Policies & Best Practices

  • Enhanced Barrier Precautions Policy & Procedure.

    This document reviews recommended implementation of enhanced barrier precautions for the prevention of transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

  • 2021 AHRQ Quality Health Disparities (Posted 2/3/22)
    For the 19th year, AHRQ is reporting on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The report is produced with the help of an Interagency Work Group led by AHRQ.
  • ACG Clinical Guidelines Clostridioides Difficile (Posted on 07/02/2021)
    The American College of Gastroenterology last published guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Clostridium diffiicile infection in 2013. Since that publication, there was a change in the taxonomic classification in 2016, with the organism assigned to a new genus and now called Clostridioides difficle.
  • Active Shooter: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure to attempt to mitigate the risk of death and injury for residents, visitors and staff members related to an Active Shooter Event.
  • Admission Elopement Risk Assessment: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure to assist in identifying residents at risk for elopement. The following guidelines will be followed for residents upon admission. For the purposes of this policy, elopement is defined as leaving the facility premises without following the facility’s policies and procedures for leave of absence.
  • AHRQ 2011 Depression in the Long Term Care Setting v1 (Posted 7/7/21)
    AHRQ Guideline NGC-8493 Objective: to improve the quality of care delivered to patients with depression in long-term care settings and to guide care decisions and to define roles and responsibilities of appropriate care staff.
  • AHRQ Antidepressant Antipsychotic Prescriptions Statistical Brief (Posted 8/25/21)
    Comparison of the Total Number of People in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population Purchasing One or More Antidepressant or Antipsychotic Prescriptions by Select Sociodemographic Characteristics, 2013 and 2018
  • AHRQ Intramuscular Injections Best Practices for Safe Vaccine Administration in Nursing Homes (Posted 9/8/21)
    When vaccinating nursing home residents, proper intramuscular (IM) administration is important to make sure the vaccine does its job and to avoid shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). Even experienced vaccinators can benefit from a periodic review of best practices for giving IM injections. This ensures that shots are prepared, given, and disposed of properly. Those who vaccinate nursing home residents must also acknowledge special considerations for older adults, such as muscle wasting, involuntary movement, and confusion. The following best practices align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine administration guidance
  • AHRQ Report to Congress Patient Safety 2021 (Posted 1/17/22)
    Strategies to Improve Patient Safety: Final Report to Congress Required by the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005
  • AHRQ Updated Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit (Posted 8/25/21)
    AHRQ Antibiotic Stewardship Toolkit
  • Alerting and Extinguishing Systems: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure for the operation of each alerting and extinguishing system within the center.
  • Antibiotic Resistance and NARMS Surveillance FAQs
    NARMS scientists track and study changes in antibiotic resistance among several bacteria, such as those transmitted commonly through food, water, animal contact, person-to-person contact, and environmental contamination.
  • Anticoagulant PT/INR Monitoring: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure for residents on anticoagulation therapy to assist in maintaining recommended laboratory parameters as established by the attending physician.
  • Anticoagulation Therapy Management Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure for individualized therapy provided for residents receiving anticoagulant therapy, to reduce the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
  • Apartment Dwelling Fire - Tenant: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure intended to assist the facility in its efforts to provide a safe environment for each community member in the event of fire.
  • Automatic Electric Defibrillators: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure outlining the use of Automatic Electric Defibrillators (AED)on residents with full-code status and residents who have not declared a code status. AEDs will not be utilized on residents who have declared a no-code status.
  • Background Checks/OIG Exclusion List: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure to perform background checks on all prospective employees including but not limited to querying the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Exclusion List.
  • Biological Event - Suspected Terrorism: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure to be used In the event a biological act or threat occurs at the facility (suspicious letter, package, or other device).
  • Blood Spill Clean Up: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure intended to assist in cleaning up small spills of blood, blood products, and other body fluids.
  • Bomb Threat Checklist: Policy & Procedure
    Sample policy & procedure intended to assist the facility in meeting its responsibility and emphasize the importance of employee training to respond appropriately in the event of a bomb threat.