IHCA and Success Development, inc. Partner to Offer RCA/HFA, SSD and Preceptor Courses

The Indiana Health Care Association is proud to announce its partnership with Success Development, inc. to offer Residential Care Administrator/Health Facility Administrator, Social Service Designee and Preceptor courses. IHCA strives to provide opportunities for the state’s long term care workforce to further their careers, and these courses directly address that goal. Success Development, inc., a development firm with 20-plus years of experience in the areas of coaching, consulting, speaking and training services, shares this mission.

“By offering RCA/HFA, SSD, and Preceptor courses in-house at IHCA, we will once again be providing critical training opportunities for the future workforce needs for our members and non-members,” said Scott Tittle, President of IHCA.  “Success Development is the perfect partner as it provides the highest quality training opportunities.”

The Residential Care Administrator/ Health Facility Administrator course is a state approved six-week program (three-week for RCA) that provides the informational foundation needed to have a successful AIT/internship experience and to pass the RCA/HFA licensing exams, after completing the five or six month internship requirement in a residential care or health care facility.

The Social Service Designee course offers the basic knowledge to fulfill the role of a Social Service Designee.  Upon successful completion of the 48 hour course, attendees will receive a certificate to fulfill requirements defined in the state regulations for nursing facilities/long term care facilities.

The Preceptor course fulfills one of the eligibility requirements to be approved as a Preceptor to gives you the chance to become certified or recertified as a state approved mentor for  an Administrator-in-Training. This state approved eight-hour program will provide the informational foundation to be a skilled Preceptor.

“I’m excited to be partnering with IHCA,” said Vivian Wright-Defrees, CEO of Success Development,inc. “When like minded organizations come together, synergy can occur.”

For more information on these courses or to register for the upcoming RCA/HFA training (HFA - September 17-October 26, RCA – September 17 – October 5), visit www.ihca.org or contact Vivian Wright-Defrees at 317-596-0707 or vwrightdefrees@successdevelopment.biz.

Out of Hospital DNR

Over the past year, the IHCA has fielded questions from members about the change in Indiana law that requires the use of the State-issued Out of Hospital DNR form in order for a resident of a nursing facility  to have a valid DNR order in a nursing facility.  The law was passed in the 2011 Session of the Indiana General Assembly and became effective on July 1, 2011.  In order to further assist IHCA members with compliance and ensuring the resident is treated according to his or her wishes, a memorandum that further explains the requirement to use the Out of Hospital DNR form for DNR orders in a nursing facility (or any other location outside of a hospital) and the Out of Hospital DNR form are available in the Members Only section of the IHCA website.

If you have any questions, please contact Zach Cattell at zcattell@ihca.org or 317-616-9001.

Nursing Home Compare Technical Users' Guide

In conjunction with the Nursing Home Compare that were recently launched, CMS has also released an updated Technical Users' Guide to the Nursing Home Compare Five-Star rating system, which includes information about the cut-points for the staffing and quality measure ratings.  You can access the manual at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/usersguide.pdf.

IIDR Update

The contract with Maximus Federal to perform the new Federally required IIDR process (an optional process for facilities) has finally been signed by the State.  Facilities should expect that CMS will now begin to issue notice of Civil Money Penalty and the option to participate in IIDR.  Tight timelines apply to electing and participating in IIDR.  For more information, visit the ISDH Informal Dispute Resolution Information Center at http://www.in.gov/isdh/25304.htm.

Sprinkler and Smoke Detector Surveys

July 1, 2012 was the deadline for Indiana Nursing Facilities to have installed sprinkler systems and smoke alarms.  The ISDH issued notice in the June ISDH Long Term Care Newsletter that they would begin surveying for the requirement and will take licensure action to revoke the license of any facility not in compliance.  To assist with facility compliance, a copy of the ISDH Surveyor worksheet that is being used in the surveys is available in the Members Only section of the IHCA website.

The ISDH indicated that they are aware of one facility in Indiana that has not installed any sprinkler system and licensure action is commencing against that facility.  In addition, the ISDH is finding that several facilities have not met the requirement to have a smoke detector in each resident care room.

Attorney General Investigations Due to ISDH Incident Reports Sent to AG in Error

On July 20, IHCA alerted members that the Indiana Attorney General has recently opened around 100, or more, investigations of licensed practitioners in nursing facilities (mainly RNs and LPNs) in the past couple of weeks.  These investigations have apparently been generated by the ISDH’s sending of incident reports to the AG along with a signed letter from the ISDH referring the incident report as a consumer complaint for AG investigation.  It is IHCA’s understanding that ISDH’s sending of these uninvestigated or investigated but unsubstantiated incidents/complaints has been occurring for a long time, however only in the last several weeks have those incident referrals been accompanied by a signed letter from ISDH referring the matter to the AG.  It is this signed letter with referral that had triggered the AG investigations.

Based on recent discussions with the ISDH, the referrals that were sent in error are being retracted by the AG in cooperation with the ISDH staff.  The ISDH indicated that the AG will send closure letters to the affected professionals that had been referred to the AG by the ISDH in error.

Division of Aging Exploring Changes to Pre-Admissions Screening Process

IHCA attended a meeting on Friday, July 27th with representatives of the Division of Aging, other nursing home associations, the Indiana Association for Area Agencies on Aging and the AARP to listen to the Division’s discussion regarding the Indiana Pre-Admissions Screening process.  The Division is thinking about pursuing a change to the Indiana PAS process that would extend the period of time in which a nursing facility has to complete the application and Level 1 process from 5 days to 21 days, and thereafter the AAA would see the resident between day 21 and day 60 in order to perform options counseling as required by Indiana law.  The Division explained that the change is being considered because they do not believe the current PAS process is meaningful to the client/resident, and requires options counseling too early into a client/resident stay before knowing enough about the long term conditions to provide adequate options to the client/resident.

The Division has not placed the proposal in writing and the proposal, captured above, represents a discussion of ideas presented by the Division.  IHCA and other associations are being engaged to help think through a potential change.  If you someone on your staff is interested in assisting the IHCA discuss the PAS process with the Division, please contact Zach Cattell at zcattell@ihca.org or 317-616-9001.