WALA News for Sept 1, 2009
1. Watch for the WALA Compensation Survey in the coming month.
Have you ever wondered what and how other providers are compensating their staff around Wisconsin? WALA has been working months on a Survey that will give you the information that you have been seeking! We are asking all Wisconsin providers to fill out this survey, and in turn, for a small fee, you will be able to obtain a report that has Wisconsin specific salary and benefit information.
Within a month, you will get more information on the survey, and how you will be able to participate. Keep an eye open for this in your mail!
2. CBRF and AFH Administrators Training is back!
WALA has presented their popular two-day training course for beginning to mid-level administrators of CBRFs and AFHs for the last 10 years. Last year, we presented it three times to sold out crowds. The course covers a little of everything from training to H/R, budgeting, marketing, leadership and even to tips on how to be a better manager. Even seasoned administrators have found this course useful and it is especially beneficial for those that need a good refresher course!
It will be held Tuesday Sept 22 and Wednesday Sept 23 in Milwaukee as well as Tuesday Sept 29 and Wednesday Sept 30 in Stevens Point. More information will be available soon on the WALA Website!
PLEASE NOTE – this is NOT the course designed to help train new administrators to meet the 83.15 Department Approved Administrators qualifications as the course requirements for the Department Approved course have not yet been issued. However, the Bureau of Assisted Living has encouraged future administrators who need the department approved course to take the WALA course until such time as the course requirements are issued and WALA (and others) can develop that course. WALA will issue a discount voucher for those who take the current course to attend the department approved course offered by WALA when it becomes available.
3. More DHS 83 Training Sessions are Available.
DHS 83 training courses are half day courses to help CBRFs understand and implement the new regulatory changes for CBRFs effective April 1. WALA has presented this course to over 900 attendees in every corner of the state.
WALA is presenting this course:
Monday, September 21 in Milwaukee
Thursday, September 24 in Madison
Monday, September 28 in Stevens Point
* Each course is from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Even CBRFs who are well along the road to compliance with the new regulations are attending this course to make sure they have not missed anything. And if a CBRF has not yet started the process to become compliant, it is even more imperative they attend in order to understand the changes and how they impact their operations.
In addition, WALA has a number of products to help CBRFs become compliant, including a very comprehensive Quality Comprehensive Worksheet, resident rights posters and other useful tools. More information will be available soon on the WALA Website!
4. FOCUS 2009 Conference Breakout needs questions for panel.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance is pleased to announce the 9th Annual FOCUS Conference for Health Care Providers and Division of Quality Assurance Staff to be held on October 22, 2009 at the Kalahari Resort in WI Dells, WI.
As part of the FOCUS 2009 Conference, the WI Coalition for Person-Directed Care will be hosting a breakout session panel discussion intended to provide participants the opportunity to learn more about the culture change journey from the perspective of nursing home providers, family, and regulators.
The Coalition is soliciting questions from participants that they would like to have answered by the panel. If you have questions you would like addressed by this panel, please forward them to Donna Zunker at dzunker.grancare@att.net by October 19, 2009.
Additional information about the conference is located at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Training/focus09.htm
5. Novel H1N1 Flu Information for Health Care Providers
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health is providing a lot of information about Novel H1N1 Flu Information for Health Care Providers. The link to that entire site is http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/category.asp?linkcatid=3124&linkid=903&locid=106
On August 21, 2009 they issued a memo about Reporting Requirements, Prevention and Control of Influenza and other Respiratory Diseases in Assisted Living Facilities and Long-Term Care Facilities (including Novel Influenza H1N1) for the 2009-2010 influenza season.
The memo details how Assisted Living Facilities and other long-term care (LTC) facilities are required by law to report even single cases of notify-able conditions such as (but not limited to) legionellosis, pertussis, and laboratory-confirmed invasive bacterial disease to their local health department. Outbreaks of communicable diseases must also be reported. The purpose of the letter is to clarify when, how and to whom to report respiratory disease outbreaks in a LTC facility.
We encourage all providers to read the complete memo at http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=17483&locid=106 and to pay attention to future communications.
If you cannot access these memos, contact the WALA office.
6. The 2009-10 ACIP "seasonal" influenza guidelines.
If you have any questions, please contact the Regional Immunization Program Advisor in your area, contact information contained in the below memo link.
ACIP Seasonal Influenza Guidelines
7. Card Check “No Longer in the Cards�
According to a report forwarded by WALA’s national partner, the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said August 27 that passing a controversial labor bill that would make it easier for employees to organize is no longer in the cards for the Senate, at least for now, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He said that he Senate schedule is too crowed to consider the Employee Free Choice Act. WALA will keep you informed as this continues to play out for those of you concerned about this bill.
