An industry expert served up straightforward advice during a recent McKnight’s Super Tuesday webinar: Accurately claim what you do, and do what you claim.
Speaking on four common challenges — falls, incontinence, unwanted weight loss and pressure ulcers — Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, repeatedly cited the importance of documentation that matches actual practices. As an example, she noted a resident she recently saw wearing an adult brief — even though the resident was identified on the facility’s records as being fully continent.
“Don’t you think an inspector might have a problem with that?” she asked.
Klusch, executive director of the Alliance Training Center, admitted that more providers are feeling stressed out by various survey preparation challenges. She noted the anxiety may be tied to increasing difficulties operators are facing, such as new rules. Additionally, inspectors and other oversight agencies have better tools to measure whether services are being delivered as claimed.
Klusch said operators should make sure they respond directly to Minimum Data Set and other form prompts, instead of serving up narratives that fail to accurately convey needed information.
The next McKnight’s Super Tuesday will be Aug. 13.
From the August 01, 2013 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
