State and Federal surgery agencies are being trained to perform record reviews, focusing on the legality of signatures, denying admission based on the resident refusing to sign an arbitration agreement and whether the resident is presented with a 30-day opt-out option once signed. Surveyors are also being given an extensive list of questions to use when interviewing residents, representatives, etc. on how well the arbitration process and key terms were explained to them prior to asking them to sign. Additionally, there are now a few federal F tag citations that may be cited in the event a facility is not able to show that arbitration agreements are being explained appropriately and signed by a legally authorized individual.

We've made the Facility Binding Arbitration Agreement Checklist and the Voluntary Binding Arbitration Agreement Sample available in Spanish to share with your Spanish-speaking residents and families.

An Active Shooter Program designed specifically for long-term care centers and laid out for your center to personalize as needed. This Active Shooter Program draws upon evidence-based research and information to help your team’s Disaster Preparedness planning

Alzheimer's causes, diagnosis and fact sheets

The decision to use bed rails is complex and based on a person-centered approach utilizing clinical judgment, as well as physical, psychological, and environmental factors. The use of bed rails has been associated with an increased risk of injury and death related to entrapment where a resident becomes caught, trapped, or entangled in the space in or about the bed rail. Bed rails are intended solely to assist residents with independent repositioning. Bed rails should not be used as a restraint or for discipline and must solely be used for medical necessity. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that residents who use bed rails remain as safe as possible, through appropriate utilization and maintenance of such devices. 

This toolkit provides various activity ideas for caregivers to engage residents living with dementia. It emphasizes maintaining a routine and offers creative activities to keep residents occupied, reduce loneliness, and enhance their well-being. Activities include arts and crafts, music, bird watching, gardening, and themed events tailored to different personality types.

This toolkit provides various activity ideas for caregivers to engage residents living with dementia. It emphasizes maintaining a routine and offers creative activities to keep residents occupied, reduce loneliness, and enhance their well-being. Activities include arts and crafts, music, bird watching, gardening, and themed events tailored to different personality types.

Este kit de actividades ofrece diversas ideas para que los cuidadores involucren a residentes con demencia. Enfatiza mantener una rutina y presenta actividades creativas para mantener a los residentes ocupados, reducir la soledad y mejorar su bienestar. Las actividades incluyen artes y manualidades, música, observación de aves, jardinería y eventos temáticos adaptados a diferentes tipos de personalidad.

A competency is a set of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed for an individual to successfully perform various job duties. Under the new Requirements of Participation (RoP), competency goes hand in hand with the facility assessment, understanding the level of care your residents require and validating that the caregivers assigned to caring for them are competent. The CMS Competency Toolkit is not a requirement but a great resource and is on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/CMPRP-Toolkit-1-Instruction-Manual.pdf The HealthCap RMS Competency Toolkit was developed as an additional resource, providing competency validation checklists for direct care staff as well as licensed staff. Using this toolkit in conjunction with the CMS toolkit will assist in ensuring you are meeting your resident needs as well as the Federal requirements on competency.

Additional checklists for direct care staff: A competency is a set of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed for an individual to successfully perform various job duties. Under the new Requirements of Participation (RoP), competency goes hand in hand with the facility assessment, understanding the level of care your residents require and validating that the caregivers assigned to caring for them are competent. The CMS Competency Toolkit is not a requirement but a great resource and is on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/CMPRP-Toolkit-1-Instruction-Manual.pdf The HealthCap RMS Competency Toolkit was developed as an additional resource, providing competency validation checklists for direct care staff as well as licensed staff. Using this toolkit in conjunction with the CMS toolkit will assist in ensuring you are meeting your resident needs as well as the Federal requirements on competency.

Additional checklists for direct care staff: A competency is a set of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed for an individual to successfully perform various job duties. Under the new Requirements of Participation (RoP), competency goes hand in hand with the facility assessment, understanding the level of care your residents require and validating that the caregivers assigned to caring for them are competent. The CMS Competency Toolkit is not a requirement but a great resource and is on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/CMPRP-Toolkit-1-Instruction-Manual.pdf The HealthCap RMS Competency Toolkit was developed as an additional resource, providing competency validation checklists for direct care staff as well as licensed staff. Using this toolkit in conjunction with the CMS toolkit will assist in ensuring you are meeting your resident needs as well as the Federal requirements on competency.

This Toolkit outlines the guidelines for the use of electronic monitoring devices in resident rooms. It covers consent procedures, installation requirements, cost responsibilities, privacy law compliance, and signage requirements. The policy aims to ensure resident safety and privacy while allowing for the use of monitoring devices under specified conditions.

This Toolkit outlines the guidelines for the use of electronic monitoring devices in resident rooms. It covers consent procedures, installation requirements, cost responsibilities, privacy law compliance, and signage requirements. The policy aims to ensure resident safety and privacy while allowing for the use of monitoring devices under specified conditions.

Este kit de herramientas describe las directrices para el uso de dispositivos de monitoreo electrónico en las habitaciones de los residentes. Cubre los procedimientos de consentimiento, los requisitos de instalación, las responsabilidades de costos, el cumplimiento de las leyes de privacidad y los requisitos de señalización. La política tiene como objetivo garantizar la seguridad y privacidad de los residentes, permitiendo el uso de dispositivos de monitoreo bajo condiciones especificadas.

Elopement is a serious and significant event that can lead to resident harm or death. In addition, the regulatory, financial, and legal implications of an elopement can stay with a facility for years. Current standards of practice and evidence-based strategies can assist in reducing the risk of elopement and negative outcomes.

This toolkit is intended to guide the interdisciplinary team in identifying the root cause for these behaviors and develop plans that balance freedom of movement and safety. This toolkit also addresses the rights of residents who are alert and oriented.

Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission is common in skilled nursing facilities, contributing to substantial resident morbidity and mortality and increased healthcare costs. Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) are an infection control intervention designed to reduce transmission of resistant organisms that employs targeted gown and glove use during high contact resident care activities.

Policies, checklists, tools and more to assist in the reduction of falls.

Each resident should have an interdisciplinary hydration assessment completed upon admission, upon re-admission, quarterly, annually, and with significant change in condition, to assist in identifying the risk of dehydration. Use our toolkit to help.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, that can be found in human blood and other bodily fluids. These pathogens have the potential to cause diseases when transmitted from an infected person to another person through contact with contaminated blood or bodily fluids. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) as amended pursuant to the 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. By implementing the measures found in this toolkit, nursing homes can reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and ensure a safer environment for both residents and healthcare workers.

The bacterium Legionella can cause a serious type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ Disease in individuals at
risk, such as those who are at least 50 years old, smokers, or with underlying medical conditions such as chronic
lung disease or immunosuppression. Legionella can grow in parts of building water systems that are continually
wet, and certain devices can spread contaminated water droplets via aerosolization. To reduce the risk of the
spread of Legionella in LTC, facilities need to have a water management plan and a process to make sure the
plan is being followed.

The Infectious Disease Surge Annex Tabletop Exercise (TTX) Toolkit Template has been developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE). It can be used by healthcare coalitions (HCCs) to enhance operational area awareness and capability to effectively address the needs of patients seeking healthcare following exposure to an infectious agent as part of a whole community emergency response framework. It can also be utilized to satisfy Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requirements for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Cooperative Agreement.

The 21st Century CURES Act requires healthcare providers to give patients access to their own health information, including EHRs. We've put together a toolkit to help facilities manage this process in compliance with this and other state and federal laws.