This week clinical audits have begun for nursing facilities statewide. As discussed on the webinar last week, nursing facilities are being assessed on 5 core competencies included in the Infection Control Competency Checklist.

The Department of Public Health has announced it is making funding available to nursing homes and rest homes to purchase communicative technology. We encourage you to complete the application which is due Monday, May 11th. If you need assistance with equipment and pricing information, please contact Ann Marie Antolini at Mass Senior Care Association.

During National Nurses’ Week, Mass Senior Care want to thank you all for the extraordinary work you do each and every day and know that our number one priority is to provide you with the support and resources necessary to keep our facility staff safe and our residents well cared for.

CDC has launched a new mini webinar training series for frontline long-term care and nursing home staff. This series of 5 short webinars reviews basic infection prevention steps including: proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and facemasks, how and when to perform hand hygiene, how and when to clean surfaces, and the need to check residents and staff daily for symptoms of COVID-19.

The Interim final rule from CMS last night also delays implementation of new MDS items for SNF QRP. This delay will enable SNFs to continue using the current version of the MDS 3.0 v1.17.1. CMS will require SNFs to collect data on the transfer of health information measures and SPADES data on October 1 of the 1st of the year that is at least two full fiscal years after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.