News In Brief - January 8, 2014

Short and sweet?
Welcome to the inaugural issue of LeadingAge Oregon's weekly News in Brief! After several years of producing our newsletter on a monthly schedule, we've decided that in today's fast-paced world, it's time for a change. Our goal is a weekly Brief that is much briefer than the monthly version, and more timely.

ALF/RCF surveyors to reinstate resident group interview as routine survey component
During this morning’s Community-based Care News Hour, CBC staff said that surveyors are reinstating the resident group interview as a routine component during ALF and RCF surveys. In recent practice, surveyors would conduct the group interview only if triggered by concerns with staff training records. Policy Analyst Warren Bird said that surveyors felt the resident group interview is an “avenue for important information” and should be a standard survey task.

A few other tidbits from the CBC News Hour:
A new citation has popped into the usual list of Top 10 Survey Citations for ALFs and RCFs: #155 – Facility Administration Records. Bird said facilities were cited when surveyors found that resident files (administrative files, not service plans) were lacking required information.

CBC staff encouraged ALFs and RCFs to make sure that new residents sign a document indicating they have received the Uniform Disclosure Statement and Residency Agreement. Documenting that the resident received the information will provide confirmation that the organization communicated policies to the resident if issues arise at a later date.

The Office of Licensing and Regulatory Oversight (including CBC and Nursing Facility program staff), as well as the Salem CCMU staff (including both NF and CBC survey teams) have all relocated their offices to Cherry Avenue in Salem. Most phone numbers have changed; calls to the old numbers will be transferred for 90 days only, so be sure to note new numbers:

OSBN revises Nursing Assistant Candidate Handbook
The Oregon State Board of Nursing has revised the Oregon Nursing Assistant Candidate Handbook to reflect the Test Advisory Panel’s recommended changes to the knowledge test passing score (now 73 percent) and to several skill steps. The changes are effective on March 1. Access the new handbook.

Good news for previously financed HUD Section 202 properties
LeadingAge is very excited to report that HUD is planning to issue guidance allowing previously refinanced Section 202 Elderly Housing properties to use the savings generated by the refinancing for defined repairs, improvements or resident services as they had originally planned. Recent changes to HUD regulations put those previously-approved plans in jeopardy. LeadingAge has spent months working on this issue with HUD staff and housing members. Read more about this complex issue.

Medicare data shows six Oregon hospitals have lower than average readmission rates
Six Oregon hospitals have readmission rates lower than the national average, according to Medicare’s recently-released comprehensive measure of hospital readmissions. Oregon is one of eight states leading the nation with the highest proportion of hospitals with low “all cause” readmission rates. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has encouraged Congress to use the all-cause readmission rate when determining financial penalties for hospitals in the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program.

The six Oregon hospitals with lower-than-average readmission rates are Asante Regional Medical Center, Medford; Mercy Medical Center, Roseburg; Providence St. Vincent, Portland; Sacred Heart Medical Center, Springfield; Salem Hospital, Salem; Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls; and St. Charles Medical Center, Bend. Read more.

Free webinar series targeted to long-term care social workers
The University of Iowa has received a grant to offer a free educational series targeted to practicing nursing home social workers and social services staff members (although staff from other disciplines and settings may be interested as well). The series runs from January 9 through March 27, and topics range from communicating with physicians to end-of-life planning, ethical decision-making and non-pharmacological approaches to problem behaviors. The webinars will also be recorded for later viewing. Register for the webinars.

LeadingAge Oregon News

Mark your calendars for our 2014 Dementia Symposium with Dr. Al Power!
We are delighted to announce that LeadingAge Oregon will once again partner with the Alzheimer’s Network on a full-day Dementia Symposium in 2014. This year’s symposium will feature Dr. Al Power, a board-certified internist and geriatrician, and author of the award-winning book, “Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care.” Dr. Power has written a new book, “Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-being,” which will be released this summer. The symposium will be held June 18 in Woodburn. Mark your calendars and watch for more information!

Pat Preston, Public Health Division staff to review new NF/ALF/RCF transfer rule
A new rule effective January 1 requires hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living/residential care communities to provide written notification when transferring an individual with a multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) or other illness that warrants special precautions. Join us Jan. 21 for a webinar with infection control consultant Pat Preston and Genevieve Buser, M.D., of the Oregon Public Health Division to review the new rule and consider strategies for implementation in long-term care settings.

Other upcoming educational programs:

January 30-31: The QAPI Mandate: Designing, implementing and sustaining excellence
Feb. 6-7: Navigating the MDS 3.0: RAI Training for Nursing Facility Staff
Feb. 27: The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care

Learn more or register on the LeadingAge Oregon Education Page.