Long-Term Care Survey Alert
Survey & Clinical News To Use
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Worried about exposure of residents and staff to environmental pathogens such as Legionella, TB or varicella zoster virus? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June released guidelines to help health care facilities protect patients and employees from inadvertent exposure to these and other environmental pathogens. The guidelines call for appropriate use of cleaners and disinfectants; maintenance of medical equipment; adherence to ventilation standards for specialized care environments; and prompt management of water intrusion into the facility. (Read the CDC guidelines online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5210a1.htm. Tips: Aerosolized water from decorative fountains and showerheads in nursing homes can be a source of Legionnaires disease. The CDC guidelines provide guidance on how to remove, clean and disinfect showerheads and tap aerators monthly. The guidelines also advise against placing decorative fountains and fish tank aquariums in patient care areas. Providers should ensure disinfection and fountain maintenance if decorative fountains are used in public areas, the guidelines advise. Infection control specialist Bob Sharbaugh in Charleson, SC, advises facilities to monitor tap water in fish tanks and ornamental fountains once or twice a year for water-borne microorganisms, such as Aspergillus.
Check out the 2004 JCAHO standards for long-term care facilities. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has posted the prepublication standards on its Web site (www.jcaho.org). The standards go into effect Jan. 1, 2004, and will be published in accreditation manuals this September. They include elements of performance that clearly specify what the Joint Commission expects long-term care facilities to do, JCAHOs Marianna Kern Grachek tells Eli.
Long-Term Care Survey Alert
- SURVEY MANAGEMENT:
Start The Survey On The Right Foot Mistake Pain For Dementia-Related
How to manage the entrance conference and tour. All's well that ends well but it's [...] - HAVE THESE DOCUMENTS READY FOR SURVEYORS
A copy of the actual working schedule for RN/LPNs for the survey period Facility policies [...] - PAIN MANAGEMENT:
Dont Mistake Pain For Dementia-Related Behavioral Symptoms
This assessment approach can prevent unnecessary antipsychotic drug use. Sometimes you almost need a sixth [...] - 5 Secrets To Lowering Your Pain Quality Measures
High pain quality measure scores can hurt your facility with prospective consumers and surveyors. But [...] - SURVEY MANAGEMENT:
Stave Off Privacy And Dignity Tags With These Simple Tactics
When it comes to privacy and dignity F tags, it's the little things that get [...] - BEST PRACTICES:
Lower Your Prevalence Of Fall-Related Fractures
Experts explain how to develop an osteoporosis care plan. Osteoporosis poses a double whammy for [...] - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should a facility treat a bedridden elderly patient for osteoporosis who is at risk of [...] - CLINICAL MANAGEMENT:
Work Around These Obstacles To Prevent Dehydration
The bad news: Not only is dehydration potentially life-threatening, but surveyors view it as a [...] - ARE YOUR RESIDENTS DRINKING ENOUGH FLUIDS?
Here are 15 cool ways to ensure they do. An ounce of prevention goes a [...] - Resident Assessment:
Have Trouble Detecting Early Signs Of Dehydration?
These inside clinical tips will help.
To detect early dehydration in nursing home residents, nurses have [...] - DEHYDRATION RISK APPRAISAL CHECKLIST
- CHECKLIST OF NONVERBAL PAIN INDICATORS
- READER QUESTION:
Know What You Need to Count as a Fall on MDS
Q: If a resident becomes unstable during a transfer from the bed to chair so [...] - READER QUESTION:
Get a Handle on What Surveyors Can Cite on Revisits
Q: Can surveyors cite old deficiencies that they did not cite at the time of [...] - READER QUESTION:
CMS Explains Residents Right to Choose Physicians
Q: We want to know where a SNF can draw the line in terms of [...] - READER QUESTION:
Figure Out if HIPAA or OBRA Apply to Record Requests
Q: How long does a facility have to provide a resident or his representative access [...] - Management Strategies:
NADONA Forum Tackles DON And Staffing Shortage
Panel members provide insightful ideas on how to cope. High DON turnover and the [...] - News Briefs:
Survey & Clinical News To Use
It isnt everything you might want to know about DAVE. But a June 20 Web [...]