Tuesday, April 23 ▶
8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Registration Open
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Education Sessions - 1 CE
▶ New Advances in Non-Pharmaceutical Behavior Management Techniques Part 1 (Eric Collett)
One of the most challenging things long-term care teams must do is find ways to respond to residents living with dementia whose behavior is out-of-character and disruptive to others. Although psychotropic medications should be the last resort, many facilities struggle to find alternative methods that consistently work. This insightful presentation will explore root causes of behavioral expressions, nonpharmacological interventions that work, and the science behind approaches that help residents function better physically and interpersonally so out-of-character responses are less likely to occur. Case histories from the presenter's professional work will be used to illustrate the techniques and provide context and relevance for participants.
Speaker: Eric Collett, BS, RCA, CEO, A Mind for All Seasons
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe genetics and its effect on neurotransmitter pathways that give us tools to improve mood and energy levels
- Identify how concussion-related injuries - even from years ago - may affect sleep, mood, eating disorders, and what can be done about them
- Relay how FDA-registered medical devices may help calm pain and inflammation that can act as triggers for agitated behavior in some people
- Utilize new techniques for identifying the root causes of cognitive decline and interventions that may help stabilize or improve cognitive functioning
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, directors, directors of nursing, nurses, social service workers, activity directors, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ New MDS User Manual: What Long-term Care Providers Need to Know (Scott Heichel)
On Wednesday, Aug. 23, CMS released the much-anticipated final version of the new RAI User’s Manual, which took effect on Oct. 1, 2023. While providers typically experience RAI manual updates on an annual basis, this is the first manual release since version 1.17.1 due to the public health emergency. Many of the changes in the manual are related to gender neutrality adjustments in questions, coding guidance, examples, steps for assessments, etc., while others are related to data that CMS will be collecting on the new MDS Item Sets.
Speaker: Scott Heichel, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, IPCO, QCP, ICC, Director of Clinical Reimbursement, LeaderStat
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- State at least three sections of the MDS with major changes
- Describe how the changes impact the Care Area Assessments in chapter 4
- Explain how to properly time a resident interview
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, minimum data set coordinators, and directors of nursing in skilled nursing facilities.
▶ Not Just for Regulatory Compliance: Person-Centered Care Plans that Impact Well-Being (Paige Hector)
Person-centered care and quality of life is listed as the first goal of reform measures by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (2022). While person-centered is a universal term, what it means to each person differs. Care plans are often generated by selecting phrases from drop-down menus, resulting in an exercise in regulatory compliance instead of a living document that upholds what is most important to the individual. This session aims to shift from a deficit-based, problem-oriented approach to care to one that integrates strengths-based, person-centered care that impacts quality of life and well-being. Using actual care plan examples, we’ll explore barriers and complex scenarios such as expressions of distress and how to engage in a process that creates a meaningful experience for staff and residents.
Speaker: Paige Hector, LMSW, Principal, Paige Ahead Healthcare Education and Consulting
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify barriers created by using a deficit-based approach to care
- Write a person-centered care plan
- Create a meaningful experience for staff and residents with the care planning process
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, directors of nursing, nursing, and social services in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
Session Sponsored by Choice Rehabilitation
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Concurrent Education Sessions - 1 CE
▶ Nebraska's New Voter ID Law (Wayne Bena)
Nebraska's new voter ID law (LB 514) requires all registered Nebraska voters, with limited exceptions, to present an acceptable form of photo ID when voting in Nebraska elections starting with the May 14, 2024 statewide primary election. The session will provide information about acceptable forms of photo ID which include a hospital, assisted-living facility, or nursing home record. ID must contain a voter's name and photo. ID can be expired.
Speaker: Wayne Bena, Esq., Deputy Secretary of State, Nebraska Secretary of State
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe genetics and its effect on neurotransmitter pathways that give us tools to improve mood and energy levels
- Describe the new Voter ID Law and what it how it directly affects nursing homes and assisted living communities.
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Identify what is an acceptable form of a photo ID.
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Apply the new process to a facility record.
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, directors of nursing, nurses, social service workers, activity directors, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ New Advances in Non-Pharmaceutical Behavior Management Techniques Part 2 (Eric Collett)
One of the most challenging things long-term care teams must do is find ways to respond to residents living with dementia whose behavior is out-of-character and disruptive to others. Although psychotropic medications should be the last resort, many facilities struggle to find alternative methods that consistently work. This insightful presentation will explore root causes of behavioral expressions, nonpharmacological interventions that work, and the science behind approaches that help residents function better physically and interpersonally so out-of-character responses are less likely to occur. Case histories from the presenter's professional work will be used to illustrate the techniques and provide context and relevance for participants.
