Q: Will the recent Inspector General’s report on SNF adverse events put more focus on quality efforts like Advancing Excellence?
A: You never know how much traction these reports are going to get. I think now that Senators Nelson and Grassley have sent a letter about it to CMS, it may get more traction. What CMS is trying to do with QAPI and a lot of quality improvement happening now is using a carrot approach, rather than a stick approach, with the surveys. I think the senators are saying the stick’s not quite big enough, which I don’t agree with.
Q: What is new on the horizon at Advancing Excellence?
A: We’re launching a new logo and website this month, with a cleaner design, new graphical ways to view program results and other improved functions.
Q: What’s a website tool that Advancing Excellence participants should know about?
A: We have webinars on the site for each of the nine clinical and process goals, to guide you through every step. Advancing Excellence is free, but we realize it’s a commitment of staff time. Many of the tools are fairly quick. The medications and consistent assignment goals are the heaviest lift, but provide you with excellent data to measure improvement.
From the May 01, 2014 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
