Episodes
April 2, 2024
Section GG: Key Insights into Determining Usual Performance
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key insights to determine section GG usual performance.
March 19, 2024
Focus on Care Planning and How to Simplify the Process
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss strategies for simplifying the care plan process. Additional Resource: Baseline Care Plan Tool
Jan. 30, 2024
Getting Care Area Assessments Back on Track
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the common challenges nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) face with care area assessments (CAAs) and how they can get back on track.
Jan. 9, 2024
Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze: Extended AAPACN Webinar Q&A
In this podcast, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a few outstanding questions that members asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze.
Dec. 19, 2023
Pharmacist Panel Discussion – Perspectives on Section N, Understanding Medication Indication of Use Versus Diagnosis
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Marti Wdowicki, PharmD, director of clinical operations for PharMerica, and Jeff Herr, PharmD, manager of clinical operations in the West for PharMerica, discuss a pharmacist’s perspective on coding section N of the MDS, what an indication of use is versus the diagnosis, and ways nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) can improve coding accuracy for this section.
Nov. 14, 2023
The Basics of Significant Change and What Has Changed
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss some of the common concerns noted with Significant Change in Status Assessments (SCSAs).
April 3, 2023
Back to the Basics: Preparing for MDS Submission to the Federal Repository
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the basics of preparing for MDS submission as well as CMS’s upcoming transition to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). Additional Resources: Prepare for iQIES to Avoid MDS Submission Failures – AAPACN Article What Role Should t...
Feb. 27, 2023
New MDS Items Series: Transfer of Health Information
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, continue the New MDS Items Series on the upcoming changes to the MDS with version 1.18.11, effective Oct. 1, 2023. This episode focuses on the MDS changes that will address transfer of health information.
Jan. 31, 2023
New MDS Item Podcast Series: Social Determinants of Health
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, continue the podcast series on the upcoming changes to the MDS. This podcast focuses on the MDS changes that will address social determinants of health.
Jan. 10, 2023
New MDS Items Series: Changes to Ethnicity and Race
In this new podcast series, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss upcoming changes to the MDS. This first episode in the series focuses on the changes to ethnicity and race, how they will be coded on the MDS, and how these changes tie into recent updates to the requirements of participation and the guidance to surveyors in A...
Dec. 13, 2022
Preparing for the Retirement of Section G
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, a curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, talk about how nurse assessment coordinators can start preparing for the retirement of section G. Additional Resources: Preparing for Section G Retirement: Care Plan UpdatesSection GG Train the Trainer
Nov. 1, 2022
Better Resident Care Starts with the DNS Understanding the NAC Role
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the challenge nurse assessment coordinators face in explaining the complexity and breadth of their role to others. Additional Resource:MDS Development: A Toolbox for the NHA and DNS
Oct. 25, 2022
Care Planning for Trauma-Informed Care
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss some of the basics of trauma-informed care, what should be in place in skilled nursing facilities, and how to create a trauma-informed care plan.
Oct. 17, 2022
The Basics of CoreQ with Lindsay Schwartz
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Lindsay Schwartz, Ph.D., FGSA, Founder and Principal of Workforce & Quality Innovations, discuss what CoreQ is, why satisfaction data collection is important, and how frequently this data should be monitored by skilled nursing facilities.
Sept. 20, 2022
A Conversation on Two Technical Expert Panels and the Future Unified Payment Model with Renee Kinder
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Renee Kinder, MS, CCC-SLP, RAC-CT, executive vice president of clinical services with AAPACN Diamond partner, Broad River Rehab, share information about their participation on two technical expert panels and some news about the future unified payment model.
Aug. 16, 2022
SNF Staffing Crisis: The Risks and Impact of Pulling the NAC to the Floor
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the current staffing crisis in skilled nursing facilities across the country and the potential impact of using the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) as a long-term staffing solution.
July 27, 2022
ICD-10-CM Codes: Use of Unspecified Codes Resulting in Medicare Denials
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, and Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC, director of education for Hansen, Hunter & Co., P.C./Synergy Healthcare Resources/Axiom/HealthBridge, discuss some recent Medicare denials related to the use of unspecified diagnosis codes. Review the Definitions of Medic...
July 13, 2022
Tips for Developing Fall Prevention Care Plans with Mark Cifarelli
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Mark Cifarelli, PT, a physical therapist and director of clinical content development for Legacy Healthcare Services discuss key considerations for developing fall prevention care plans.
May 31, 2022
Which Do I Follow? Federal vs. State Regulations for the MDS
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the differences between federal and state-specific regulations for MDS completion.
March 14, 2022
ICD-10 Diagnosis Coding for Skilled Nursing Facilities with Carol Maher
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Carol Maher, director of education for Hansen, Hunter & Co., discuss ICD-10 diagnosis coding for skilled nursing facilities.
Feb. 15, 2022
The Importance of Health Literacy in Nursing Homes with Joel VanEaton
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, executive vice president of PAC regulatory affairs and education for Broad River Rehab and an AAPACN Master Teacher, talk about health literacy and its importance in nursing homes today.
Jan. 24, 2022
How to Utilize Your Staff to Mentor and Fill Gaps in the MDS Department
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN is joined by AAPACN Master Teacher and Board Member, Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA to discuss how leadership can often find potential nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) among their own staff, some of the key skill sets to watch for, and how to best utilize nurse assistants to support the MDS process.
Nov. 17, 2021
How to Be Proactive in Approaching Part B Denials with Erin DuPrae
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Erin DuPrae, OTR/L, clinical support specialist with AAPACN Diamond Partner, Synchrony Rehab, discuss how facilities can be proactive with Part B denials and how to prepare for appeals.
July 20, 2021
Summer Heat and Care Planning
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MT, AAPACN vice president of education and certification strategy and Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, discuss heat-related risks to residents, what to consider when care planning, as well as the impacts that heat- and exposure-related conditions have on MDS coding.