The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a series of short (10–15 minutes), Quality in Focus (QIF) interactive videos tailored for specific provider types. The series aims to increase the quality of care for people with Medicare and Medicaid by reducing the deficiencies most commonly cited during the CMS survey process, such as infection control and accident prevention. CMS announced the videos in a memorandum, effective immediately, on January 19, 2023, stating that it should be communicated to all appropriate staff within 30 days.
According to CMS, the intent of this initiative is to provide a resource for providers and suppliers to proactively address common compliance concerns and therefore increase the quality of care for patients and residents. The trainings highlight both specific citation patterns as well as compliance solutions to incorporate into a facility’s operational practices. Each interactive video focuses on a specific health or safety citation, with the goal of helping facilities to proactively identify and prevent these deficiencies in the future. Transcripts, resources, and blueprints accompany the videos.
To view the memorandum, including a list of currently available QIF videos, click here. Alternatively, go to the Quality, Safety & Education Portal Training Catalog, and find the videos in the Quality in Focus tab.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Quality of care is a fundamental principle that applies to all treatment and care provided to facility residents. Based on the comprehensive assessment of a resident, facilities must ensure that residents receive treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and the residents’ choices. Facilities must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program (IPCP) designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. Facilities must also ensure that the resident environment remains as free of accident hazards as is possible, and that each resident receives adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.
Discussion Points
- Review your policies, procedures, and staffing guidelines to ensure they are designed to result in provision of quality care for all. Also review your policies and procedures on infection control and accident prevention.
- Train staff on their responsibility to provide safe, high quality nursing care or to provide support services that help meet resident needs. Document that these trainings occurred and file the signed document in each employee’s education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure staff are following policies for delivering safe, quality nursing care and support services. Ensure your Facility Assessment is current, thoroughly assesses the needs of all residents, and determines the resources required to provide high quality resident care and services. Review your QAPI initiatives to ensure that safe, quality care is monitored as an initiative of the QAA/QAPI committee.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, LLC for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*
