As part of my coverage for Conference Insider, I wrote several in-depth feature articles highlighting key sessions and exhibitor contributions throughout the conference.
Engaging Non-Clinical Staff in Infection Prevention
Infection prevention in long-term care requires active participation from all departments, not only clinical staff. Non-clinical team members interact with residents and the care environment daily, making them essential contributors to reducing transmission risk. The session emphasized clear, approachable education tailored to diverse learning styles and literacy levels. Interactive methods—such as demonstrations, games, and hands-on activities—help reinforce key IPC concepts and improve long-term retention. Peer support and regular reinforcement can strengthen consistency and build a facility-wide culture of safety.
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Effectively Engaging Non-Clinical Staff in Infection Prevention and Control
Creative, Resident-Centered Infection Prevention Strategies
Preventing pneumonia, UTIs, and skin infections requires more than protocols—it depends on consistent, personalized care. This session highlighted practical prevention methods including daily oral hygiene, hydration routines, and respiratory-strengthening activities. The use of creative engagement strategies, such as theme-based events and hydration prompts, helps staff maintain consistency while supporting resident participation. A case example illustrated how documentation gaps and small lapses in routine care can escalate into serious outcomes. The PDSA model was presented as a structured framework for identifying workflow breakdowns and sustaining improvements.
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Proactive Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care: Creative Strategies to Reduce Risk
Water Management Plans and Environmental Safety
Waterborne pathogens pose a significant threat to long-term care residents, especially those who are immunocompromised. This session reviewed common environmental sources of contamination, including sinks, ice machines, and respiratory equipment. Developing a comprehensive water management plan requires system mapping, routine monitoring, and proactive maintenance strategies aligned with CDC and ASHRAE guidance. Facilities must also prepare for emergencies such as boil-water advisories by having clear response procedures. Ongoing staff education and annual plan updates are essential to sustaining water safety.
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Water Management Plans: A Key Component of Resident Safety in Long-Term Care
The Infection Preventionist’s Role: Surveillance, Stewardship, and Leadership
The role of the infection preventionist in LTC is multifaceted and requires strong clinical judgment, daily surveillance, and interdisciplinary communication. Their responsibilities include identifying new infections, reviewing antibiotics for appropriateness, monitoring lab results, and overseeing precaution practices. They also conduct environmental rounds to assess hand hygiene, PPE use, and cleaning effectiveness. Regular NHSN reporting, vaccination monitoring, and policy reviews support regulatory compliance and quality improvement. The session emphasized that effective IPC leadership requires ongoing education, time allocation, and collaboration across all departments.
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How Infection Preventionists Protect Residents and Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities
Using Antibiograms for Smarter Antibiotic Prescribing
Antibiograms serve as essential tools for guiding empiric antibiotic choices based on facility-specific resistance patterns. The session explained how antibiograms are built using laboratory susceptibility data and why consistency and proper data filtering matter. Clinicians can use susceptibility percentages to select the most effective empiric therapy while minimizing unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use. These reports also support antimicrobial stewardship goals by helping teams monitor resistance trends over time. Although valuable, antibiograms must be used alongside clinical judgment and patient-specific factors.
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Helping Clinicians Choose Smarter Antibiotics: The Role of the Antibiogram
Tardive Dyskinesia in Long-Term Care
This session focused on the importance of early identification and ongoing screening for tardive dyskinesia in long-term care. TD often develops after exposure to dopamine receptor–blocking medications and may impair communication, swallowing, and mobility. Differentiating TD from drug-induced parkinsonism is essential, as treatments differ significantly. VMAT2 inhibitors were reviewed as evidence-based options for reducing symptoms when used appropriately. Interdisciplinary awareness, structured documentation, and regular AIMS assessments support safer and more effective care.
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Recognizing and Managing Tardive Dyskinesia in Long-Term Care
Chorea in Huntington’s Disease
Chorea is one of the most visible and functionally limiting symptoms of Huntington’s disease, affecting gait, balance, swallowing, and safety. The session outlined disease progression and the neurobiology behind involuntary movements. Treatment options, including VMAT2 inhibitors and supportive therapies, were reviewed with an emphasis on person-centered planning. Standardized assessments such as the UHDRS help track symptom severity and monitor response to treatment. Early interdisciplinary involvement supports dignity, safety, and long-term quality of life.
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Understanding Chorea in Huntington’s Disease: A Clinical Overview for Long-Term Care Providers
The TREE Metaphor for Empowering Frontline Staff
The TREE framework positions CNAs as the foundation of long-term care and emphasizes the importance of empowering them through education and emotional intelligence. The model promotes collaboration, resilience, and purpose-driven learning that aligns with real-world challenges. Strategies discussed included case-based discussions, LOTS (Lecture on the Spot), and accessible training materials developed using the SURE method. Purposeful recognition and expanded roles can improve morale and reduce turnover. The session reinforced that meaningful training supports both staff engagement and resident outcomes.
