Upstairs Solutions Issues Quality Assurance White Paper For Long Term Living Communities
Indepth Disccusion of CMS' Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Program
Skokie, IL - Upstairs Solutions, an industry leader in online training and record keeping for senior care, announced recently that it is making available its white paper, "Developing an Effective Quality Assurance Program: Turning Minimum Requirements into a Comprehensive Strategy." The paper discusses the government's new requirements for a Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program and mandatory corporate compliance programs as outlined in the 2010 Affordable Care (ACA).
Industry experts address key issues throughout the paper including CMS' "5 Elements of QAPI" (a framework when creating a QAPI program) as well as the makeup of a Quality Assurance Committee, protecting the committee's discovery and waiver of privilege, performing a root cause analysis and providing effective training across a facility.
The paper was issued at today's American Health Legal Association's Long Term Care and the Law Conference where Tamar Abell, MA, CCC-SLP, LNHA, principal of Upstairs Solutions is presenting with Howard Sollins, Principal, Ober/Kaler law firm on the legal implications of quality assurance programs and documents.
"We wrote this paper in an effort to help the industry to better understand what we as providers are facing with the ACA's focus on quality assurance and performance improvements," said Abell. "Providers must act proactively to modify and upgrade their quality of care while CMS further defines QAPI regulations. Ultimately, together, providers and CMS are embarking on a revolutionary and joint effort to improve the quality of life for the seniors entrusted to our care."
White Paper Abstract
With the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the U.S. government will now require a compliance program to be instituted in each nursing home by the end of 2013 in addition to a quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program. Taking a step beyond quality assessment and assurance, as once defined by OBRA '87, CMS' new QAPI regulations will introduce performance improvement as the key ingredient. In July 2011, CMS released their "5 Elements of QAPI" to be used by nursing homes as a framework when creating their own QAPI program. For more information, visit www.UpstairsSolutions.com/whitepapers.
SOURCE: Upstairs Solutions