Increasing the Focus on Complex Care
Patients with unmet behavioral health and social needs are major contributors to high healthcare utilization and poor health outcomes. This small percentage of the population consume a disproportionate share of …
Nursing Center
2022 AHRQ National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
AHRQ released its annual disparities report: 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. The report, which is mandated by Congress, provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare quality and healthcare disparities …
2022 AHRQ National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Read More »
Meet the Team: Josh Clodius
Meet Josh Clodius, a Quality Improvement Specialist at Healthcentric Advisors and a member of the IPRO QIN-QIO Nursing Home Team. Josh is a former nursing home administrator and an expert …
Now is the Time: A Compendium of Tools to Use for Great American Smokeout and Beyond
It is a well-established fact: smoking leads to disease, disability, and harm in nearly every organ system. It has long been shown to cause cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, lung …
Now is the Time: A Compendium of Tools to Use for Great American Smokeout and Beyond Read More »
New Day Nursing Home Education Summit on December 8 from 9 am – 3 pm
Nursing homes do extraordinary work every day. At the same time, you may be seeking opportunities to learn and grow, to be on the cutting-edge of best practices, especially now. …
New Day Nursing Home Education Summit on December 8 from 9 am – 3 pm Read More »
HHS Announces Listening Session on Protecting the Safety of Patients and Healthcare Workers
Date: Monday, November 14, 2022 Start Time: 1:00-2:40 pm ET Join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including leaders from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, …
Meet the Team: Anne Myrka
Meet Anne Myrka RPh, MAT, Senior Director of Drug Safety and Chronic Disease Management for IPRO. Anne has been in the healthcare field for 30 years. Her experience includes roles …
Boosters and Beyond: Rethinking Readmissions
In this series, we will review factors that can contribute to readmissions and strategies to address these factors. Some topics to be discussed are C.Diff, Sepsis, UTIs, Dementia, Falls, Wound …
Influenza Vaccination to Help Protect All Adults
Date: Monday, October 24, 2022 Start Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET Join the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) for a webinar on the importance of annual vaccination to …
Influenza Vaccination to Help Protect All Adults Read More »
National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call
Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022 Start Time: 4:00 pm ET Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control for a National Nursing Home …
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
On September 23, 2022, the CDC updated its infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare personnel across all settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. A summary of recent changes includes: Updated …
Antibiotic Stewardship: Quick Wins for Improving Duration of Therapy
November 8, 2022, 1 – 2 PM EST. Antibiotic Stewardship (AS) remains a national priority aimed at optimizing antibiotic use to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by …
Antibiotic Stewardship: Quick Wins for Improving Duration of Therapy Read More »
CMS Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum
Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 Start Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET); Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. This call will be Conference …
CMS Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum Read More »
CMS Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2022 Start Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET); Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. This call will be Conference …
CMS Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum Read More »
Meet the Team: Melanie Ronda
Meet Melanie Ronda, MSN, RN, Assistant Director of Health Care Quality Improvement, Nursing Home Lead for NY, NJ, and Ohio, and the Infection Preventionist for IPRO. Melanie has been in …
Meet the Team: Laura Benzel
Meet Laura Benzel from Qlarant, the Health Equity Lead for the IPRO QIN-QIO and an IPRO Health Equity Task Force member. Laura has ten years of experience working on equity-related …
CMS OMH Honors National Hispanic Heritage Month
This year, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) honors National Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be focusing on the nation’s 60.5 million …
Clostridioides difficile: Sharing Best Practices and Outcomes Achieved
October 5, 2022 1 – 2 PM EST Pharmacy Continuing Education offered by CT Pharmacist Association The 2019 CDC Threat Report lists Clostridioides difficile (C.difficile) as an urgent threat. There …
Clostridioides difficile: Sharing Best Practices and Outcomes Achieved Read More »
A Quality Measure Case Study: High Risk Pressure Ulcers
In this video, you will learn to understand your quality measure data and build an effective data review process.
CMS Updates the Nursing Home Requirements of Participation: What Pharmacists and Facilities Need to Know
September 21, 2022 12 – 1 pm ET Live Webinar September 28, 2022 12 – 1 pm ET Recording including Live Q&A with Presenters In reaction to concerns for the …
CMS Discontinuing the Use of Certificates of Medical Necessity and Durable Medical Equipment Information Forms to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Burden for Clinicians, DME Suppliers, and Beneficiaries
As part of its ongoing efforts to increase access to care and to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for stakeholders, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be discontinuing …
Great Shot! Make Your Vaccine Campaign a Slam Dunk
August is Immunization Awareness Month. Make sure your team is armed with tools and strategies to launch an effective vaccine campaign. Join us for a one-hour virtual Learning Action Network …
Great Shot! Make Your Vaccine Campaign a Slam Dunk Read More »
August 28 is National Dog Appreciation Day!
