As our promise to our customers and to support the long-term care industry, The Compliance Store is committed to providing comprehensive, quick and easy-to-use resources to help facilities with their regulatory needs. Our Binder Basics series is part of giving nursing home professionals more information to help make their jobs easier. These printable resources were created to help staff with day-to-day operations. 

Binder Basics are included with a subscription to The Compliance Store and are an invaluable collection of support documents for areas such as compliance and ethics, emergency preparedness, falls prevention, pressure injuries, QAPI guidance, social services, staff development and more. Our Binder Basics also can help staff new to a position quickly possess all the tools they need for a topic. From related F-tags and regulations to policies and procedures templates, our binders have all they need in one place. Here are some examples of the helpful information included in Binder Basics:

Infection control and medication management resources

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for long-term care facilities across the nation. In 2021, staff and residents made up about 23 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. To mitigate the spread of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued new infection control guidance and requirements. To support facilities coping with daily compliance as well as the pandemic, The Compliance Store’s latest Binder Basics resource is a framework “for the implementation of an effective infection prevention and control program.”

The Infection Control Binder Basics includes information about topics such as antibiotic stewardship programs, device and care-related infections, dietary sanitation, employee and occupational health, environmental infection control, F-tags related to facility infection control programs, immunization and detection, Infection Preventionist responsibilities and training, infection surveillance, linen management, outbreak investigations, program evaluation and QAPI activities.

In 2014, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its report “Adverse Events in Skilled Nursing Facilities: National Incidence among Medicare Beneficiaries.” According to the OIG, “Twenty-two percent of Medicare beneficiaries experienced adverse events during their SNF stays, resulting in prolonged SNFs stays or hospitalizations, permanent harm, life-sustaining intervention, or death.” The majority of the preventable adverse events were related to medication. To combat such incidents Phase 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities or Mega Rule puts more focus on safe and accurate medication management in facilities. 

To help facilities cope with this renewed focus, The Compliance Store released a binder for an effective medication management program. Topics included in the Medication Management Binder Basics cover person-centered care services, CMS requirements for ordering, prescribing and transcription of medications; information on storing and labeling medications, guidance on pharmacy services and psychotropic drugs, as well as information on controlled medications, recordkeeping and adverse drug events.

Activities and foodservice resources

Our first binder is a guide for facility activities. This binder is an invaluable resource for long-term care activities professionals. It includes sections on competency, assessments, quality reports, care plans and volunteerism. In addition to tools and policies and procedures, this binder includes a wealth of information on creative activities and even bulletin board ideas. We followed up with the Food and Nutrition Services Binder Basics. This guide provides the basic knowledge for dietary and nursing managers need to implement and maintain a safe and quality food nutrition services program that will be in compliance and contribute to person-centered care. 

The binder has two main sections: Food Services and Clinical Nutrition and Resident Dining. The Food Services section includes information on topics such as employee duties and responsibilities, food preparation, food procurement, menu planning, sanitation and training. Information in the Clinical Nutrition and Resident Dining section has an MDS Quick Guide and covers topics such as nutritional assessment, nutritional care planning and resident dining.

Get access to Binder Basics and so much more!

In the often busy and complex environment of long-term care, the support of resources like our Binder Basics can be tremendously beneficial in helping facilities do what they do best—taking care of residents. Throughout the year, there will be several more resources, tools and templates released on The Compliance Store website. Let us help you get ahead on your daily operations and stay in compliance. Contact us online or call 877-582-7347 to learn more.