Speaker: Eric Collett, BS, RCA, CEO, A Mind for All Seasons
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe genetics and its effect on neurotransmitter pathways that give us tools to improve mood and energy levels
- Identify how concussion-related injuries - even from years ago - may affect sleep, mood, eating disorders, and what can be done about them
- Relay how FDA-registered medical devices may help calm pain and inflammation that can act as triggers for agitated behavior in some people
- Utilize new techniques for identifying the root causes of cognitive decline and interventions that may help stabilize or improve cognitive functioning
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, directors, directors of nursing, nurses, social service workers, activity directors, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
Session Sponsored by McKesson
▶ PDPM: Are Your Systems Keeping This Patient-Driven? (Scott Heichel)
Effective Oct. 1, 2019, CMS changed their Medicare payment model from RUGs based to PDPM, or the Patient Driven Payment Model. While this transition seems ages ago, the multi-year pandemic took its toll on providers' education efforts and processes. With five unique case-mix driven components under PDPM, it is critical that providers have a strong IDT approach to maximize the reimbursement to the facility. Are your systems meeting these needs?
Speaker: Scott Heichel, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, IPCO, QCP, ICC, Director of Clinical Reimbursement, LeaderStat
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- State the five case-mix driven components under PDPM
- Understand the complex thought process of deciding to complete an IPA
- Explain the proper resident interview techniques related to the BIMS
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, minimum data set coordinators, and directors of nursing in skilled nursing facilities.
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Concurrent Education Sessions - 1 CE
▶ Medically Related Social Services (Corie Sass)
When someone asks, “What is the role of Social Services in a nursing facility?”, perhaps the easiest answer is "Potpourri." Social Services tends to be everywhere and anywhere, rarely at their desk, and it can be difficult to identify the true nature and purpose of the role. The State Operations manual identifies several pages of Social Services responsibilities, and this session will help not only break down those responsibilities, but connect them to everyday tasks, and help a Social Services team member understand the role according to best practices.
Speaker: Corie Sass, LCSW, Social Services and Admissions Coordinator, Vetter Health Services
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify the regulatory components for Social Services in the nursing facility according to the State Operations Manual
- Understand how the regulation translates into typical Social Services duties
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, directors of nursing, and social services in nursing facilities.
Session Sponsored by Senior Rx Care
▶ Preventing Lower Leg Amputation (Joyce Black, PhD)
Nontraumatic lower-extremity amputation is a devastating complication of peripheral artery disease with a high mortality and medical expenditure. There are ≈150,000 nontraumatic leg amputations every year in the United States, and most cases occur in patients with diabetes and pressure injury of the heel. A number of evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for PAD and pressure injury can reduce amputation risk.
Speaker: Joyce Black, PhD, RN, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify risk factors for peripheral arterial disease
- Identify risk factors for pressure injury on the heel
- Describe methods to protect the feet in persons with arterial disease, diabetes and pressure injury
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, directors, directors of nursing, nurses, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ The FY 2024 SNF Final Rule: What Skilled Nursing Facilities Need to Know (Scott Heichel)
On Monday July 31, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 451 page final payment rule for SNF PPS, effective for fiscal year (FY) 2024. With some parts of the rule going into effect Oct. 1, 2023 and others taking effect at various times over the next few years, providers need to act now to ensure their systems and processes can support these changes. Join this session to learn the high level details of the rule, in addition to how to best operationalize it.
Speaker: Scott Heichel, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, IPCO, QCP, ICC, Director of Clinical Reimbursement, LeaderStat
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand the calculation leading to the rate increase effective Oct. 1, 2023
- Describe changes to the SNF QRP and the QMs that will be used
- Describe changes to the SNF VBP and the QMs that will be used
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, minimum data set coordinators, and directors of nursing in skilled nursing facilities.
Session Sponsored by Nebraska Total Care
1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Break
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Concurrent Education Sessions - 1 CE
▶ Caring For Caregivers: Helping Teams Put on Their Own Oxygen Masks (Eric Collett)
Most healthcare leaders recognize that caregiver burnout is a serious contributor to staffing challenges, but few have a deliberate strategy to help their teams proactively care for themselves. This timely presentation will help participants discover three key things great leaders can do to take care of their teams.
Speakers: Eric Collett, BS, RCA, CEO, A Mind for All Seasons
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Increase staff retention by converting your organization into a movement that inspires team members to make better choices in their lives outside of the workplace
- Utilize a framework that can help you inject greater joy into the workplace
- Leverage both education and group challenges to help your team improve their personal health, energy, focus, and drive
Audience: This session is appropriate for all in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
Session Sponsored by Medline
▶ Pressure Injury in Persons with Darkly Pigmented Skin (Joyce Black, PhD)
Early presentations of Stage 1 and Deep Tissue Pressure Injury are very difficult if not impossible to see in persons with darkly pigmented skin. This problem has led to more severe pressure injury in these persons combined with poorer outcomes. This session will provide techniques to examine the skin for signs of pressure. Both manual and instrument assessments will be discussed.
