OCID Bites May 8 2015

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Elevating the Post-Acute and
Long Term Care Profession

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May 8, 2015

2015 Convention & Exhibition -- Winds of Change

Convention Provides Education, Business, Networking, Community, Social Programs
More than 3000 long-term care professionals, consultants and vendors participated in a four-day whirlwind of seminars, social activities and camaraderie April 27 - 30 for the 69th OHCA/OCID/OCAL Annual Convention and Exhibition at the Columbus Convention Center. The Midwest’s largest gathering of long-term care personnel, this week’s Convention featured more than 100 educational programs during its four-day run. An exhibition of over 400 booths featuring providers of goods and services to the long-term care community – one of the largest long-term care exhibitions in the country – provided registrants access to the newest innovations, including transportation services, furniture, high-tech medical devices, computer systems and software, food and dietary supplements, kitchen and laundry appliances, therapy aids, and pharmacy services, among others. Many Association members took advantage of the free registration coupon offered by the Board of Directors as a member benefit.

Educational programs were presented for licensed administrators, nurses, therapists, dietary personnel, social workers, activity professionals, housekeeping staff and other long-term care personnel. Topics include clinical, operational, administrative and technical aspects of providing care services, as well as personal improvement and motivational sessions. During the Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, the new lineup of OHCA, OCAL and OCID Professional Excellence Awards were presented.. Wednesday's program included the presentation of 50 scholarships from the Educational Foundation of OHCA, and a special presentation with CEO, broadcaster and motivator Kelli Vrla.

Social programming included the PAC Night at the Races; the Awards Luncheon; EFOHCA Celebration Event; hospitality hops; and Wednesday's special Club RLH Party, sponsored by OHCA Past President Robin Hillier, which was open to all registrants. Networking opportunities were available to participants throughout the week. The OHCA Community Center served as a gathering place and an area to relax, as well as online education services in the Learning Lab, and guest services at the registration counters.

New in 2015, a special Convention app was available for mobile devices on which registrants were able to view education sessions and exhibition hall booths; keep track of schedules and notes, communicate with other participants, and download handouts and presentation. The app will remain active for participants as long as it is supported by their device.

The 2015 Convention is scheduled for May 2 - 5, 2016. Overnight rooms go very quickly, and we encourage you to make your hotel reservations now by clicking here or calling 866-363-0568. Mark your calendar now for Ohio’s premier long-term care event!

OCID Board Elections
Members of the Ohio Centers for Intellectual Disabilities (OCID) elected 3 Directors to their 5-member Boards during the Association's Annual Meeting; and the Board also held elections for a Chair and Vice Chair to lead the OCID Board over the next year.

Ohio Centers for Intellectual Disabilities:

Chair -- Denise Pozderac, Transitional Living Centers
Vice Chair -- Marilyn Weber, MKW Pathways

Re-Elected to the Board:
Bert MacQueen, Jac-Lin Manor
Marilyn Weber, MKW Pathways

Newsly Elected to the Board:
Sherry Rinck, Boyd's Kinsman Home

OHCA/OCAL/OCID Names Professional Achievement Award Winners
The Association's yearly awards program recognizes a wide range of long-term care facility personnel. Ohio’s long-term care employees make up a large, important and valuable resource, and are the backbone of service to the LTC community, with facilities relying on dedicated teamwork and skills to provide quality care and compassion to patients and families. The Professional Achievement Awards are designed to honor those individuals who have excelled in providing outstanding care in a cooperative spirit of teamwork. Awards presented during the 2013 OHCA Convention at a special Awards Luncheon ceremony on April 30 were:

OHCA/NF Awards

Administrator of the Year, Anita Buddo, LNHA, Franlin Ridge Healthcare Center, Franklin
Caregiver of the Year, Lori Nicely, LPN, Pine Ridge Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation, Morrow
Manager of the Year, Brenda Hoying, NR, DON, Celina Manor, Celina
Support Service Professional of the Year, Heather Pollard, Health Information Specialist, Villa Georgetown, Georgetown
Volunteer of the Year, Dean Hoffman, Liberty Nursing Center of Fremont - Countryside

OCAL Awards

Manager of the Year, Tammy Denton, LNHA/CEO, Stow Glen Retirement Village, Stow
Personal Care Assistant of the Year, Kimberly Reinke, Resident Associate, Garbry Ridge, Piqua

OCID Awards

Direct Support Professional of the Year, Tammy Jane Burchfield, Program Director/QMRP, Sunrise Homes, Lisbon
Caregiver of the Year, Judy Heyer, Speech Therapist, New Avenues to Independence, Cleveland

