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I have to agree with the comments and reactions stated in this article. Throughout my nursing home career as a Director of Nursing and Administrator, I often questioned why a nurse was not part of the survey team or assigned as the sole surveyor for complaint investigations. Despite being told that all surveyors are trained and that findings are reviewed by a team back at the office, the absence of nursing expertise in the survey team raised concerns for me. One instance that stands out is when a Social Worker, lacking nursing background or experience, was assigned as a surveyor. This individual, although professional and receptive, was unable to observe crucial aspects such as wound care and medication administration. Instead, they requested copies of medical records, including wound treatment orders, physician orders, care plans, and MDS assessments, for their review. The findings and conclusions were then based on this non-observation approach, leaving me questioning the validity of the process even today. It is vital for survey teams to encompass diverse expertise, especially in healthcare settings, to ensure a comprehensive evaluation that truly reflects the standards of care and practice. What are your thoughts?

Interesting article and looking forward to your responses to this:

Wishing all the bosses out there a great day! One of the best things about being a sole business owner is celebrating oneself. #Entrepreneurship #BossLife 😍

Concerned about cyber-attacks? Read this article:

I remember my days as a Nursing Home Administrator and all the training I received from our corporate office regarding signing contracts with vendors and ensuring there were no kickbacks attached to the vendor. I am sure this will be an interesting case to follow.

Are you aware that the Federal regulations for nursing homes, outline several key requirements for assessing, diagnosing, evaluating, supervising, and monitoring residents? These regulations are designed to ensure that residents receive high-quality, individualized care in a safe and supportive environment. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have outlined key areas and guidelines for the nursing home to adhere to. These include: ✖ Resident Assessment: Nursing homes must conduct comprehensive assessments of each resident’s functional capacity and needs. This includes physical, mental, and psychosocial aspects, and must be done initially upon admission and periodically thereafter. ✖Care Plans: Based on the assessments, nursing homes are required to develop and implement a comprehensive, person-centered care plan. This plan must be tailored to meet the individual needs and preferences of the resident. ✖Nursing Services: Facilities must have sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies to provide care that ensures the safety and well-being of residents. This includes ongoing monitoring and supervision to maintain the highest practicable level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. ✖Quality of Care: Nursing homes must provide care and services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident, in accordance with their comprehensive assessment and care plan. ✖Supervision and Monitoring: Continuous supervision and monitoring are required to ensure that residents receive appropriate care and that any changes in their condition are promptly identified and addressed. #attorney #medmalattorney #nursinghomeattorney ************************************************************************ I'm Deborah and am available to assist you with your next nursing home legal case. Reach out to me and let's discuss your case. simaytis@legalrn-consult.com

Attorneys and their support staff in the path of Hurricane Helene may be unavailable at this time. Simaytis Legal Nurse Consultant, LLC, although not directly impacted, has family members without power. Our attorney clients affected by the hurricane are facing challenges with no office or power while trying to work remotely. Let's remember to check on those in the south who are in need of our thoughts and prayers. #HurricaneHelene #SupportSouthResidents

Integrity: How do you obtain it? So, I put this question into CoPilot and the response was this: "Obtaining integrity involves a combination of self-awareness, consistent ethical behavior, and a commitment to personal values. Here are some steps to help you develop and maintain integrity: 1. Live with Honesty: Always tell the truth, even when it’s difficult. Honesty is a cornerstone of integrity1. 2. Keep Your Promises: Follow through on commitments. Breaking promises can damage trust and integrity. 3. Show Compassion and Empathy: Being mindful and considerate of others’ feelings and needs is essential. 4. Create a Personal Mission Statement: Define your values and goals. This helps guide your actions and decisions. 5. Take Responsibility: Own up to your mistakes and make amends.  Accountability is crucial for integrity 6. Maintain Consistency: Align your actions with your values, both in public and private. By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can build and sustain a reputation for integrity. You may ask why am I even posting this here? Well after reading several posts/messages this morning I started thinking about how others have showed me they have no integrity. What makes people act and think the way they do day after day; lack of integrity was my answer. I am happy that I circle myself with people who I trust, who are honest, who take responsibility and accountability. Thank you to my circle of colleagues and business partners who can say YES, I am part of Deborah's circle.

Jaimee has provided some very insightful information in this newsletter.

"This legislation allows temporary nurse aides (TNAs) to apply their on-the-job training toward certification as CNAs, thus expanding the pool of qualified caregivers in senior care settings." I totally understand staffing issues continue to be a problem in nursing homes. I am not totally certain allowing people to provide nursing care without being certified is the best route to tackle the problem. As a nurse, I would not be permitted to perform nursing duties without being licensed so how is it that people could be performing CNA duties without being certified to do so?