothing mentioned in the code relating to partially filled cylinders.   Therefore, partially filled cylinders are NOT to be stored in the same cabinet with the full cylinders, which everyone has been citing.   

However, if the partially filled cylinders are clearly marked with a secure tag (one that cannot easily be removed), or possibly a different color cylinder, that differentiates the partially filled cylinders from the full and empty, we will accept them being stored in the full cylinder cabinet.

In addition, all staff would be required to be aware of the differentiation of the cylinders.   If you find  that a facility has not separated them appropriately, only then will you need to cite them for this deficiency under K076. 

This will be followed up by the enforcement staff so be sure you are telling the facility the correct information.

Do you know what day of the weekAugust 13, 2013 is?

That is the day all Nursing Homes have to be completely sprinklered.  

[Return to top]

 
  Five Star Quality
Five-Star Quality Rating System Updates

1.  The Five-Star provider preview reports are now available. Providers can access the report from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) State Welcome pages available at the state servers for submission of Minimum Data Set data.

This week we received the following message from Bruce Yarwood- AHCA about the Five-Star System...

As you are aware, a facility’s overall rating in the Five-Star System incorporates ratings in three separate categories: (1) survey results, (2) Quality Measures (“QMs”), and (3) staffing levels.  A facility’s survey rating forms the base “star” rating with stars being added or subtracted depending upon a facility’s star rating for QMs and staffing, respectively.  Because the current survey system is a central factor in the assignment of stars, inaccuracies and errors widely attributed to the state survey process are greatly magnified in the Five-Star System that the public now is instructed to rely upon to select a long-term care provider. 

While we continue to work with CMS in hopes of effecting the necessary changes in the Five Star program, we also continue to hear from facilities about both perceived and real harm to reputation as well as the negative financial impact the program may be having.  Consequently, the AHCA Legal Committee was asked to consider the potential legal challenges to the Five Star system based on its fundamentally flawed arbitrary methodology, including the distribution of stars between facilities and a reliance on a defective, and admittedly, inconsistent, state survey and certification system.

No I don’t believe litigation is the answer, but I do believe that armed with concrete evidence of the actual harm the program is yet doing to providers, staff, current and potential residents and their families will be very persuasive in our continued dialogue and work with CMS to implement the needed changes to the Five Star Program. Therefore, I am asking each of you for your help in gathering any specific and documented facility examples of harm to reputation, negative financial impact, decreased staff and/or customer satisfaction, decline in census, loss of contracts, law suits, etc. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to Priscilla Shoemaker at 202-898-2850 and send your documented examples to her at pshoemaker@acha.org. 

Five-Star Rating --New information
 
The Technical Manual for the Five-Star Rating system has been revised slightly. The cut-point tables have been removed from the manual and are now a stand alone document so that information about the cut points can be changed without having to reissue the whole manual. There are a few other changes as well. Ellen Greif of Region V provided the following links:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/summaryupdatestug.pdf  (One page summary of updates)

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/usersguide.pdf  (Technical Users Guide revised 3/25/09)

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/cutpointstable.pdf  (Cut-Points Tables revised 3/25/09)
 

[Return to top]

 
  AHCA/NCAL Convention

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living
60th Annual Convention & Expo
Mark your calendar for October 4-7, 2009 and join us in Chicago!
 
Exciting details are now underway for this year's AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo. Join thousands of your long term care colleagues and become part of the national force that's dedicated to caring for more than 1.5 million frail, elderly and disabled individuals across the country.
This year's "Quality Care Plus" convention & expo serves as your long term care resource by:
· Providing information and education, plus the administrative tools that enhance  quality at every level.
· Bringing together thousands of professionals from the long term care sector.
· By enhancing professional skills to further serve your residents.
· Partnering with others in the professions for peer-to-peer idea exchanges.
· Strengthening the passion and commitment in the long term care community.
Our Speakers will Motivate and Energize You

Cal Ripken, Jr., — Opening General Session Keynote
Hear Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. inspire attendees as he shares his insight on The Keys to Perseverance.