There are so many reasons to love dogs, but did you know these fascinating facts about dogs and their positive effects on healthcare? Nursing home residents with dementia who interacted …
National Immunization Awareness Month
During August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month. Immunizations, often referred to as vaccinations, vaccines, or shots, may …
CMS Enhances Nursing Home Rating System with Staffing and Turnover Data
Updates to Five-Star Quality Rating System Will Increase Transparency and Improve Quality in Nursing Homes The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched its enhanced Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating …
CMS Enhances Nursing Home Rating System with Staffing and Turnover Data Read More »
Health Equity Updates: August 2022 Health Equity Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
Boosters & Beyond: Building QI Resilience
Boosters & Beyond: Building QI Resilience! Recently, the IPRO Nursing Home Quality Improvement (QI) Team has received an increasing number of requests for QI support and education. Many administrators and …
The Importance of Collecting Patient Demographic Data
“How do we know if we have disparities and how can we prevent disparities that exist in our patient outcomes?” If your organization is asking these questions, the collection …
The Importance of Collecting Patient Demographic Data Read More »
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: ‘From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back,’ a Webinar Series
A possible solution to the challenge of workforce retention is to make sure that staff enjoy their work. But it goes further than just staff satisfaction levels. There is a …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: ‘From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back,’ a Webinar Series Read More »
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Technical Assistance Center for American Indian and Alaska Native programs from CMS
The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Technical Assistance Center guides American Indian and Alaska Native programs in planning and implementing programs to care for their elders and people with disabilities. …
AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program Winners Announced
In the midst of the pandemic, these homes have gone the distance to receive the prestigious AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. It is a rigorous three-level process that evaluates long-term …
AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program Winners Announced Read More »
Washington, D.C. Nursing Home Takes Control of Infection Prevention with I CAN Program
Transitions Healthcare Capitol City in Washington, D.C. has its hands full! With 360 beds, it is a larger home that specializes in transitioning residents back to their homes. With an …
Washington, D.C. Nursing Home Takes Control of Infection Prevention with I CAN Program Read More »
IPRO QIN-QIO presents: NHSN Office Hours, October 14, 18, 20
In this session, our nursing home experts will do a brief review of changes to NHSN. Following our “small talk” you’ll have the chance to discuss any challenges you’re experiencing …
IPRO QIN-QIO presents: NHSN Office Hours, October 14, 18, 20 Read More »
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: 30-Minute Vaccine Huddle for Nursing Homes, Oct. 19, 2021, 12 PM
Join our 30-minute vaccine huddle meeting, to discuss optimizing influenza and COVID-19 booster dosing this Fall. Learn more about: Vaccine screening upon admission Administration of influenze, COVID-19 vaccines Fast facts …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: 30-Minute Vaccine Huddle for Nursing Homes, Oct. 19, 2021, 12 PM Read More »
Four Ways to Improve Health Literacy at Your Health Care Organization
October is Health Literacy Month, when we take time to recognize the importance of creating equitable access to health care information for individuals, and the role health care organizations play …
Four Ways to Improve Health Literacy at Your Health Care Organization Read More »
Changes to Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms
Additional/Secondary Vaccination Series: First Update August 2021 What are the changes? In anticipation of recommendations for additional vaccine series, new questions on vaccine doses will be added to the data …
Changes to Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms Read More »
Free COVID-19 Training and Resources for Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff and Management is a great resource for nursing home staff to put the latest information regarding infection control, COVID-19 …
Free COVID-19 Training and Resources for Nursing Homes Read More »
CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Visitation Recommendations
March 10, 2021 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance today for nursing homes …
CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Visitation Recommendations Read More »
CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data with Urgent Call to Action
Agency thanks nursing homes whose staff have completed free CMS training, but urges remaining homes to take advantage of this resource CMS NEWS | Today, the Centers for Medicare & …
CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data with Urgent Call to Action Read More »
CMS Nursing Home Podcast Series for Front Line Clinicians and Staff
CMS Beyond the Policy: Nursing Home Series for Frontline Clinicians and Staff The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is airing the first episode in a series of short …
CMS Nursing Home Podcast Series for Front Line Clinicians and Staff Read More »
CMS Urging Nursing Homes to Follow Established COVID-19 Guidelines This Holiday Season
