01/03/2019

LeadingAge Ohio Member Selected as a Best Practice Site in All-Cause Harm Prevention

While many are familiar with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for its oversight and regulatory activities, the organization also dedicates resources to helping providers improve by using data to identify the top performers across the country on certain quality measures, gleaning best practices from them and disseminating them for other providers to learn from.

One LeadingAge Ohio member recently had the opportunity to serve as an expert in CMS' development of a provider resource on all-cause harm prevention. Apostolic Christian Village in Rittman hosted representatives from CMS' Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIO) for three days, as CMS observed and learned how the organization's approach to prevention resulted in one of the lowest adverse events rates in the country.

The resulting Change Package summarizing promising practices in this area is now available. A Change Package is a compendium of successful practices of high-performing nursing homes, illustrating how they prevent harm while honoring each resident's rights and preferences.

"We appreciated the positive approach where interviewers focused on practices and systems that are working well and that deliver quality outcomes,” said Curt Walter, Administrator of Apostolic Christian Communities.  “Our visitors reported that mission-orientation, community and relationships appeared to be three overarching themes supporting quality results, it was very clear that people and healthy communication are at the heart of everything we do."

Members interested in learning more about the development of the Change Package and how to use it to improve the quality of life and quality of care for those living in nursing homes and other long-term care settings may join a free webinar on Thursday, January 24, 2019 from 3-4pm ET.