Speaker: Joyce Black, PhD, RN, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Discuss the common issues with detection of Stage 1 and Deep Tissue Pressure Injury in persons with skin colors of Fitzpatrick 5 and 6
- Identify methods to enhance early detection of pressure injuries
- Describe techniques to examine the skin for signs of pressure
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, directors, directors of nursing, nurses, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ Role of Social Services in Pain Management (Corie Sass)
In clinical settings, pain assessment and management is typically thought of as a nursing duty. The truth is, Social Services can play a part in this too. Pain can be impacted by many social and environmental factors and Social Services team members often have unique insight to these areas. By assessing areas such as family involvement, mood, and activity participation amongst many other things, Social Services can provide key understanding to several less-thought-of factors that impact residents who experience pain.
Speaker: Corie Sass, LCSW, Social Services and Admissions Coordinator, Vetter Health Services
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify social and environmental factors that affect pain in residents of facility-based care
- Describe how to assess these factors
- Implement strategies that can supplement pharmacological interventions of pain management
Audience: This session is appropriate for owners, administrators, directors, directors of nursing, and social services in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
Session Sponsored by Consonus Pharmacy
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Concurrent Education Sessions - 1 CE
▶ Aging in Place with Diabetes: Is Health Literacy the Missing Link? (Stacie Delezene; Jeanne Copeland)
The World Health Organization defines health literacy (HL) as “personal characteristics and social resources needed for individuals and communities to access, understand, appraise, and use information and services to make decisions about health.” For those managing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, Aging in Place (AIP) is often desired, but can be a challenge. However, an interprofessional and person-centered approach to HL and health management may help achieve the goal of AIP. Comprehensive examination of the knowledge, lifestyle, and HL of a person living with diabetes allows the interprofessional team to more effectively establish successful management strategies and promotes self-efficacy.
Speakers: Stacie Delezene, MS, CCC-SLP, Clinical Director, Powerback Rehabilitation; Jeanne Copeland, MS, CCC-SLP
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Examine the concept of Aging in Place and the influence of chronic care management through motivational interviewing, risk analysis and interprofessional service
- Review concepts of health literacy and measures, the evidence of its impact on persons with diabetes, and offer suggested methods and tools that may be implemented to improve clinical care and health measures
- Apply interprofessional practice and health literacy concepts to develop meaningful intervention along the continuum of care for diabetic management through case examples
Audience: This session is appropriate for administrators, owners, directors, minimum data set coordinators, staff development, department heads, directors of nursing, nurses, dietary, activities, social services, and direct care staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ Defensible Documentation: Looking for Opportunities (Deborah Denham)
This session will review the basics of a lawsuit and how documentation influences if a lawsuit is filed; discuss current top reasons for litigation in long-term care; and give consideration of what documentation should include and exclude. Attendees will review the importance of utilizing the Quality Assurance and Process Improvement Committee (QAPI) for adverse event management and documentation for audit analysis and opportunities.
Speaker: Deborah Denham, RN, MSN, CPHRM, CDP, Gardant Management Solutions
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the critical importance that documentation plays in reducing litigation risks
- Discuss top reasons for litigation in assisted living
- Identify how documentation and process workflow can reduce risk of litigation before and after an adverse event
Audience: This session is appropriate for CEOs, administrators, directors, directors of nursing, and nurses in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
▶ That Resident Is So Difficult! Transforming Our Judgments to Discover What We Need (Paige Hector)
When in pain or hurt, we are socialized to express ourselves in a way that blames others and makes them wrong. Alternatively, we may judge ourselves and take on self-blame. These habitual ways of responding pose costly barriers to our relationships and to our capacity to collaborate with others and accomplish our goals. Nonviolent communication presents a practical and powerful consciousness and language practice to speaking without shame, blame, and guilt while fully communicating the impact of other people’s words and actions on us and inviting them to engage with a way that supports connection and trust. This interactive session will familiarize participants with a process to transform judgments in order to get the understanding and support that we need.
Speaker: Paige Hector, LMSW, Principal, Paige Ahead Healthcare Education and Consulting
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe habitual communication patterns that pose costly barriers to relationships with others
- Engage in self-empathy to translate judgmental thoughts into feelings and needs
- Use a six-step process to transform judgments to help make choices that serve everyone’s needs
Audience: This session is appropriate for all staff in nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
Session Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Membership Meeting - 1.25 CE
▶ Membership Meeting
The program offered during the NNFA/NALA Membership Meeting will enable participants to develop an understanding of the current reimbursement, legislative, regulatory, and quality improvement environment for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities and gain awareness of upcoming changes.
Speaker: Jalene Carpenter, President and CEO, Nebraska Health Care Association
Objectives: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe current and pending regulatory changes
- Discuss reimbursement and legislative initiatives and their potential impact
- Identify resources and tools for quality improvement
Audience: This session is appropriate for all staff who work in a NNFA or NALA member skilled nursing facility or assisted living community.
Sponsored by The Olson Group
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Care PAC Reception at Cunningham's
Open to members who have contributed to Care PAC in 2024 and business members who have contributed $250 or more in 2024. Must be a member to contribute. Contribute online here.