STAR Targets updated with Q3 2006 dataVisit the Nursing Home STAR Web site to print your latest graphs for the Quality Measures you are working on with your improvement teams. This means that Nursing Home Compare has been updated as well – so visit www.Medicare.gov to compare nursing homes in your area. There’s good news – improvements have been made in the state rates for restraints, pressure ulcers and depression. Pain is on the increase and, as the 5th vital sign, we know that all staff members need to be inquiring about and eliminating resident pain. For more resources on reducing pain visit www.gmcf.org. Recognize reddened areas that lead to pressure ulcers? Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who attended the Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA) Trade Show on January 18 in Atlanta participated in CSI: Georgia, where they were encouraged to become “Care Scene Investigators” for Pressure Ulcers. This 2-hour presentation was packed with activities, learning, and opportunities to understand what prevents pressure ulcers from occurring. Greg Martin and Gaetane Wilder, RN, NH Consultant for GMCF (right), are dressed in the CSI uniform for this session – identifying the areas of bony prominence that can develop pressure ulcers. Greg, who is a CNA and the administrator at Ridgewood Manor in Dalton, said he hangs his CNA license above his NH Administrator license and puts the title CNA on his nametag first! He is passionate about getting the right people to work with residents to provide excellent clinical care. The CSI theme stressed that Georgia’s pressure ulcer rates continue to be above the national average and improvement is needed. To learn more visit GMCF’s Pressure Ulcers page.  Many nursing home staff attended the GHCA trade show and visited the GMCF booth (left). GMCF’s JoVonn Hughley, Kathie Hoff, Carolyn Roper and Linda Kluge welcomed leaders to the booth, where they learned more about pressure ulcers, immunizations, culture change and the Advancing Excellence in Georgia’s Nursing Home Campaign. To receive materials that were distributed on immunization, visit GMCF’s Adult Immunization Tools page.  Dr. Bill Thomas works to improve U.S. nursing homesCarolyn Roper, GMCF Nursing Home Consultant, attended a meeting in Bessemer, Alabama, with Bill Thomas, MD, to learn more about his work in culture change. U.S. News and World Report lists Dr. Thomas as one of “America’s Best Leaders.” The Harvard-trained physician and his wife founded the Eden Alternative nursing homes, created Green Houses – where older people live together intentionally – and established the non-profit Center for Growing and Becoming. Immunization effective in preventing nursing home outbreaksNursing homes that have most of their staff and residents immunized against the flu are less likely to have a “cluster” outbreak, compared with others, according to a study from RAND Health. Researchers found that staff and resident immunization rates independently did not predict the likelihood of an outbreak, but jointly were strong predictors. Click here for additional information. GMCF offers free adult immunization materials including posters, brochures and chart stickers that may be downloaded or ordered online. 
Alert GMCF spies spotted an Adult Immunization poster on a café window in Unadilla, Georgia! 
Click the poster to download and print. Success story“We have received a deficiency free survey for two years consecutive. I feel that it was possible because our staff really loves our residents and they work well together, as a team. Teamwork is a very high priority in our facility. We work daily with the guidance of knowing that Long Term Care is a continuous circle of care which involves the resident, the family, and the staff working together to provide the appropriate care that is needed individually for each resident.” Karen Goldman, RN, Director of Nursing Do you have a nursing home success story? We’d like to hear it! |
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