Keep CASPER QIES Accounts Active with Monthly Log-in

*Important Notice to CASPER and/or QIES User Account Access: CMS analysis of user access to CASPER and/or QIES has revealed many inactive accounts. New CMS security measures require that users must log in once a month to keep their login ID active. You can log into either the CASPER Reporting application or QIES User Maintenance (QUMA) in order to keep their User IDs active. Once MDS 3.0 is available, users who have not logged into either application will be unable to perform submissions or see the Final Validation Reports. The links to access the CASPER Reporting and QIES User Maintenance applications can be found on the State Welcome page. Please contact the QIES Technical Support Office at (888)477-7876 if you have any questions about or need assistance with this process.

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  CMS issues updated policy for corridor wall-mounted touch screens

 
CMS issues updated policy for corridor wall-mounted touch screens as well as other wall-mounted items. According to CMS, this new policy is a revision of a previous instruction from 6 years ago and  gives more latitude in the locating of the screens – specifically the  height off the floor which has been a problem recently for a lot of facilities. 

 More important, the revised policy allows for other wall-mounted items such as art work, wreaths, lighting devices, and installation and use of a handrail.  It is important to note that no wall-mounted item may project out more than 6 inches from the wall, may not exceed 36 inches in length, is separated from other wall-mounted projections by at least 48 inches, and is located at least 40 inches above the floor.  Additionally, these items shall only be installed in corridors that are at least 6 feet in width.

IMPORTANT CHANGES - PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

 • Installation of Corridor Wall Items: Corridor wall mounted technologies and other items, if properly installed, shall not be considered corridor obstructions.

• Corridor Obstructions: Other items may be considered corridor obstructions.

 This memorandum updates and revises information first conveyed in Survey and Certification letter S&C-04-41, issued on August 12, 2004 by CMS, which provided guidance on corridor width requirements associated with the installation of wall-mounted computer touch screens in health care facilities. These computer devices are commonly used to input medical records such as the Minimum Data Set (MDS) or other online patient/resident records. In the six years since CMS issued guidance on this topic, science and technology have advanced, resulting in the changes in the types, frequency of use, and dimensions of such devices. These devices are now commonly utilized throughout the health care community and many different systems are now available. The increase in use and variety of these devices has resulted in many inquiries concerning the applicability of guidance provided in the S&C-04-41 memorandum to certain new wall-mounted technologies and other wall mounted items.

 In addition, the exception for wall-mounted computer touch screens has raised question as to whether other items of similar dimension may be mounted to corridor walls, (e.g., artwork, wreaths, sharps disposal units, infection control supply cabinets, lighting devices).

 CMS is revising its previous guidance to now allow for other items to be wall-mounted in corridors as long as they do not project out more than 6 inches from the corridor wall or conflict with other sections of the Life Safety Code. In addition, the projection shall not exceed a length of 36 inches, shall be separated by at least 48 inches from other projections, shall be installed at least 40 inches or greater above the floor, and shall only be installed in corridors that are at least 6 feet in width. These dimensions are consistent with sections 18/19.2.3.4 of the 2009 edition of the Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101. These requirements for wall-mounted items should allow for the installation and use of a handrail without impediment. Projections shall be permitted on either side of the corridor.

 The placement of items associated with the use of these wall mounted pieces of equipment such as chairs, tables, cabinets, carts, etc. in the corridor, which would reduce corridor to less than the required width, are not permitted when not in use. An item is considered “not in use” if it is left unattended or is not moved for more than 30 minutes. In addition, corridor wall alteration to reduce the projection of a wall-mounted item is prohibited if it reduces the protective requirements of the wall.

 Items such as linen carts, medication carts, and janitorial equipment would not be included in these exclusions. Infection control supply cabinets outside of a specific room are allowed in the corridor while precautions are in force for that room. Crash carts are allowed in the corridor for quick access in an emergency.

 To evaluate compliance with these requirements, the facility should verify that:

 The wall-mounted item does not project out more than 6 inches from the wall, does not exceed 36 inches in length, is separated from other wall-mounted projections by at least 48 inches, and is located at least 40 inches above the floor;

 No chairs, tables, cabinets, carts or other items associated with the wall-mounted items are located in the corridor when not in use where they would reduce the corridor to less than the required width. This includes keyboard trays and equipment doors that project more than 6 inches into the corridor when in use. These items shall be closed or retracted when the equipment is not in use or is unattended for any period of time.

Alterations to reduce the projection of a wall mounted item do not reduce the protective requirements of the corridor wall.

Effective Date: The information contained in this memorandum is current policy and is in effect for all healthcare facilities.
 

Please call if you have any questions.

Amanda Yorkey

Education Consultant

Kansas State Fire Marshal

785-296-0659

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  NAHCA Goes All Out with Plans for Convention

  "And the award goes to……." No it’s not the Academy Awards. It’s much more meaningful—it’s NAHCA’s 2010 Annual Conference and "Key to Quality" Awards Banquet June 2-3, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Befitting long term caregivers, the theme of this year’s conference is "NAHCAWOOD: Celebrating the Stars of Long Term Care".

They have planned two exciting days filled with acclaimed speakers eager to present sessions sure to inspire, give new perspectives and educate on a broad range of topics pertinent to the important role of caregiving.

To celebrate and recognize both individual and collective achievements among the caregiver "stars" in long term care, the high energy two days will culminate with the "Key to Quality" Awards Banquet. This is an evening of recognition for the outstanding efforts of the nation’s most accomplished caregivers!

Click here to register and join them on the red carpet for this must-attend event.

NAHCAWOOD - "Celebrating the Stars of Long Term Care"
NAHCA /ACHP Annual Conference & "Key to Quality" Awards Banquet
  
June 2-3, 2010
Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center, Hotel and Spa
Oklahoma City, OK 

 

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  Waiver of Disapproval of Nurse Aide Training

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final regulation for Waiver of Disapproval of Nurse Aide Training Program in Certain Cases in the Federal Register and the rule is effective May 24, 2010. The proposed rule was published in the November 23, 2007 edition of the Federal Register and AHCA provided comments.  This regulatory change is due to a provision in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvements, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) allowing for waiver of the NATCEP disapproval in certain instances.

Currently, a state may not approve a facility to conduct or host in its building, a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program for two years in certain circumstances:
• The facility has operated under a nurse staffing waiver;
• The facility has been subject to an extended or partial extended survey unless the survey shows the facility is in compliance with the participation requirements; or
• The facility has been assessed a civil money penalty of not less than $5,000, or has been subject to a denial of payment, the appointment of a temporary manager, termination, or in the case of an emergency, been closed and had its residents transferred.

Effective May 24, 2010, a facility may submit a request to the state for a waiver of disapproval of nurse aide training program when the reason for the disapproval is because the facility has been assessed a civil money penalty of at least $5,000 for deficiencies that are not related to quality of care.  It is important to note that the law (and thus the regulation) specifies that the waiver provision applies when the civil money penalty has been assessed.  CMS defines the term “assessed” in the State Operations Manual to mean the final amount determined to be owed after a hearing, waiver of right to a hearing, or settlement.  As well, the law (and thus the regulation) states “quality of care” refers to direct, hands on care furnished to residents of a facility.

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