The CDC is reminding healthcare workers that they play a special role in fighting the flu. The agency is recommending that all physicians, nurses, other workers in hospital and outpatient-care settings and emergency-response workers receive the flu vaccine. By doing so, they're not only protecting their health, but the health of their families and residents/patients as well. Additionally, high vaccination rates among healthcare workers have been tied to improved resident/patient outcomes, reduced absenteeism and lower flu rates among staff.
Healthcare workers should also encourage vulnerable residents and patients to consider getting flu shots to protect themselves.
To learn more, click here.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Congratulations, Patty Adams!
Team ProMed congratulates Patty Adams on being named the October 2010 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Patty is a CPC Data/Pricing Analyst and has been with ProMed six years this month.
“Patty’s dedication and loyalty over the years have proven to be an asset to ProMed. She is very detailed and conscious about her job performance, which makes her valuable in the tasks she performs in the Special Sales Department,” said Jodi Dzak, Director of Special Sales/Customer and Vendor Contracts and Patty’s manager. “She is ready and willing to move on to the next level in her position and I look forward to helping her grow. “
Added Jodi, “Patty is a very friendly and outgoing person who enjoys time with her family. Her family values extend here to her ProMed family and she is liked by many of her coworkers.”
When we asked Patty what makes ProMed a great place to work, she responded “the interaction with my coworkers. We have a lot of great people working here and I enjoy their humor and good-natured teasing, which helps us all get through the day even though we're busy.”
As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Patty will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at her desk for the month of October. She was also given a $100 cash award.
IOM: Give Nurses a Larger Role in Healthcare Reform
A new report from the Institute of Medicine calls for nurses to be given a larger, more fundamental role in the transformation of the US healthcare system.
Titled The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, the report calls for the removal of barriers currently preventing nurses from being able to respond quickly and effectively to changing healthcare settings. In turn, this will allow nurses to play a vital role in meeting the objectives of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, more widely known as the healthcare reform law.
The report contains four key messages:
To learn more, click here.
Titled The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, the report calls for the removal of barriers currently preventing nurses from being able to respond quickly and effectively to changing healthcare settings. In turn, this will allow nurses to play a vital role in meeting the objectives of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, more widely known as the healthcare reform law.
The report contains four key messages:
- Nurses should be practice to the full extent of their education and training.
- Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression.
- Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other healthcare professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States.
- Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and information infrastructure.
To learn more, click here.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Happy National Gerontological Nurses Week!
October 1-8 is National Geronological Nurses Week! Team ProMed wishes to extend our appreciation to the gerontological nurses across the nation for all they do to care for America's elders.
National Gerontological Nurses Week is sponsored by the National Gerontological Nursing Association. To learn more, click here.
National Gerontological Nurses Week is sponsored by the National Gerontological Nursing Association. To learn more, click here.
Monday, October 4, 2010
CMS Updates SOM Appendix PP
On September 24, CMS announced that Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual has been updated to reflect MDS 3.0, which took effect on October 1. The revised appendix was released on October 1 as an agency transmittal.
Changes to the appendix include:
Changes to the appendix include:
- Removal of references to MDS 2.0
- Replacing Resident Assessment Protocols (RAPs) terminology with Care Area Assessment (CAA) terminology
Friday, October 1, 2010
Hello, MDS 3.0!
MDS 3.0 - touted as the largest operational change in nursing homes since the dawn of the prospective payment system - goes into effect today!
Revamping the MDS meant that nursing homes have had to update their computer hardware and software, change policies and train employees on what to expect.
Among the biggest changes from MDS 2.0 to 3.0 are:
Revamping the MDS meant that nursing homes have had to update their computer hardware and software, change policies and train employees on what to expect.
Among the biggest changes from MDS 2.0 to 3.0 are:
- The introduction of the resident interview
- Changes to Medicare Part A therapy's payment system
- Resident Assesment Protcols (RAPs) are replaced by Care Area Assessments (CAAs)
Happy National Physical Therapy Month!
October is National Physical Therapy Month! This year, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is focusing its efforts on educating people of all ages on the importance of physical activity in preventing and combating obesity and its consequences.
When working with obese children and adults, physical therapists work to promote movement, reduce pain when it is present, maintain or restore function and prevent disability. They also incorporate behavior modification into weight loss programs, such as identifying causes of unhealthy behaviors and recognizing any barriers to forming healthy habits.
During National Physical Month, the APTA will also strive to educate the public on how physical therapists can help ease complications associated with type 2 diabetes. For example, they can perform tests to check foot sensation, help decrease cramping pain during walking, evaluate and care for skin ulcers and slow-to-heal sores and improve walking ability with orthotics and special shoes. They can also provide diabetics with an individualized program to help reduce the need for medications, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke and manage glucose levels.
To learn more about National Physical Therapy Month, click here.
When working with obese children and adults, physical therapists work to promote movement, reduce pain when it is present, maintain or restore function and prevent disability. They also incorporate behavior modification into weight loss programs, such as identifying causes of unhealthy behaviors and recognizing any barriers to forming healthy habits.
During National Physical Month, the APTA will also strive to educate the public on how physical therapists can help ease complications associated with type 2 diabetes. For example, they can perform tests to check foot sensation, help decrease cramping pain during walking, evaluate and care for skin ulcers and slow-to-heal sores and improve walking ability with orthotics and special shoes. They can also provide diabetics with an individualized program to help reduce the need for medications, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke and manage glucose levels.
To learn more about National Physical Therapy Month, click here.
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