In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the fiscal year 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule and how the changes may impact the nurse assessment coordinator’s role.

In this podcast, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, discuss facility culture—what it is, why it’s important, and how listeners can assess and implement strategies to improve their culture.

Additional Resources:

AAPACN’s Nursing Department Culture Assessment and Improvement Worksheet

Improve Staffing and Quality Care Through Individualized Culture Change of the Nursing Department

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialists for AAPACN, discuss AAPACN tools that make the nurse assessment coordinator’s (NAC’s) job easier.

Additional Resources:

At-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP Tool

PDPM At-a-Glance Tool

Skilled or Not? Tool – REVISED

MDS Data Collection for the NAC Tool

Section GG Data Collection Tool

OBRA Scheduling Tools for Calendar Year 2024

Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool

MDS Daily Startup for the NAC Backup Tool

AAPACN Free-Member Tools webpage

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key insights to determine section GG usual performance.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss strategies for simplifying the care plan process.

Additional Resource:

Baseline Care Plan Tool

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the opportunity for AAPACN members to advocate for long-term care through AAPACN’s Director of Nursing Services—Expert Advisory Panel (DNS-EAP).

Additional Resources:Learn more and apply to become a member of the DNS-EAP here

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the common challenges nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) face with care area assessments (CAAs) and how they can get back on track.

In this podcast, Kim Hicks, vice president of business development for AAPACN, and Jessica Stucin, RN, BSN, LNHA, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, assistant director of education for MDS Consultants, LLC, an AAPACN Diamond Business Partner, discuss some of the basics the MDS and RAI process, their impact, how they are foundational pieces of quality care, and the importance of working together with the interdisciplinary team for the best care outcomes.

About MDS Consultants

MDS Consultants provides a nurturing educational environment with an intense focus on MDS integrity, regulatory compliance, and reimbursement methodologies. Our per-diem, no long-term contracts have received positive feedback and have been highly looked upon as a solution that has assisted the skilled nursing community in optimizing their quality of care. We are a trusted supporter and can provide the following services:

MDS Completion

MDS System Management

MDS Data Integrity Audits

Medicare Documentation Audits

Care Plan Audits

ICD Coding Reviews    

Case-Mix Management Strategies

In this podcast, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a few outstanding questions that members asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Marti Wdowicki, PharmD, director of clinical operations for PharMerica, and Jeff Herr, PharmD, manager of clinical operations in the West for PharMerica, discuss a pharmacist’s perspective on coding section N of the MDS, what an indication of use is versus the diagnosis, and ways nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) can improve coding accuracy for this section.