Prize Winners Galore!
In a special drawing on Wednesday, April 29 in the Exhibition Hall, Brittany Sweeney of Colonial Manor won $5,000; Stephen Zdinak of Carriage Inn of Cadiz won $3,000; and John Fleischer of HW&Co. won $2,000. Four other names were drawn for $100 prizes. Winners of the $1,000 Prize Passes in the Exhibition Hall were Holly Hawk of St. Catherine's Manor of Washington Court House and Pamela Roskovics of Norwalk Memorial Home. During the Finale Luncheon on Thursday, the winner of the PAC 50/50 drawings were Linda Black Kurek of Liberty Health Care winning $6,650 in the $100 ticket drawing, and Ted Liszeski of Kingston Healthcare winning $2,375 in the $5.00 ticket drawing. Congratulations to all of our 2015 prize winners!

Convention CEU Certificates Available Online; Please Complete the Convention Survey
Convention CEU certificates will be available online beginning May 19 for all registrants. CEUs will be based on the hours attended during each session; registrants must have had the bar code on their badges scanned on entering and leaving each session. We also request that each registrant complete the Convention Evaluation by visiting the survey from the CEU page. These evaluation are used to make adjustments and improvements that will create a better Convention experience for all.

To receive credit registrants must:

Get scanned in at the beginning of each session
Attend the entire session
Get scanned out at the conclusion of each session
Please note that the total credit hours listed for programs assume full attendance. Credit is only available for each full session attended. The scanning system is time stamped and will automatically calculate CEUs.

Sessions are submitted for CEU approval from a variety of accrediting organizations. In some instances, some accrediting/approval organizations accept only certain classes and do not approval all sessions offered at the convention. Restrictions and approval information were presented to all registrants prior to the convention. It is the responsibility of the attendee to verify that credit is approved by the accrediting body for the specific courses they attend. Should you have questions, please contact Kathy Chapman, 614-540-1321.

New Exhibitor-Only Session Offered Tips for Trade Show Success
Nearly 150 exhibit booth personnel attended the first-ever exhibitor-only educational session: "Optimizing Your Trade Show Investment" with Lou Ann Brubaker of Brubaker Consulting. This training session offered practical advice and helpful tips on increasing sales to senior care facilities. Exhibitors left with an increased knowledge of the long term care industry and how to best approach this unique market.

Handouts, Presentations
Any handouts or presentations that were made available for educational sessions will remain available for downloading from the Convention website in PDF format at "Handouts." Should you have questions, please contact Kathy Chapman, 614-540-1321.

Convention Photos on Facebook
Photos from the four days of the 2015 Annual Convention are being posted to the Ohio Health Care Association's Facebook page. If you would like your photos added to the collection, please email them to: ohca@ohca.org, and indicate "Convention Pictures" in the subject line.

Special Thanks to Our 2015 Convention Sponsors

Sponsors Provide Services, Resources
Many hours of time and effort went into making the 2015 Convention and Exposition a successful event for all, but special thanks are due to the following major sponsors featured during the week's programming, and we urge all members to extend them thanks and the courtesy of consideration when calling:

Absolute Family of Companies
Arbor Rehabilitation & Healthcare Services
Blue Sky Therapy
Brouse McDowell, LPA
Calderon Textiles
CE Solutions
CompManagement
CompManagement Health Systems
Concept Rehab
DLM Legal
Drive Medical/Primus
Encore Rehabilitation Services
HealthCap
HealthPro Rehabilitation
Housing and Healthcare Finance
Huntington
Institutional Care Pharmacy
Insurance Partners Agency, Inc.
Intellinetics
Lizard Apparel & Promotions
Love Funding
McKesson Medical Surgical
MKW Pathways
MobilexUSA
Omnicare
OnShift
Pearson/OU Online Master of Health Admin
Penn Emblem Healthcare Division
Poling Law
Premier Therapy
Real Time Medical Systems
RehabCare
Remedi SeniorCare
RLH Consulting
Therapy in Motion
Tobin & Associates
Ultimate Rehab
VITAS Healthcare

Golf Outing, Night at the Races Draw Crowd for PAC
Nearly 150 golfers participated in the sold-out 19th Annual OHCA-PAC outing at the Worthington Hills Golf Club on Monday, April 27 prior to the kickoff of the Association’s 2015 Convention. In addition to a day of golf and camaraderie, participants enjoyed lunch and prize drawings at theWorthington Hills Clubhouse. Special thanks go to the following sponsors of this year’s program, to Gold Sponsor Laurel Health Care Company, which also donated skill prize awards, and to Calderon Textiles which assisted in photographing golfers:

GOLD SPONSORS

Absolute Family of Companies

Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate Advisors

Calderon Textiles

CompManagement Health Systems, Inc.

