TOPIC

A Deep Dive Into The Care Area Assessment Process

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) consists of 3 basic components: 1. The MDS 2. The Care Area Assessment and 3. The RAI Utilization Guidelines. The MDS is the starting point used to assess nursing home residents. Once that data is collected onto the MDS, the remainder of the RAI process supports the efforts of the health care team to further evaluate these “triggered” areas of concern and determine whether they represent a problem or risk requiring further intervention. The Care Area Assessment process provides a framework for analyzing the data in the context of the resident’s medical and functional condition, self-determination and preferences, and goals of care. This session will provide insight into this critical phase of the RAI process enabling your interdisciplinary team to use sound critical thinking skills to improve resident care plans, clinical care delivery, and outcomes.

DISCLOSURES

1.5 Contact hours will be awarded for this continuing nursing education activity. Criteria for successful completion include attendance for the entire webinar and submission of the evaluation form/s.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

According to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, it is not required to identify, mitigate, or disclose relevant financial relationships for accredited education that is clinical.

The Committee has reviewed the data and determined that there is not a conflict of interest between the Nurse Planner, Board/Committee members and the presenter.

CRITERIA FOR RECEIPT OF CONTACT HOURS

The learner must attend the entire session and complete and submit the electronic evaluation tool.

CONTINUING EDUCATION APPROVER

This activity has been submitted to the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

SPEAKER

Candace McMullen, RN, NHA, MHA, CLNC, CNDLTC

Executive Vice President of Consulting and Business Development

Affinity Health Services

Candace currently oversees sales and marketing for Affinity Health Services as well as expansion of the consulting services line of business. She has experience in operations, consulting, clinical and regulatory management of CCRC’s, SNF, personal care homes, assisted living, independent living and home care. Her industry experience spans from providing direct nursing care to a corporate executive.

She has thirteen years’ experience in multi-site operations, serving as Vice President of Operations for a non-profit organization where she was responsible for five CCRCs located in Pennsylvania and Maryland managing an annual budget of $130M. Prior to that she had as Affinity’s VP of Operations overseeing seven managed communities.

Candace has worked for Pennsylvania’s quality improvement organization, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, assisting nursing facilities in developing their quality assurance acumen, as a consultant with both Parente Randolph, LLC (currently Baker Tilly USA) serving providers in the mid-Atlantic region and Affinity Health Services where she currently provides operational, strategic planning and repositioning services for senior living clients.

Candace holds degrees from The Pennsylvania State University, both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration. She holds certifications as a Registered Nurse, Nursing Home Administrator, Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and Certified Nursing Director Long Term Care. She frequently serves as a keynote speaker and faculty for various local, state, and national trade organizations.

In addition to her role at Affinity, she currently serves as Executive Director/Board Chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, the state-wide professional organization for long-term care nursing leaders. She currently serves on the Expert Advisory Panel of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing, LeadingAge PA Quality Committee and PHCA’s Regulatory and Workforce Committees.

As a legal nurse consultant, she works directly with defense attorneys representing nursing homes and senior living providers in medical malpractice cases.