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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor

State of Californiaā€”Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


AFL 15-14
July 7, 2015


TO:
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Nursing Facilities

SUBJECT:
National Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative



ā€‹All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) encourages all nursing homes to participate in the National Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative (NNHQCC), a comprehensive initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that seeks to achieve large-scale improvements in nursing homes throughout California and the nation.

ā€‹Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for California, manages the NNHQCC and is ready to partner with nursing homes. Nursing homes that have collaborated with HSAG in the past have benefitted from significant improvements in their quality measures.

The NNHQCC will focus on clinical and organizational topics including, but not limited to:

  • Reducing healthcare-acquired conditions
  • Reducing antipsychotic medication rates
  • Reducing avoidable hospital readmissions
  • Increasing influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations rates
  • Improving rates of resident mobility
  • Reducing staff turnover and implementing consistent assignment

Additionally, with voluntary participation, nursing homes will receive training in Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement principles; receive no-cost assistance with development of interventions and the use of data to measure improvement. Participants will also gain access to best practice information, and receive local and national recognition as a participant and adopter of ideas that lead to improved nursing home operations and greater resident quality of life.

Nursing homes interested in joining this collaborative can find additional information at the following site:

Join HSAG Nursing Home Collaborative
(http://www.hsag.com/nhjoin)

To join the no-cost NNHQCC, complete and sign the Participation Agreement and return it to HSAG by fax (818) 409-0835 or by email at JSilao@hsag.com.

If you have any questions regarding the collaborative, please contact Jennette Silao, MBA, MPH, HSAG Associate Director, Nursing Home, at (818) 265-4676 or JSilao@hsag.com. You may also contact Evangeline Molnar, NHA, BS, HSAG Clinical Project Manager, at (818) 265-4679 or EMolnar@hsag.com.

CDPH supports this important quality initiative and encourages nursing homes to participate in the collaborative to improve care for nursing home residents.

 

Sincerely,

Original signed by Jean Iacino

Jean Iacino
Deputy Director

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