CompManagement, Inc.

HCF Management Inc.

HCR ManorCare

Hoffman Group

Institutional Care Pharmacy

Joerns Healthcare Inc.

Laurel Health Care Company

LeaderStat

Love Funding Corporation

Management & Network Services LLC

PharMerica

Plante Moran, PLLC

RLH Consulting

SILVER SPONSORS

HW&Co.
Mobilex USA

BRONZE SPONSORS

OnShift

PointRight
RehabCare

BEVERAGE CART SPONSORS

OHCA District IV

Red Capital Group

CART SPONSORS

AlixaRx

HCF Management Inc.

DRINK TICKET SPONSORS

Health Care Management Group

Senior TV

LUNCH SPONSOR

JCTH Holdings

BREAKFAST SPONSOR

OHCA District II

SNACK BAG SPONSOR

Healthcare Services Group

DOOR PRIZE SPONSOR

Neace Lukens Insurance and Risk Management

SKILL HOLE PRIZE SPONSOR

Laurel Health Care Company

Night at the Races
More than 250 members participated in a special Night at the Races event on Tuesday. Food and beverages were available throughout the event, and participants enjoyed the camaraderie and excitement of the races and participated in a drawing for a bevy of prizes at the conclusion of the festivities. A special thanks goes out to the Absolute family of companies, our sponsor who made the evening a fun and successful event!

Including the 50/50 ticket sales, nearly $50,000 was donated to OHCA/PAC during the Convention. Thanks to all of the members who participated and assisted in funding this important program.

Top Stories

Senate Budget Hearings Roll
Pete Van Runkle
Senate Finance Committee subcommittees and separate committees are active with hearings on the state budget bill (House Bill 64). The Medicaid Committee, chaired by Senator Dave Burke (R-Marysville), has been given jurisdiction over portions of the budget that would be of interest to members. At recent committee hearings, Medicaid Director John McCarthy gave a three plus hour presentation (slides here) and later interested parties testified. Director McCarthy outlined the Kasich Administration’s Medicaid proposals and noted where the House of Representatives changed them. In questioning by committee members, Director McCarthy defended using the 66 group version of RUG IV to calculate case mix for SNFs and said there were no significant mistakes in rolling out MyCare Ohio except the federal government’s refusal to allow passive enrollment for Medicare sooner. OHCA’s Pete Van Runkle spoke to the committee in support of the House passed version of the budget (slides here). A number of other organizations and a few citizens testified on a variety of topics, often as not provider payment rates. There was little discussion of Medicaid expansion. Next week, the committee will delve into Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) issues. The following week, they will convene panels on different topics, including one on MyCare Ohio. One new issue arose on the DODD budget: reductions made by the House of Representatives to the department’s funding for the biennium. The House removed $13 million in state share from DODD’s appropriation for the “Medicaid Services” line item, which could affect some of the department’s initiatives for the upcoming biennium. The timetable for Senate action on the budget is late May, to be followed by a conference committee. In other budget related news, the Office of Health Transformation floated a new draft amendment on independent providers that includes a certification program for direct care workers in waivers and state plan home and community based services. The proposed certification requirement does not appear to apply to the Assisted Living Waiver, but it seems to cover everyone who delivers any kind of Medicaid funded home care. As stated in the draft amendment, the program would be optional for the Department of Health. Also, Office of Budget and Management Director Tim Keen criticized the House for adopting more optimistic revenue and Medicaid spending projections than those provided by the Administration, but shortly afterward announced that state revenues came in $276 million higher than the estimate in April.

DODD Works on RFPs
Pete Van Runkle
The Department of Developmental Disabilities is developing, with stakeholder workgroups, requests for proposals (RFPs) for two contracts. The first contract is for “options counseling,” under which the contractor will go out to ICFs/IID and talk with individuals about options for receiving services (i.e., waivers). The Process Workgroup is overseeing the department’s efforts in this area. In commenting on the draft RFP, OCID emphasized that the project should be targeted to people who are on the waiting list for a waiver instead of at specific ICFs as DODD proposed. The second contract is to develop a new reimbursement system, in conjunction with the Reimbursement Workgroup. That group also reviewed and commented on a draft RFP DODD produced. The contractor will look at a number of reimbursement related issues, including quality measures being developed by yet another workgroup, which has not progressed far in identifying measures that are suitable for use in a reimbursement calculation..

