Quality Insights Podcast

In this episode, our panel of health care experts returns to answer FAQs and questions from our audience about reporting, guidelines, COVID regulations, and more.   Check out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia   This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers...

Late last month, the White House announced it is planning to end the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. In today's webinar, we'll discuss what this means for nursing homes. We'll also discuss guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the end of the PHE, as well as QSO-23-05-NH.  Related links:  Watch a Video Recording   CMS...

In this week's episode, we're taking a closer look at concerns that the bivalent vaccine has been linked to stroke risk. We'll discuss the origins of this concern, what the latest data show, and other recent findings related to the bivalent vaccine and newest COVID-19 variants. We're joined by Dr. Jean Storm, Medical Director at Quality Insights. Related links:  View a Video Re...

What's the latest guidance on immunizations? In today's episode, we'll discuss flu, COVID, and pneumococcal vaccinations, as well as Minimum Data Set (MDS) coding on immunizations. Related links:  View webinar video recording Download “Pneumococcal Vaccination Decision Tree” Download “Boost Your Rates Protocol” Download “Get the Shot, Not the Flu” CDC, “Post-Acute and Long-Term Care...

COVID-19 is a part of our daily lives now – but that doesn’t mean we no longer have challenges. In this episode, our health care experts discuss frequently-asked-questions about challenges nursing homes are facing — such as keeping staff and residents up to date on vaccines, best practices for therapeutics, and NHSN reporting. Links to resources discussed in this episode:  2022 – PAHAN – 663 – 10-...

Quality Insights' Natalie Tappe talks with Antanette Murphy and Christopher Henry about what it's like to live with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.  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 Serv...

Last month, the White House released its COVID-⁠19 Winter Preparedness Plan, including its Winter Playbook for Nursing Homes. In this webinar, we'll discuss how this guidance affects nursing homes. We're joined by Penny Imes, quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to contact Penny, you can call 1-800-642-8686 ext 7644. You can also contact her via email at pimes@...

What are best practices and the latest updates for utilizing COVID-19 therapeutics? In today's episode, Dr. Krista Capehart of West Virginia University School of Pharmacy will join us to discuss the life-saving treatments available for people who become infected with COVID-19. Dr. Capehart, PharmD, BCACP, is professor and Director of the Wigner Institute for Advanced Pharmacy Practice, Educat...

Are you new user or need a refresher on navigating the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)? In today's episode, we’re getting back to the basics of NSHN. We'll discuss how to enroll users, update emails, and review the basic templates for skilled nursing facility (SNF) weekly data submissions. We're joined by Debra Wright, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights. Re...

What are the latest guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) in nursing homes? In today’s episode, we give an overview of standard and transmission-based precautions. We also discuss COVID-19 prevention and therapeutics, as well as a brief introduction of Project Firstline. To contact Cindy Wandling, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights, email cwandling@qualityinsights.org...

When is someone eligible for the bivalent COVID-19 booster? What if they’re immunocompromised or recently had COVID-19? In today’s webinar, we’ll discuss vaccine timing with Quality Insights’ infection preventionist Jennifer Brown.  If you want to reach Jennifer directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and ext 9864. You can also contact her via email at jbrown@qualityinsights.org....

Preparation is key to reducing 30-day readmission rates and decreasing avoidable trips to the emergency department (ED). How do you get started? In today's episode, we discuss preparations your facility can make to lay the groundwork for success.  This is the second of a two-part discussion on reducing 30-day readmissions and avoidable ED trips. Listen to “Reducing 30-Day Readmissions and Avo...

Your facility wants to reduce 30-day readmission rates and decrease avoidable trips to the emergency department (ED). How do you get started? In today's webinar, we’ll discuss preparations your facility can make to lay the groundwork for success. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion on reducing 30-day readmissions and avoidable ED trips.  Related links:  View video recording of this webina...

What’s the latest COVID-19 guidance that nursing home workers need to know? In today’s episode, we’ll discuss recent updates on testing, quarantining, and more.  This episode is a rebroadcast of our webinar on Oct. 19, 2022. Check out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia .   Related links:  Watch a video recording of the episode View the presentation slid...

Nursing homes have faced a number of guidance updates in recent months. In today's episode, we discuss the guidelines for temporary nurse aides (TNAs), as well as Phase 3 updates for Training and Services. Related links:  View the video recording Download slides for RoP Phase 3 - Services Review Download slides for RoP Phase 3 - Training Review Nov. 3 Letter on TNAs   Login Instructions for T...

Guidelines have changed for long-term care facilities with the recent update of State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix PP. In today's episode, we'll discuss some of those Federal Tag changes relating to opioids and substance use disorder.  We're joined by Pam Meador, Director of Regulatory Services for the West Virginia Health Care Association. Related links:  View the video recordi...

Have hiring and retention woes created barriers to the quality of work in your nursing home? You don't have to navigate these challenges alone! Quality Insights will soon be offering a course, "Staffing Solutions for Nursing Homes."  In today's episode, resource specialist Amy Porter discusses the current state of nursing home staffing, details about the course (including benef...

Does your nursing home have an Emergency Preparedness Plan – and does it meet the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)? In this discussion, we review what nursing homes need to know about CMS' standards, including the Final Rule and State Operations Manual Appendix Z. We'll also share resources to help assess your facility's plan. We're...

What’s the latest COVID-19 guidance that nursing home workers need to know? In today’s episode, we’ll discuss recent updates on testing, quarantining, and more. We're joined by Jennifer Brown, quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach Jennifer directly, you can call Quality Insights at 1-800-642-8686 and ext 9864. You can also contact her via email at jbrown@qua...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon be revising its Critical Element Pathways, including its pathways for infection prevention. In this episode, we give an overview CMS' Critical Element Pathways for infection prevention, and also discuss how to utilize these pathways to prevent facility-acquired infections — resulting in reduced hospitalizations and emergency dep...

One of the most effective interventions to prevent multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in nursing homes are Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP). In today's episode, we discuss an overview of EBP — including a history of MDROs; who's at risk for infection; the rationale for EBP; and guidelines for implementing EBP.  We're joined by Cindy Wandling, quality improvement specialist at Q...

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has recently revised its definition of "up to date" on COVID-19 vaccinations. In this episode, we review the new definition as well as other recent changes to NHSN's person-level or event-level vaccination forms. We're joined by Debra Wright, quality improvement specialist at Quality Insights. If you want to reach Patty directly, yo...

In this first episode of COVID in WV, we spoke with LaKeisha Barron-Brown of Charleston, West Virginia. LaKeisha lost her 21-year-old son, Jon’Tavese O’mari Brown in October 2021 to COVID-19. Lakeisha spoke with us a few weeks ago to share his story and her own story. COVID in WV is a podcast series by Quality Insights for Project WAVE: West Virginians Advocating for Vaccination Empowerment. Proje...

The SBAR communication technique — which stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation — is the gold standard for sharing information in medical settings. So what does SBAR look like in action and how can it be used to improve health outcomes? In today's episode, we discuss and demonstrate how SBAR can be used for infection control in long-term care facilities. We're j...

People who work in long-term care know that staff vaccinations are key to stopping the spread of viruses like influenza. But how do you increase vaccination rates in your facility? Fellowship Community infection preventionist Audrey Fernald joins us to share how her facility successfully increased staff vaccination rates. Click here to watch a video recording of this episode . Check out our other...