CMS Memo | November 19, 2020 – Today, in advance of the approaching holiday season, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is urging nursing home staff, residents, and …
CMS Urging Nursing Homes to Follow Established COVID-19 Guidelines This Holiday Season Read More »
CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data with Urgent Call to Action
Agency thanks nursing homes whose staff have completed free CMS training, but urges remaining homes to take advantage of this resource CMS Memo | November 18, 2020 – Today, the …
CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data with Urgent Call to Action Read More »
CMS’ New One-Stop Nursing Home Resource Center Assists Providers, Caregivers, Residents
October 30, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new online platform – the Nursing Home Resource Center – to serve as a centralized hub …
CMS’ New One-Stop Nursing Home Resource Center Assists Providers, Caregivers, Residents Read More »
October 30: Deadline for Vaccine Program Sign-Up
October 26, 2020 – More than 9,000 long-term care providers had signed up for the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program as of this past Friday, according to the Department …
October 30: Deadline for Vaccine Program Sign-Up Read More »
Free Training: Nursing Home COVID-19 Preparedness
Complete the CMS COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff & Management.
CMS Announces New Guidance for Safe Visitation in Nursing Homes
September 17, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised guidance providing detailed recommendations on ways nursing homes can safely facilitate visitation during the coronavirus disease …
CMS Announces New Guidance for Safe Visitation in Nursing Homes Read More »
CMS Launches National Training Program to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices
New training provides education on critical safety measures to keep residents safe August 25, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing an unprecedented national nursing …
Nursing Home Strategies for COVID-19 Only Isolation of COVID-19 Residents
August 25, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Medicaid Informational Bulletin (CIB) that provides guidance to states on flexibilities that are available to increase …
Nursing Home Strategies for COVID-19 Only Isolation of COVID-19 Residents Read More »
SNF Provider Preview Reports – Now Available
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. The data contained within the Preview Reports is based on quality data submitted by SNFs between Q1 …
CMS Announces Membership of Independent Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the MITRE Corporation has published the membership of the independent Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. CMS …
Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients
June 19, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed Medicare Administrative Contactors and notified Medicare Advantage plans to cover coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) laboratory tests for …
Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients Read More »
CMS Released Weekly Update of Nursing Home COVID-19 Data as of June 7, 2020
In case you missed it, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the second set of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data today. The data will be …
CMS Released Weekly Update of Nursing Home COVID-19 Data as of June 7, 2020 Read More »
Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is posting the first set of underlying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data. On April 19, 2020, CMS announced the …
Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare Read More »
Individualized Technical Assistance for Nursing Homes
On June 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a statement on new infection control guidance for nursing homes. The statement describes enhanced accountability measures that come …
Individualized Technical Assistance for Nursing Homes Read More »
CDC NHSN Special Circumstances
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) continues to support the nation’s COVID-19 response for Long-Term Care Facilities. The NHSN Long-term Care Facility (LTCF) COVID-19 …
Trump Administration Issues Guidance to Ensure States Have a Plan in Place to Safely Reopen Nursing Homes
CMS announced new guidance for state and local officials to ensure the safe reopening of nursing homes across the country. The guidance released today is part of President Trump’s Guidelines …
Register for the webinar: Long-term Care Facilities’ Response to COVID-19
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 2-3pm EDT For May’s LTSS webinar, join UNITE (Uniting Tribal Nursing Homes in Excellence) in a panel discussion with nursing home and assisted living facility administrators. …
Register for the webinar: Long-term Care Facilities’ Response to COVID-19 Read More »
Letter From CMS Administrator to Nursing Home Workers
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma penned a letter to nursing home management and staff. Administrator Verma shared her gratitude for the unwavering dedication …
Letter From CMS Administrator to Nursing Home Workers Read More »
New Guidance Available on Requirements for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes
CMS issued a memo and frequently asked questions addressing the new requirement that nursing homes and long term care facilities report COVID-19 facility data to the Centers for Disease Control …
CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
Commission will comprehensively examine best practices in responding to COVID-19 in nursing homes As a part of President Trump’s Opening Up America Again effort, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid …
CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes Read More »