Regulatory

ODH Issues FAQ on Abuse, Neglect, Misappropriation; Nurse Aide Registry
Steve Mould
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has issued an FAQ regarding Abuse, Neglect, and Misappropriation (ANM) and the Nurse Aide Registry (NAR). The FAQ indicates that the ANM Index contained within the NAR tracks non-STNAs that have a Finding from ODH that may make it advisable to check all staff and volunteers on the registry. The FAQ contains important tips related to Abuse, Neglect, and Misappropriation information. According to ODH this is not a change, but is a clarification of the current processes. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the Bureau of Regulatory Enforcement at 614-644-6220.

Other News

Virtual Meeting: The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) will host a virtual meeting for its members to discuss the first draft of the Committee’s 2015 Report to the President, including recommendations. This year's report will focus on the use of technology in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities As with all PCPID meetings, the public is welcome to observe. The meeting will be held Monday, May 11, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. For this virtual meeting, there are two options: listen via conference call or watch online. PCPID is a federal advisory committee which promotes policies and initiatives that support independence and lifelong inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in their respective communities. The committee includes representatives from several federal agencies and 19 private citizens. The discussion and findings from each PCPID meeting are included in an annual Report to the President. To listen to the discussion, dial (888) 469-0957; when prompted, enter passcode: 8955387. Click here to register for the webinar. Please visit the PCPID Website for more information on its members and activities.

AHCA Professional Liability Resources and Tools
The fourth product to be available as part of the AHCA Professional Liability Toolkit is the recently completed list of state “I’m Sorry” Laws. In LTC and PAC settings, where healthcare professionals care for the oldest and most vulnerable individuals, and where accidents can and do occur; it is important to say “I’m Sorry.” Such an expression of humility and compassion is statutorily protected and not an admission of liability in many states. Be sure to check with legal counsel about how to best comply with the law in your state before taking any action. The Professional Responsibility Work Group develops ways for providers to prepare for or respond to plaintiffs’ attorneys’ aggressive strategies, including paid media campaigns, to target individual nursing and assisted living centers for litigation. With AHCA Board approval, the Work Group has been working with AHCA staff to create resources and tools to help the members prevent or prevail in litigation. The Work Group plans to complete and distribute a comprehensive toolkit by the end of 2015. Material distributed to date includes the 2014 Aon Report, revised arbitration agreement, final Focus Group Report and sample ads, and a list of state “I’m Sorry” laws.

Education Updates

Current Best Practice for Dysphagia and Nutrition
TSwallowing disorders- or dysphagia- continues to increase in clients served; often presenting multiple challenges to providers in implementation of effective intervention. Providers must know how to meet “person centered” client needs with “best practice” nutrition protocols and interventions. This free session from AHCA will present an overview of current “best practice” nutrition for swallowing disorders along with suggestions of how to apply “best practice” for use in daily practice. The program is scheduled for May 13 from 2 – 3 pm. For details and registration please click here.

Practice good habits. Operate Efficiently. Deliver great service.
Kathy Chapman
All levels of staff will better understand detailed information from textile production to laundry room habits and nursing challenges. Helping establish the relationship between the textile and chemical companies, and the laundry supervisor will be discussed. We define PAR, how it is measured as well as best practices and impact on inventory. Information about CMS requirements for resident and certain F-tags will be discussed. Learning will also include wash and best practices for sorting and sanitation in the laundry room. Engaging all levels of staff in this seminar optimizes the chance to agree as an organization about the linen program moving forward. This program is scheduled for May 28 at the OHCA offices in Lewis Center, Ohio. The 3 hour program is designed for Environmental Services, Laundry Managers, Nurses, Administrators, Physical Plant Directors, Corporate Consultants. For details and registration please go to www.efohca.org.

Association News/Services

AHCA ID/DD Residential Services, NFP Awards
The ID/DD Hero of the Year honors individuals who have shown commitment, dedication, and compassion in serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The NFP Program of the Year honors a community that has implemented either innovative approaches to resident satisfaction or a center's activities that enhance the quality of life for individuals living in the community-at-large. AHCA/NCAL members may submit nominees for these two categories; nomination packets are here. The deadline to submit nominations is May 21, 2015. Honorees will be guests of and recognized at the 66th Annual Convention in October in San Antonio, TX.

AHCA Champion of Quality Award
The AHCA Quality Improvement Committee is excited to announce that it is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant national contributions to advancing quality performance in long term and/or post-acute care, including either skilled nursing or assisted living settings. Recipients of the award are not required to be AHCA/NCAL members, but the nomination must be submitted by an individual with an organization that is an AHCA/NCAL member of good standing. In addition, the nomination must demonstrate how the nominee has made a significant impact on a national scale. The recipient will be honored at the 2015 AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention & Expo's Closing General Session in San Antonio, Texas, on October 7. Nomination forms can be found on the Champion of Quality Award page, and must be submitted via email to Courtney Bishnoi by June 11, 2015.