Dr. Bob Arnot — Closing General Session Keynote
Former Foreign Correspondent NBC News, Medical Journalist, and Best-Selling Author, Dr. Bob Arnot will enlighten attendees as he discusses The Future of Health Care.

Laugh and be Entertained at the Gala Dinner and Show

Don't miss two unique shows in one!  Join us for a spectular night of fun and entertainment with Second City, Chicago's comedy improvisational theater followed by the Legends in Concert, the orginal and largest live celebrity tribute.

The AHCA/NCAL Expo brings hundres of exhibitors from around the nation to showcase products and services to help you thrive in a competitive market. With new companies coming to exhibit each year and returning exhibitors that feature new offerings—it's never the same show. You'll find thousands of ideas, products and services to help you achieve the business results you need in a tight economy. 
Visit the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo web site often: www.AHCAconvention.org

Events and details will be updated as they are finalized.
Look for online registration to open in late April.

[Return to top]

 
  National Nursing Home Week

National Nursing Home Week is around the corner. 

AHCA is proud to announce this year's National Nursing Home Week® (NNHW) theme: "Nurturing a Love that Lasts". NNHW will be held May 10-16, 2009, beginning on Mother's Day.

"Nurturing a Love that Lasts" will encourage all to think of generations of parents and grandparents nurturing future generations to carry on life and family traditions. A supportive and caring environment, such as a nursing home, nurtures and enables residents and families to continue growing, learning and teaching through various ways. Nursing home staff, residents and volunteers nurture a caring environment that values communication, relationships and partnership. Be a part of this celebration in May 2009!

Nursing Home Week items to order.

If you would like the association to order your items, please contact Karla, kwerth@khca.org she will be sending an order soon.

[Return to top]

 
  CMS updates

Did you know that your local Medicare contractor (carrier, fiscal intermediary, or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)) is a valuable source of news and information regarding Medicare business in your specific practice location?

Through their electronic mailing lists, your local contractor can quickly provide you with information pertinent to your geographic area, such as local coverage determinations, local provider education activities, etc. If you have not done so already, you should go to your local contractor website and sign up for their listserv or e-mailing list.

Many contractors have links on their home page to take you to their registration page to subscribe to their listserv. If you do not see a link on the homepage, just search their site for “listserv” or “e-mail list” to find the registration page. If you do not know the Web address of your contractor’s homepage, it is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/CallCenterTollNumDirectory.zip on the CMS website.

09-29:  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Warning to Nursing Homes Regarding Recalled Food Products Containing Peanuts
(3/27/09)
 
    The FDA and CDC have received reports of deaths of elderly nursing home residents who had underlying health conditions and had consumed recalled food products containing peanuts contaminated by Salmonella.  The FDA is issuing a warning to nursing home and other long-term care facility administrators, owners, and food managers to ensure they are aware of the dangers of their residents eating recalled food products, and urging them to check their institutional supply of peanut butter and other products containing peanut ingredients for food items that may be affected by the recent voluntary recalls. The FDA also urges personnel at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to check often its searchable database of recalled products at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.  A Listserv notice was sent to all nursing homes yesterday.    

[Return to top]

 
  Senior Financing
brought to you by Lancaster Pollard

Since few senior living financing transactions have been completed this year, I thought your members might be interested in some good news. Lancaster Pollard just completed the first group of senior health care loans to close simultaneously under HUD’s new LEAN processing system. I attached a case study for Wilmac Corporation’s three properties that I hope you can pull data from, as Wilmac’s situation applies to properties nationwide.
 
HUD is pretty much the only game in town for financing senior health care construction and renovation right now. We’ve seen a huge jump in interest in HUD’s Section 232 mortgage insurance program from providers who need to get projects done.

Wilmac Document
 

[Return to top]