WALA News for September 30, 2010

1. WALA Compensation Survey is Available!

Have you wondered what others in your area compensate their staff? Take this survey to be able to compare your facilities compensation to others like yours in the State!

The second annual WALA Compensation Survey for Wisconsin's Assisted Living Facilities is now available!
Participants will receive the published report of the findings and be entered in a drawing for a $300.00 voucher for WALA products and events!

You can take the survey 3 ways:

Go to http://www.ewala.org/events2/CompensationSurvey.cfm to take the survey today.

2. WALA Meets With Legislative Audit Bureau on Audit of Family Care

Early in September, WALA met with the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) who is conducting an audit of Family Care on behalf of the Legislature. The Audit Bureau's intent is to have a report completed sometime prior to the budget process with an initial report by mid next year.

WALA expressed the following issues:

Family Care accomplishments:

Family Care Challenges as viewed from Assisted Living:

WALA encouraged continued dialogue with LAB as the audit continues. For additional information, contact Jim Murphy at WALA.

3. New Memos from DHS

DQA 10-022- Nationwide Egg Recall
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/10-022.htm
An online source by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - "Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs." can be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaEggs/.
To monitor the status of this egg recall, updates are available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm223536.htm


DQA 10-023 - Delayed Implementation of Sprinkler System Requirements for Small Class C Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRFs)
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/10-023.htm

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind small Class C CBRF providers that by April 1, 2014, all Class C CBRFs shall have installed a complete automatic sprinkler system as required by DHS 83.48(8), Wisconsin Administrative Code.

DQA 10-024 - Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver Project Announcement for 2011 and Web Resources for CLIA
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/10-024.htm

The purpose of this memo is to inform laboratories and providers holding a CLIA certificate of waiver about the start of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011 federal project for facilities and to also provide a link to a web resource for CLIA-related questions and answers. For more information please follow the link provided.

DQA 10-025 - Personal Care Provider Program Update, Permanent Rule - DHS 105.17 & DHS 106.06, Effective September 1, 2010.

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/10-025.htm

The purpose of the memo is to provide updated information on the personal care provider rule and processes. On September 1, 2010, permanent rules for s. DHS 105.17 and s. DHS 106.06 went into effect. The emergency rules for s. DHS 105.17 and s. DHS 106.06 are no longer in effect. A limited number of changes were made from the emergency rule for s. DHS 105.17 to the permanent rule for DHS 105.17; these changes are highlighted in the memo at the link provided.

DQA 10-026 - Practices that are not to be used in Community Based Programs & Facilities.
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/BQAnodMems.htm
The purpose of this memo is to delineate practices that are not at any time to be used in community based programs and facilities to control or as a response to a client's violent or aggressive behavior. These practices have been demonstrated to present an inherently high risk for causing serious injury and possibly death and thus are to be avoided. For more information please follow the link provided.


DQA Pharmacy Newscapsule/July - August 2010.
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/PharmJulyAug10.pdf

4. New information from the AL Forum

September is Fall Prevention Month

What can your facility do to prevent falls? What have you done to prevent them?

DHS released Fall Prevention Among Older Adults: An Action Plan for Wisconsin.

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/InjuryPrevention/FallPrevention/index.htm

Falls are a significant cause of injury in all ages of the U.S. population, but a particular burden in those ages 65 years and older. One third of people over the age of 65 years fall every year.

Please review the plan and share with others you think may be interested in helping make Wisconsin a place where older adults live healthy, independent lives, free from falls.

For more information about the Plan or the Fall Prevention Initiative please feel free to contact Becky Roosevelt Turpin, MA Injury and Violence Prevention Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, at (608) 266-3008 or by e-mail at rebecca.turpin@dhs.wisconsin.gov


Get the latest information from Wisconsin's Office of Health Care Reform

Go to http://www.healthcarereform.wi.gov/Index.asp to learn more and get on the listserv.
Also tell your story! We encourage you to let your voice be heard. The federal government has asked for input and is accepting your answers through October 4, 2010. Please find a copy of the request for comment on the Office of Health Care Reform website under Quick Links.


Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
Learn more about the Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding CCRCs, a newer addition to the AL continuum.

More information about the AL Forum and Handouts from the Forum at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Providers/asstdLvgForum.htm

Including:

Employment of Youth in the Health Care Industry
More information from the CBRF Break out Session is available at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Providers/asstdLvgForum.htm
Including CBRF Regions Maps of trainers in each of the 83.20 courses.
As you will see by the map, there are regions that have limited trainers. WALA encourages those that are thinking about becoming 83.20 Instructors to do so, especially in remote areas as the need is still there.

5. Community Training Opportunities

FOCUS 2010: Conference
"Striving for Excellence in Challenging Times" - November 18, 2010
FOCUS 2010: Special Session
"The Art and Science of Infection PREVENTION and Control" - November 17, 2010

Kalahari Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 3, 2010


Registration is available online at: https://charge.wisc.edu/quality/focus2010.asp
Visit the FOCUS 2010 website which has the brochure with detailed information about the presenters, breakout sessions, schedules and more: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Training/focus10.htm


Director Independence and Other Hot Topics in Nonprofit Governance

Please join Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, on Monday, October 18, for a complimentary luncheon seminar at their Milwaukee office-or from your desk for a live webinar-as Reinhart attorneys Tracey Klein and Lucien Beaudry, along with Pamela Knecht, president of ACCORD LIMITED, present "Director Independence and Other Hot Topics in Nonprofit Governance." This seminar is geared towards leaders in nonprofit organizations. Please go to http://www.reinhartlaw.com/Events/Pages/default.aspx
for more information on the topics to be covered and to register for the seminar or webinar.

 

Ethnically Diverse Populations and Alzheimer's Disease: A Public Health Issue

New Age of Aging is announcing an Alzheimer's symposium on Tuesday October 19th in Milwaukee.

Stephanie R Johnson, PhD, a clinical and research Neuropsychologist from Washington DC, will present breaking-news on current research on the increase of prevalence of the disease among African American and Hispanic populations.

The registration fee is $85; 3 or more registering from one organization, $70 each.

Go to www.newageofaging.org for additional information and to register. Limited space is available!

 


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