Together With

Good morning, and happy Saturday.  I am excited to announce that I have joined the start-up team at Assisto, where we are building exceptional tools for NHAs and Operators.

Assisto has developed an AI-powered search engine that, for the first time, allows you to search and filter CMS survey data.

If you are an operator looking to stay updated on where your state surveyors are and what deficiencies they cite in your state, Assisto is for you.

For a short time, we are offering access to the portal for $18.90 per month after a 30-day free trial.  

Click here to sign up for early access and claim your free trial.

Elevate your Regulatory Compliance

Leveraging Assisto to up your regulatory knowledge and assess your regulatory risk is easy.

Here is how I use it to stay up-to-date in my home state of Maryland. (Screenshot below)

Adjust the search features to narrow down to the state you wish to search.  

Next, enter an F Tag you wish to search for or use the keyword feature to search a specific topic or scenario. For this example, I am searching for anything related to "elopement."

Then, narrow down the scope and severity of the deficiencies you're looking for.  For example, I'm looking for anything at a "G" level or higher.

You can also adjust the time period for your search.  

Using the Data to Reduce Your Risk

For this specific search, I can see that F689 has been cited as an actual harm or higher-level deficiency four times in Maryland in the past year.  The examples are expandable and link directly to the public version of the 2567 so you can dig into each citation.  (Screenshots below)

Feed the Data to the NHA Stand-Up Chatbot to Reduce Your Risk

Use this prompt along with the summary of the deficiency from Assisto to ask the NHA Stand-Up Chatbot (free to use) to create a customized QAPI plan that, when executed, will ensure you do not receive the same deficiency.

Prompt:

"Here is the description for a deficiency cited as an IJ in my state for F689. What QAPI plan can I implement to prevent this deficiency at my facility? Be specific and tactical so I can implement your QAPI plan immediately without further research.  Please be specific with monitoring, including what I am auditing and how success should be evaluated."

Here are the results from our chatbot with this single prompt (screenshot below). If you want the chatbot to edit the answer or provide additional details, simply ask it to.

Answer:

"To implement a specific and tactical QAPI plan to prevent future elopement incidents, follow these steps, including detailed monitoring and evaluation components:

1. Immediate Corrective Actions:

   • Wander Guard Replacement and Testing: Replace all wander guards with new ones and conduct daily tests to ensure they are functioning correctly. Document each test in a logbook.
   • Care Plan Updates: Review and update care plans for all residents at risk of wandering. Ensure these updates are communicated to all relevant staff.

2. Staff Training and Education:

   • Mandatory Training Sessions: Conduct mandatory training for all staff on elopement prevention, focusing on the use of wander guards and the elopement binder. Include practical exercises and role-playing scenarios.
   • Regular Refresher Courses: Schedule quarterly refresher courses to reinforce procedures and update staff on any changes.

3. Enhance Communication and Awareness:

   • Elopement Binder Accessibility: Ensure the elopement binder is prominently placed at the front desk and that all staff are trained to use it. Conduct monthly audits to verify its accessibility and completeness.
   • Visual Reminders: Place visual reminders near exit points to prompt staff to check the elopement binder before allowing anyone to leave.

4. Strengthen Monitoring and Security:

   • Security Enhancements: Install additional security measures, such as video surveillance at exit points, to monitor resident movement.
   • Regular Door and Alarm Checks: Implement a schedule for weekly checks of exit doors and alarm systems. Document findings and corrective actions in a maintenance log.

5. Conduct Drills and Simulations:

   • Elopement Drills: Conduct bi-monthly elopement drills to test staff readiness and response. Use these drills to identify any weaknesses in procedures and make necessary adjustments.

6. Resident and Family Engagement:

   • Family Involvement: Engage residents' families in discussions about elopement risks and prevention strategies. Encourage them to share observations that may help identify residents at risk.

7. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation:

   • Incident Tracking: Maintain a log of all elopement incidents and near-misses. Analyze this data monthly to identify patterns or areas for improvement.
   • Audit and Evaluation:
     • Audit Frequency: Conduct monthly audits of wander guard functionality, staff training records, and elopement binder usage.
     • Success Evaluation: Evaluate success by tracking the number of elopement incidents and near-misses. Aim for a reduction in incidents over time. Use staff feedback and audit results to assess the effectiveness of training and procedures.

By implementing these specific steps and monitoring components, you can enhance the safety and security of residents in your facility and prevent future elopement incidents."

Partners We Love

Assisto

Start using Assisto today and uncover the regulatory climate you're operating in.  Use the public data provided by CMS to learn what surveyors are honing in on and how you can reduce your risk.  Sign up here.

Whenever you're ready, there are a couple of ways I can help you.

1. Leverage our partnership with CEUSrEZ and purchase NAB-approved, online, self-paced, continuing education courses at a 20% discount here.
2. Check out our free AI Chatbot trained on thousands of pages of regs and industry best practices.  It's like having a surveyor on your team.  Try it out here.
3. Sign up for Assisto and keep track of the regulatory environment in your state.  Know what deficiencies surveyors cite in real-time and ensure you're not at risk for the same tag.  Sign up here.
    

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Thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful day.

Kevin Goedeke, Publisher and Founder