Taking Healthcare by Storm

Are your residents up-to-date with their pneumococcal vaccinations? Should they receive PCV13, PCV15, PCV20, or PPSV23 — and when? In today's episode, we break down the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPSVs).

We’re joined by Debra Wright, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach Debra directly, you can call her at 1-800-642-8686 ext 7636. You can also email her at [email protected].

Related links in this episode: 

- Pneumococcal Vaccine Decision Tree by Quality Insights

- CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccine Timing for Adults

Check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-062322-CC-A.

Guidance updates affecting nursing homes have rolled out in recent weeks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH).

In this week's episode, we'll get up to speed on the latest guidance on COVID-19 boosters, temporary nurse aides (TNAs), and PA DOH's therapeutics form. We’re joined by Penny Imes, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights.

If you want to reach out to Penny directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7644. You can also contact her via email at [email protected].

Links discussed in this episode: 

- Credentia: http://www.credentia.com/test-takers/pa  

- PA Department of Education (search “Temporary Nurse Aide): https://www.education.pa.gov/pages/search.aspx 

- Updates guidance on 2nd COVID-19 Booster shots: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Nursing-Homes.aspx 

- COVID-19 Outpatient Therapeutics for LTCFs in PA:  https://mcusercontent.com/3c9fc473fc413830f0c7ccfaf/files/7e121600-c31a-e595-b4b7-b26aa9378285/PA_DOH_Therapeutics_for_LTCFs_0622.pdf 

Check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-061622-CC-A

The persistent symptoms of long COVID can be frustrating and can lead to even further pain and injury. In today’s episode, we discuss quality measures that can be adopted to prevent patients with Long COVID from further suffering. 

We’re joined by Patty Austin, quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach out to Patty directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7633. You can also contact her via email at [email protected].  

Check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-060922-CC-A.

Long COVID symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and cognitive issues can lead to further injury, such as falls. In today’s episode, we discuss quality measures that should be strengthened to prevent patients with Long COVID from further suffering. 

We’re joined by Patty Austin, quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach out to Patty directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7633. You can also contact her via email at [email protected].  

Check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-060222-CC-A.

It goes by several names: Long-COVID, Long-Haul COVID, Post-Acute COVID, Chronic COVID. People who have been infected with COVID-19 can experience a wide range health problems similar to the symptoms they experienced after first being infected. 

For the next three weeks, we’ll be talking about Long COVID and what nursing homes can do about it. This week, we discussed an overview of Long-Haul COVID with Shirley Sullivan, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights.

If you want to reach out to Shirley directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7805. You can also contact her via email at [email protected]. 

Related links from this discussion: 

- CDC Interim Guidance on Evaluating and Caring for Patients with Post-COVID Conditions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/post-covid-index.html 

- RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery: https://recovercovid.org/

You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-052622-CC-A.

From power outages to tornados, disaster can strike at any time. What plans do nursing homes need to have in place for worst-case scenarios?
 
 In today's podcast, we discuss the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' emergency preparedness requirements for nursing homes with Debra Wright, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights.

 If you want to reach out to Debra directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7636. You can also contact her via email at [email protected]. 

 You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia.  

 Here are links to resources mentioned in this episode: 

- CMS QSO-21-15: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-21-15-all.pdf 

- Pathway Health Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: https://pathwayhealth.com/solutions/complimentary-resources/ 

- CMS Provider Enrollment and Certification Guidance (Sections F838 and F689): https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/GuidanceforLawsAndRegulations/Downloads/Appendix-PP-State-Operations-Manual.pdf

- CMS Emergency Preparedness Checklist: https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents/SandC_EPChecklist_SA.pdf 

- ASPR Tracie: https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/cms-ep-rule-resources-at-your-fingertips.pdf

- QSEP - Driving Healthcare Quality: https://qsep.cms.gov/ProvidersAndOthers/publictraining.aspx 

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-051922-CC-A.

In recent years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has rolled out a Five-Star Quality Rating System aiming to help consumers, families, and caregivers compare nursing homes. These ratings and the data behind the ratings can be found on CMS's Nursing Home Care Compare website.

 In today's podcast, we discuss the engine behind the rating system with Pam Meador, Director of Regulatory Services with the West Virginia Healthcare Association.

 This webinar included a visual PowerPoint presentation. To watch a video recording of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/V66P-L0kitk. You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia. 

 This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-051222-CC-2.

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid announced it will phase out a series of regulation waivers put in place at the beginning of the pandemic (QSO-22-15). This includes a waiver regarding the training and certification of nurse aides at Nursing Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities. 

How will this affect nursing homes? We'll be discussing the changes in today's webinar with Penny Imes, a quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. 

If you want to reach out to Penny directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7644. You can also contact her via email at [email protected].

You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin_vlogsnpods. 

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-050522-CC.

Today, we're talking about the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), including an overview of its COVID-19 vaccine reporting requirements for health care personnel and residents, as well as recent updates. 

We’re joined by Debra Wright, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach out to Debra directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7636. You can also contact her via email at [email protected].

You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin_vlogsnpods. 

Links to resources discussed in this episode:

- NHSN Landing Page: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/weekly-covid-vac/index.html 

- Step-by-Step Guide for Event-Level COVID-19 Vaccination Forms: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/ltc/covidvax/event-qrg-508.pdf 

- PA HAN 635: https://www.pamedsoc.org/docs/librariesprovider2/default-document-library/2022-635-04-12-reporting-poc-covid.pdf 

- COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix Instructions for Providers: https://www.ihca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Additional-handouts-1-27-22.pdf 

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-042822-CC-2.

We’re talking about COVID-19 boosters in today’s episode, including the latest updates on the approval of the second booster.

 We're joined by Shirley Sullivan, a quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach out to Shirley directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and enter extension 7805. You can also contact her via email at [email protected]. 

 You can check out our other interviews by visiting qualityinsights.org/qin_vlogsnpods. 

 Related links for next week’s discussion on NHSN: 

- Reporting Covid-19 Vaccination Data: Refresher Training and Updates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPgOF2JHM68 

- Link to Event level Vaccination forms webinar slide set: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/ltc/covidvax/c19-eventlevel-508.pdf 

- Event Level Covid 19 Vaccination Forms: A step by step guide: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/ltc/covidvax/event-qrg-508.pdf

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-042122-CC