To thrive in today’s competitive healthcare environment, organizations must prioritize exceptional patient care, which begins with hiring the right talent to deliver it. As an official partner of ACHCA, Hireology is dedicated to helping members streamline their hiring processes and enhance their recruitment efforts, ensuring they can attract top talent for their organizations.

It is likely that not only has the reality been heard, but it has also been experienced — attracting and retaining talent has become increasingly challenging for healthcare organizations. One of the primary factors contributing to this challenge is the latest CMS staffing mandate. Studies have shown that roughly 4 in 5 healthcare organizations will need to hire additional nurses and aids to remain compliant. In response, many facilities are evolving their recruitment strategies and seeking innovative solutions like Hireology to enhance their hiring processes to secure the best candidates.

Here’s some good news! We are living longer. Or at least we’ve been given numerous opportunities to consider how. However, with all things being equal, we’ve yet to achieve what a longer life can mean. How we behave now will be determined by the earlier habits that were adopted from our childhood experiences, such as what we eat and drink, the various lifestyles we’ve practiced, the social norms that were instilled in us by our parents, and those we currently have been following. All of these experiences and more have a way of influencing our lives to an extent that can affect us as we age. It all comes down to how we can continue maintaining our health and a quality life we all aspire to. The following are several facts that lend hope for achieving a longer life.

1. Life spans have dramatically doubled in just a few generations, giving further hope to a vision for a longer life.
2. A billion people worldwide have already reached the age of 60+.
3. Our country’s population, for those who will turn 60 by the year 2040, will add another 2.1 million.
4. It is projected that with a growing aging population, there will be more people living longer because of innovative technology and pharmacology.

What can this journey of humankind mean to living a longer life?

There is a lot to unpack with HIPAA law. It may seem like it's more work than it's worth, but unfortunately, it needs to be addressed. HIPAA isn’t all bad. Did you know HIPAA can help you manage your risk in several ways?

1. HIPAA Security Risk Assessments limit the likelihood of hacking incidents
2. Policies and procedures limit the risk of improper use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI)
3. Business associate agreements limit liability when your business associate violates HIPAA
4. Implementing a HIPAA compliance program reduces the risk of fines

HIPAA Security Risk Assessments and Hacking

HIPAA Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) are important in improving your organization’s cybersecurity practices. While SRAs are an annual HIPAA requirement, there are other reasons to conduct yours.

Imagine a long-term care (LTC) facility that feels like home to everyone. A place where residents from all walks of life feel respected, valued, and comfortable expressing themselves authentically. This vision isn't just a feel-good aspiration; it's the foundation for delivering exceptional care.

LTC facilities can't afford to comply with minimum standards in today's diverse society. As an administrator and registered nurse, true quality care hinges on embracing diversity and fostering inclusion. This means going beyond regulations and creating a welcoming environment that celebrates each resident's unique needs and backgrounds.

Working in healthcare can be challenging for several reasons, but even more so when you’re not adequately trained on the various aspects of your job. When you’re heavily focused on training in the more technical aspects of your career, healthcare compliance and cybersecurity are often overlooked.

 Healthcare compliance and cybersecurity training are as essential to patient safety as clinical training. They ensure patient and employee safety through standardized processes.

The MDS-Reimbursement Nexus

At its core, the MDS is a comprehensive assessment tool used to evaluate the health and functional status of residents in long-term care settings. However, its impact extends far beyond clinical evaluation. MDS data plays a central role in determining reimbursement levels for healthcare facilities, impacting funding from both government programs and insurance providers.

According to the research, “Our personalities tend to change over time. This is inevitable and due, in part, to the aging process.” It can be observed with the shifting of our choices such as with music and culinary tastes. So why not take charge of it? The research further suggests that “with a determined approach, we can nudge ourselves toward healthy behaviors that keeps us sharp mentally and positive with age.” The key is in our power to imagine, to care and commit to a better life. The question, then, is it not at all possible to change a personality as we age and for the better? I believe that it’s possible if we choose to face the challenges that are ahead of us. The desire to change is, therefore, universal. The research declares, “that with intent and self-determination, a change in one’s personality can improve a relationship with family and friends, and with optimism and a view on life that is less pessimistic.”

Once again, the question is, who will you be in ten years? It is relatively easy to look back and note all of the “achievements” we have accomplished, then it is to look forward and try imagining how we can ever change or realize the possibility of achieving anything.

Estate Sale Planning

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) constantly seek innovative strategies to enhance resident care, streamline operations, and stay ahead of regulatory requirements. One significant step forward for SNFs is the decision to change software systems. While implementing new software can be daunting, it presents an opportunity to revolutionize how SNFs manage their daily operations. This blog post will highlight the considerations and best practices involved in transitioning from one software system to another and how your facility can navigate this change successfully. So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on the journey of SNFs in changing software systems.

