Arizona Nursing Homes—Improving Individual
Resident Care

HSAG has been funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help a limited number of nursing homes target improvement in high-prevalence, high-cost clinical topics, such as healthcare-acquired conditions (HACs). As of November 1, 2011, HSAG has entered into agreements with 16 nursing homes to provide technical assistance and other services to reduce HACs.

HSAG supports nursing homes with evidence-based clinical interventions and objective expertise to improve resident care. We do this by including the voice of the beneficiary in all of our activities, leading the way to patient-centered care. Our nursing home improvement activities include collaborative projects, online interaction, and peer-to-peer education. Through large-scale learning and action networks (LANs) where everyone teaches and learns, HSAG works to accelerate the pace of change and rapidly spreads best practices. We also support CMS value-based purchasing programs by providing technical assistance that includes sharing best practices, assisting with data analysis, and conducting improvement activities.

In nursing homes, work initially targets pressure ulcers and restraints, then evolves to address other HACs, with the goal of reducing HACs by 40 percent. Nursing homes that join HSAG's HAC initiative will receive on-site consultation, training in quality improvement skills, evidence-based tools and resources, and ongoing education. Beginning in 2013, HSAG will launch a statewide LAN to address catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), falls, and other HACs. HSAG also brings together hospitals, nursing homes, patient advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to improve care transitions and decrease adverse drug events.

HSAG assists select nursing homes in quality improvement efforts to improve the quality of care and level of patient safety delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. Quality improvement will occur by:

• Reducing HACs.
  • Pressure Ulcers
  • Physical Restraints
  • CAUTIs
  • Falls
• Improving the Overall Quality of Care Provided to Residents.
  • Consistent Staff Assignment
  • Reduction in Staff Turnover
• Participating in the "Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes" Campaign.
• Reducing Adverse Drug Events.
• Improving Care Transitions and Reducing Hospital Readmissions.
• Conducting Medical Case Review.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact Joe Bestic, NHA, BA, Director, Nursing Home, at 602.801.6930 or jbestic@hsag.com.