Learn How OHCA's Private Exchange Can Help Control Employee Benefit Costs
Diane Dietz
OHCA has partnered with Assured Neace Lukens/Assured Options to provide the most technologically advanced private exchange available today. This is a new benefits strategy that combats rising benefits cost with employee choice and empowerment. Nationally, the results have been truly eye opening and employers are reducing their overall spend without negatively impacting their employee populations. In fact, employees almost unanimously are also saving money while getting a level of value from their benefits that has not previously been achieved. A recording of a special member update teleconference which reviewed the basics of the plan, and how it can benefit your business is now available. The people behind the technology were on hand to provide the details answer questions. To review the information please go to "Private Exchange." A copy of the accompanying slides in handout form may be downloaded here.

Golf Outings to Benefit EFOHCA, PAC
OHCA District 3 will hold its 23rd annual golf outing to benefit the Educational Foundation of OHCA (EFOHCA) May 28 at the Country Acres Golf Club in Ottawa. Sponsorships are available, and donations will be accepted for the silent and live auctions to be held. For details, registration and sponsorship opportunities please download the flyer.

The 18th Annual NOHCA/District 13 Golf Outing will be held Friday, June 12 at Briarwood Golf Club in Broadview Heights, Ohio. NOHCA is seeking sponsorships and donations so that all funds raised can go toward OHCA-PAC. For details please download the flyer or contact Eileen Kilbane, 440-243-5668.

Faces of Long Term Care
Mandy Smith / Steve Mould
The OHCA/OCAL/OCID Faces of Long Term Care program is designed to bring a face to long term care and show the humanity in the residents, family, and caregivers that are affected by the aging process. to bring a face to long term care and show the humanity in the residents, family, and caregivers that are affected by the aging process. If you have "liked" OHCA on Facebook or Twitter you may have seen some of the images, which include a photo of an individual and a quote from them regarding their life. Facilities interested in participating in this program can submit high quality digital photos and interview results, along with a consent form, to the OHCA office. A description of how to obtain interviews and pictures is available here. The interviews and consent forms may be scanned an emailed, or faxed to 614-436-0939. There is no deadline for submissions, and they can be sent throughout the year. Should you have questions, please contact Mandy Smith or Steve Mould at the Association offices.

Two Part Webinar Recording on Antipsychotics Available!
Antipsychotic Management & Reduction Part I includes an overview of the AHCA Clinical Considerations of Antipsychotic Management Toolkit. CMS has implemented new measures, and long term care providers must show efforts to reduce antipsychotic medication use. In this webinar, the presenters will provide an overview of the AHCA Clinical Considerations of Antipsychotic Management Toolkit and how it can assist long term care providers in reducing antipsychotic medication use. Part II includes practical Application & Strategies. A disciplined approach including proper assessment and non-pharmacological management strategies is important to prevent unnecessary antipsychotic use. In this webinar, the presenters will describe practical strategies and application to behavioral management, which can be guided by use of the AHCA Clinical Considerations of Antipsychotic Management Toolkit. For additional information please go to AHCA webinars.

Heroes Needed!
Steve Mould
Nominate your Hero of Long-Term care today! The OHCA/OCAL/OCID Heroes of Long-Term Care program honors individual long-term care employees for their service to residents, the facility, and to their community. Heroes are nominated from long-term care employees across the state. The program is also intended to provide good news opportunities for use in local and statewide markets. Program details and copies of the Heroes of Long-Term Care nomination form are available at Heroes of Long-Term Care.

Free Job Posting Available to Members
Steve Mould
Members may post openings in the "Job Opportunities" section of the OHCA/OCAL/OCID website for 30 days at no cost. To post an opening, go to the Long Term Care Careers page at www.ohca.org log in and post the job through your account. You will need to be logged into the site with your user name and password before you attempt to post a position. For additional information contact Stephen L. Mould, APR (smould@ohca.org), 614/540-1325.

OCID Bites
OCID Bites is distributed electronically each week (except for holidays and special occasions). Member representatives who would like to be added to or deleted from the distribution list should send an email to Stephen L. Mould, APR (smould@ohca.org), including the individual's name, company, and email address. Individuals will be added to the email listing for all of OCID's electronic bulletins and publications

Elevating the Post-Acute and Long Term Care Profession

With Support from OHCA Champion Partners

Elevating the Post-Acute and
Long Term Care Profession