Needs Assessment & Vendor Selection
Start by identifying the specific needs and requirements of your SNF. Pinpoint the areas where the software can bring the most value, such as resident management, billing and financial, scheduling, clinical documentation, or reporting.

The title for this article asks two questions: can the elderly survive in a youth-oriented America? And does a healthy age exist in a growing older society?

America, a young and vibrant nation! Not necessarily so! We are young in years, 247 to be exact, but old with a prevailing and burgeoning aging population. We are, unquestionably, growing old. This can be validated by the following factors. One in particular is a major decline in the birth rate. This is, in part, attributed to (1) a delay in young couples getting married, (2) the high cost of living, (3) living in smaller dwellings, and (4) caring for an aging parent with complex medical issues. And let’s not forget an increase in a longer life expectancy, the rise of the baby boomer generation (1946-1964) and a vast growing elderly population, 65 and older.

On November 6, 2023, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an updated General Compliance Program Guidance (GCPG) manual, the first significant update in 15 years. The updates made provide clearer guidance on what an effective compliance program is, and how healthcare organizations can implement them.  The following seven elements make up an effective compliance program. 

1. Written policies and procedures
2. Compliance leadership and oversight
3. Training and education
4. Effective lines of communication with the Compliance Officer and disclosure program
5. Enforcing standards with consequences and incentives
6. Risk assessment, auditing, and monitoring
7. Responding to detected offenses and developing corrective action initiatives

Written Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures outline how your organization and employees are expected to behave. In healthcare, policies and procedures are essential for several reasons. They ensure that patient information is handled correctly and secured, help to create a safe work environment for employees while protecting patients, and ensure ethical billing practices by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.

According to current research, 1) “the elderly tend to overconsume empty calories, 2) remain undernourished and 3) can cause a biological imbalance with a selection of foods.” Nutritional patterns that are held by the elderly don’t always reflect healthy dietary practices regarding the choice of foods. Nutritional awareness involves 1) a proven learning process concerning the numerous varieties of appropriate foods that are readily available, and 2) can bolster the body’s response and ultimately, an improvement in nutrition.

Economic considerations and a lack of mobility can, unfortunately, place the older person in what dietitians call “a serious nutritional jeopardy.” Eating habits that evolve from early childhood tend to encourage specified dietary choices. Although these diets are primarily favored by the elderly, they don’t necessarily provide healthy meals. Store bought foods that are prepared as a “fast food” are often purchased for convenience instead of health. Fast foods may satisfy the palate but will also contain excessive salt, high saturated fats and refined sugars. In addition, caloric consumption also needs to be decreased while the need for healthy nutrients should not!

January 1st kicked off a new year; and for skilled nursing facilities and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, this new year offers big opportunities to get the access to care needed. Powerful changes included in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Contract Year (CY) 2024 Final Rule went into effect on 1/1/2024.

Biggest Changes Beginning 1/1/24

With a shifted focus, facilities have begun to navigate the new normalcy of the Healthcare Staffing industry—a focus filled with a heightened sense of responsibility for priorities such as financial sustainability and clinician quality amidst an unbalanced, ever-evolving market.

In our dedication to being approachable leaders, many of us have adopted an open-door policy. However, is it always beneficial? Our role as administrators demands a blend of addressing urgent needs and strategic foresight, which can be disrupted by a constant stream of interruptions, negatively affecting our focus and decision-making capabilities.

Research suggests it takes over 20 minutes to fully regain concentration after a distraction. It’s a tough dilemma in our field, where every decision impacts lives. How can we balance this?

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Earlier this year, CMS announced the start of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 5-Claim Probe and Educate Review program. This is in response to a 15.1% increase in improper payments for 2022 services, as projected by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program—likely driven by the change in payment model from Resource Utilization Group (RUG) IV to the PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model) in October 2019.

As a result, CMS has directed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to conduct a pre-payment review of five SNF claims for all providers nationwide, with few exceptions. Unless your SNF is already under medical review or is considered a low-volume provider (fewer than five Part A claims per calendar year), you will be subject to the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program and may have already received notification from your MAC.

Healthcare organizations have an obligation to patients to protect their sensitive information, which is why HIPAA compliance is vital. Organizations that are HIPAA compliant not only protect their patients but also their business’ reputation. Two recent Office of Civil Rights (OCR) settlements highlight the importance of compliance.

In one case, a medical center came under fire for disclosing patient information to a news reporter. The other case involved poorly implemented security measures, ultimately leading to a ransomware attack that exposed sensitive patient information.

Are your employees putting your business at risk with AI?

At Model, we assist numerous clients with their Cybersecurity Compliance Frameworks and Policies. Model utilizes a leading vCISO Compliance tool that recently introduced a Generative AI Cybersecurity Control. I thought you might be interested in seeing the list of questions it raises:

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