Skip to main content
Creative Ways to Teach Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes
All staff members in a nursing home play an important role in keeping residents safe from infections. They should know some basics about the germs (like bacteria and viruses) which cause infections. They should also know steps they can take to prevent the spread of germs
From the Center of My Care Team
by Janet Pollock, Kentucky
In 2002, I began an exciting career journey with the Kentucky Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). During my early days with the QIO, my focus was outreach – teaching Medicare beneficiaries about their benefits, when and how to file a complaint, and what to expect as
4 Takeaways on Curbing Opioid Abuse and Misuse
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 130 people die every day from opioid overdose — both from prescription and illicit drugs — and at least half of all deaths involve a prescription opioid.
Opioid abuse was a central focus of the 2019 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Helping Home Health Agencies Improve Heart Health in Kentucky One Milestone at a Time
Home Health Agency (HHA) staff work tirelessly to complete day-to-day tasks, so finding the time to review diagnosis-specific tracking information can be a challenge. Sometimes HHAs need a little outside help to pause, evaluate where they are and stay on the right
New Resource for Preventing Harm in Nursing Homes
One-third of nursing home residents experience an adverse or temporary harm event, and the majority of those are preventable. To raise awareness of nursing home safety and support safer care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN-NCC)
Vaccinations Protect Residents and Staff, also Affect Nursing Home Composite Scores
Influenza Vaccinations
Around 3,500 people die of the flu each year across the nation. An institutional Influenza A outbreak can result in up to 60 percent of the population becoming ill, with 25 percent of those affected developing complications severe enough to result in hospitalization
Pain Management for Nursing Home Residents
A high percentage of nursing home residents experience pain that impairs mobility, diminishes quality of life and often goes unrecognized and untreated by healthcare providers. Pain is not a part of normal aging and unrelieved pain can have enormous physiological and psychological effects on residents. Pain management is a major
QIOs in Action: How One QIN-QIO Reduced Opioid Use in Nursing Homes
This story originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of QIO News.
An analysis of Medicare Part D data by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General revealed that more than 460,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries received high amounts of opioids in 2017, and
Immunizations Best Practices Updated
The Home Health Quality Initiative (HHQI) 2018 Immunization & Infection Prevention Best Practice Intervention Package (BPIP) is now available. The Immunization & Infection Prevention BPIP is designed to guide leaders to ensure agency immunization and infection prevention programs are evidence-based and focus on patient and employee safety. It assists leaders in developing strategies
Clean Hands Count for National Hand Washing Awareness Week
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. On average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than