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The TREE Metaphor: Empowering Front-Line Staff Through Purposeful Education
The DON’s Role in Sustainable QAPI
This session demonstrated how DONs can embed QAPI principles into daily workflows to drive sustainable improvement. Root cause analysis and interdisciplinary performance improvement projects help identify system gaps rather than focusing solely on individual errors. A case example involving pressure injury prevention showed how structured planning and consistent feedback lead to measurable results. Effective DON leadership requires visibility, communication, and an understanding of frontline challenges. QAPI is most successful when it becomes part of facility culture rather than a periodic task.
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The Role of the Director of Nursing in QAPI: Supporting Sustainable Improvement in Long-Term Care
Balancing Leadership, Change, and Personal Performance
This session explored strategies for maintaining balance during periods of professional and organizational change. Attendees were encouraged to reflect on their personal “why” to guide daily decisions and preserve resilience. Practical tools included prioritization methods, mindset reframing techniques, and grounding routines. Leaders were reminded of the importance of flexibility and self-care in sustaining long-term effectiveness. The overall message emphasized that personal well-being is integral to strong leadership.
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How Long-Term Care Leaders Can Juggle Work, Change, and Personal Performance
2025 Appendix PP Revisions
The updated Appendix PP added significant changes related to psychotropic stewardship, pain management expectations, staffing requirements, and infection control practices. Facilities must ensure medication use is clinically justified, supported by documentation, and aligned with resident goals. New requirements also emphasize interdisciplinary involvement, informed consent, and non-pharmacological interventions. Leaders were encouraged to audit PBJ data, review psychotropic orders, and evaluate care plans for regulatory alignment. The revisions reflect CMS’s broader emphasis on accountability, transparency, and resident-centered care.
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Appendix PP Updates and Outcomes: What Long-Term Care Leaders Need to Know
Strengthening Survey Readiness Across Operations
This session linked common survey findings to deeper operational issues such as communication gaps, inconsistent onboarding, and limited supervisory follow-through. Facilities were encouraged to adopt proactive systems rather than relying on last-minute survey preparation. Regular huddles, structured mentorship, and interdisciplinary rounds support consistent practice and earlier identification of risks. QAPI integration was emphasized as an essential tool for addressing recurring compliance issues. Sustainable readiness depends on strong leadership visibility and a supportive team culture.
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How Long-Term Care Leaders Can Strengthen Regulatory Readiness
Implementing INTERACT for Earlier Recognition
The INTERACT framework provides standardized tools that help staff recognize early condition changes and communicate effectively with providers. Tools such as Stop and Watch and SBAR support timely escalation and more consistent decision-making. Clinical care paths offer structured guidance for managing common conditions in the facility, reducing unnecessary transfers. Advance care planning tools ensure care remains aligned with resident goals during episodes of decline. When integrated into daily workflows, INTERACT strengthens prevention and reduces avoidable hospitalizations.
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Using INTERACT to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations in Long-Term Care
Understanding the CMS Value-Based Care Mandate
The transition toward value-based care requires facilities to adopt systems that support earlier recognition, interdisciplinary communication, and treatment-in-place models. The session reviewed ISNPs, ACOs, and MA plans and discussed their implications for care delivery, documentation, and financial performance. Avoiding unnecessary hospital transfers is increasingly tied to both resident outcomes and reimbursement. Successful implementation depends on strong partnerships, staff education, and workflow alignment. Technology platforms and risk-based tools can support earlier intervention and more coordinated care.
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What the CMS Value-Based Care Mandate Means for Long-Term Care Facilities
Emerging Tools That Strengthen Clinical Decision-Making
Exhibitors showcased a wide range of technologies designed to reduce workload, strengthen documentation accuracy, and support early clinical intervention. Examples included AI-powered wound imaging, wireless remote monitoring, passive toileting sensors, and mobile diagnostics. These tools help teams respond more quickly to changes in condition and reduce avoidable hospitalizations. Several vendors also highlighted integrated behavioral health, hospice coordination, and biologic wound care solutions. The overall theme reflected a shift toward scalable tools that enhance rather than complicate daily workflows.
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Supporting Bedside Care and Early Intervention: Innovative Solutions at NADONA’s 38th National Conference
Applying These Insights in Your Facility
Translating conference insights into policies, workflows, and education can be time-intensive. If your organization needs support with clinical content, policy summaries, in-service materials, or long-term care education, please email me or use the contact form below to discuss a project.
