Vital Compliance Insights

Join Allan and Anne in the beginning of their Softening the Woah series, where they explore some obstacles that can come up when taking on the role as caregiver. All humans will experience caregiving in some regard - let us help make it less daunting. www.verityteam.com

We shift from facility-level thinking to the corporate level and lay out what a systems-based approach looks like when an organization has multiple facilities. We also argue that a system only protects quality and compliance when corporate leaders verify it is truly being carried out. • corporate mission and vision translated into usable policies and procedures • leveraging corporate resources and...

We break down what a systems-based approach really means in nursing home quality and compliance and why a solid process beats relying on individual effort. We share a practical meeting and worksheet example, plus how to adapt when real-world disruptions threaten consistency.  • shifting focus from individual performance to repeatable systems  • using daily interdisciplinary meetings as a dependabl...

We build on fall prevention and root cause analysis by asking compliance committees to take a deeper look at resident falls through targeted audits. We share two practical tools to guide record reviews, surface contributing factors, and strengthen a culture of safety and readiness across the whole facility. • Building on prior fall prevention conversation and resident experience • Using compliance...

A troubling statistic sits at the center of today’s conversation: 43% of nursing home falls with major injury and hospitalization went unreported through the MDS. We dig into what that means for resident safety, survey outcomes, quality measures, and reimbursement—and how to fix it fast. Joining me is Janeen Earwood, a physical therapist with four decades of experience in long‑term care, rehab lea...

Welcome to Verity's Caregiving Podcast Series! Join cohosts Anne Blust and Allan Stegemann as they navigate the crucial, compassionate, and complicated world of caregiving. Through sharing personal stories and enlisting guests from different facets of the caregiving world, learn from and relate to other humans experiencing the many ups and downs that come with caring for others. www.veritytea...

Join Allan and Anne as they explore a tough topic that everyone struggles with: grief. Anne shares her personal stories about her journey as a caregiver, and how we can help each other remain strong and feel supported in the midst of sadness. www.verityteam.com 

Numbers can light the way or lead us astray. We break down how to build dashboards in long-term care that leaders can actually trust, from defining a “fall with major injury” to validating every step between an incident report and a board-ready chart. As a registered nurse and healthcare analyst, I share a practical blueprint for turning quality data into safer care, faster decisions, and fewer su...

We map a systems approach to antipsychotic use in nursing homes, from admission screening to documentation, coding, and survey readiness. Our goal is a practical stewardship model that protects residents, preserves data integrity, and withstands CMS scrutiny. • facility assessment confirming behavioral health capacity • pre-admission screening and verified diagnoses • CMS exclusions and how to doc...

We unpack how CMS will monitor antipsychotic use in nursing homes, why the national average is changing, and what datasets will be cross-checked to produce public quality measures. We set the stage for part two, where we dig into practical steps to strengthen documentation, data integrity, and care processes. • OIG findings and the CMS refocus  • reasons for increased oversight and risk signals  •...

We unpack the OIG’s nursing facility guidance on compliance education and show how to move from generic modules to risk‑based, competency‑driven training that protects residents. We connect risk assessments, CMS alignment, and real‑world methods like Gemba rounds to build proof of learning and safer care. • annual, data‑driven risk assessment guiding training focus • tailoring education to residen...

We trace how OIG’s guidance elevates patient safety and quality from ideals to daily compliance work, and share lessons from Corporate Integrity Agreements that separate paper programs from living systems. Practical tools, clear dashboards, and a culture of “why” turn metrics into safer resident care. • OIG focus on quality and patient safety as compliance outcomes • Building a facility framework...

We examine how the federal shutdown disrupts nursing home oversight, why CMS triaged surveys to emergencies, and the risks created by fewer inspectors and furloughed staff. We share steps facilities can take to protect residents, drawing lessons from the OIG’s pandemic report. • status of the shutdown and date context  • CMS priorities for complaint investigations and revisits  • suspension of rec...

We examine how CMS F841 and new OIG oversight raise expectations for nursing home medical directors, demanding visible engagement, better policies, and data-informed leadership. We share field lessons on antipsychotics, facility assessment, and building dashboards that support real accountability. • CMS shifts from F501 to F841 and clarifies medical director duties • OIG focus on engagement, visit...

Accurate MDS completion has become a regulatory lightning rod as the OIG and CMS intensify their scrutiny of long-term care documentation. This shift isn't merely procedural—it signals a comprehensive effort to identify potential fraud and ensure residents receive appropriate care based on accurate assessments. The recent OIG work plan specifically targets resident falls resulting in major in...

OIG 2023-2024 Compliance Guidance for Long Term Care Facilities is summarized to highlight importance of a compliance committee and the responsibility to assist the chief compliance officer to develop a robust facility risk assessment. From that assessment the committee would need to develop meaningful and accessible policies and procedures to guide all levels of the facility staff and consultants...

In this podcast episode, the host discusses the 2023 and 2024 updates to OIG's compliance program guidance (CPGs). These updates include a move to publishing the CPGs on the OIG website and the addition of a section on quality and patient safety. The host emphasizes the importance of incorporating quality and patient safety into compliance programs and discusses their personal experiences as...

In this episode, I will discuss the OIG November 2023 Compliance Officer Roles and Responsibilities guidance. The compliance officer has a responsibility to develop policies and procedures, conduct risk assessments, provide education and training, and promptly investigate any reports of abuse or fraud. They must also foster a culture of open communication and transparency within the organization a...

 Skilled nursing facilities are facing changes in CMS survey guidance regarding unnecessary use of psychotropic medications. CMS is closely monitoring the use of these medications, which can be considered chemical restraints, and is asking facilities to focus on behavior interventions to minimize use. CMS is emphasizing the importance of professional standards of practice and the role of the medic...

Summary The CMS has released updated guidance on the long-term care survey process, focusing on accuracy of the MDS, medical director responsibilities, psychotropic medications and chemical restraints. In addition, the CMS issued clarifications for enhanced barrier precautions, pain management, quality assurance and performance improvement, health care equity, and prohibits certain language in adm...