Adviser Summer 2017 Annual Conference Recap | Page 43

Measuring for QAPI Success By Susan Chenail Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement better known as QAPI is not a new notion. QAPI is a data-driven, proactive approach to improving the quality of life, care and services in Nursing Facilities. The QAPI movement has been supported by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) since March 2010 to improve quality of care in Nursing Facilities. More importantly it is viewed by CMS as a tool to prevent harm to residents. In February 2014, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report, Adverse Events in SNF: National Incidence among Medicare Beneficiaries. It reported that one-third of Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) beneficiaries were harmed by an adverse event or temporary harm event within the first 35 days of their skilled stay. The OIG determined that 60 percent of those events were preventable. The three categories of Temporary Harm are: • Events related to Medications, 43 percent (example, hypoglycemic episodes); • Events related to Resident Care 40 percent (example, – pressure Injuries); and, • Events related to Infections 17 percent (example, CAUTI catheter associated Urinary Tract Infection). Recently, because of the Mega Rule released in October 2016, QAPI is now a part of the Survey process. In November 2017, nursing facilities will be expected to show their QAPI plans to surveyors. It must include a preamble – with purpose, guiding principles and scope – and the selection of areas to study, goal setting, incorporating all staff education and participation, accountability, reporting, committee membership and much more. By November 2019, full implementation of QAPI is expected. To ensure residents are protected from harm CMS will require QAPI be involved in all allegations/ incidences of abuse, neglect and exploitation. QAPI is not just another burden of regulation; rather it is known to produce high customer and staff satisfaction. Nursing Facilities looking for a proven method for staff retention, longevity and mastery are looking to QAPI to get staff involved, engaged and take ownership of care processes. Residents of facilities which use QAPI report increased satisfaction in care processes. CMS is promoting resident engagement, voice and choice, and with QAPI that is possible. Nursing facilities don’t have time to waste. Leading Age New York has a long history of providing technology solutions for continuously improving resident outcomes using publicly reported data. A major part of QAPI involves using data to select process improvement plans, set goals and monitor success at the resident level using the most current facility specific data. Quality Apex, LeadingAge New York’s newest product, fills these requirements and much more with features that nursing facilities need, including a dashboard view. Nursing facilities have limited resources and for just pennies per day Quality Apex can crunch and display the numbers providing passive monitoring of progress toward goals which are essential for QAPI success. leadingageny.org 42