Description:

This program will address the recent changes to the discharge planning standards, which were published in February 2023. It's important to note that CMS has not yet released updated interpretive guidelines and survey procedures that align with the new regulations. These regulatory changes are applicable to all hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).

The program will delve into the Impact Act and its implications for hospital discharge planning. The Impact Act mandates standardized assessment, quality data, and resource data requirements. Hospitals are now obligated to assist patients with post-discharge care, including arrangements for home health services, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Patients have the freedom to choose their post-discharge care options, and they should receive comprehensive information about these choices, with the exception of CAHs.

The updated regulations encompass several key areas, including patient access to medical records in a timely manner, the discharge planning process itself, discharge instructions, and discharge planning requirements. The program will cover aspects such as patient transfers to other facilities, assessment of readmissions within 30 days, caregiver rights and recommendations, efforts to reduce factors leading to preventable readmissions, and ensuring timely discharge planning, among other critical aspects.

For Critical Access Hospitals, there will be a brief discussion of the Discharge Planning Conditions of Participation, which follow the requirements established for Acute hospitals.

Additionally, the program will touch on a worksheet previously employed by surveyors to assess compliance with CMS hospital Conditions of Participation for discharge planning. Although this worksheet is no longer in use, it remains accessible to all facilities and can serve as a valuable self-assessment tool.

It's worth emphasizing that every hospital that accepts Medicare and Medicaid must adhere to CMS discharge planning guidelines. These standards are applicable to all patients, not just those covered by Medicare or Medicaid. CMS has specific requirements regarding discharge planning policies and procedures, and this program will provide insights into which policies are mandatory and the reasons behind their necessity.

Areas Covered:

• Discuss that information about the hospitalization must be provided to the physician or provider before the first post-hospital visit
• Describe that the patient has a right to get medical records timely including a copy of their discharge plan
• Highlighting the risks to patient health and safety that can occur due to an unsafe discharge and explataion of the discharge planning process and the IMPACT Act.
• Improve the quality of care and outcomes across the provider settings and reduce readmission.
• Quality Measures and requirements to be reported.
• Give patients and families access to health information.
• Predictive Analysis to develop a discharge plan to meet patient needs.
• Patients have the right to get a copy and access to their medical records within a reasonable time frame. 
• Developing QAPI program for better care, better quality of life, and to solve quality problems.
• Learning the CMS has revised the discharge planning requirements for all hospitals and critical access hospitals. 
• Freedom of choice for post-acute care providers.
• CMS Deficiency Memo and how to access reports.
• Providing document list except CAHs.
• Discussion of evaluation with patients or individuals acting on their behalf.

Why Should You Attend:

 Discharge Planning is vital for healthcare, as it provides knowledge and skills to navigate complex regulations, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of adverse events during care transitions, leading to improved patient outcomes and increased satisfaction.

Who Should Attend:

• Discharge planners.
• Transitional care nurses.
• Social workers.
• Chief nursing officer.
• Nurse educators.
• Chief operation officer.
• Chief medical officers.
• Physicians.
• Risk managers.
• Compliance officer.
• UR nurses.
• Joint Commission coordinator.
• Chief executive officer.
• Nurse managers.
• PI director.
• Health information director.
• Patient safety officer.

Presenter Information:

Name: Laura A. Dixon

Laura A. Dixon served as the Director, Facility Patient Safety and Risk Management, and Operations for COPIC from 2014 to 2020. In her role, Ms. Dixon provided patient safety and risk management consulting and training to facilities, practitioners, and staff in multiple states.

Such services included the creation of presentations on risk management topics, assessment of healthcare facilities; and development of programs and compilation of reference materials that complement physician-oriented products.

Ms. Dixon has more than twenty years of clinical experience in acute care facilities, including critical care, coronary care, peri-operative services, and pain management. Prior to joining COPIC, she served as the Director of, Western Region, Patient Safety, and Risk Management for The Doctors Company, Napa, California.

In this capacity, she provided patient safety and risk management consultation to the physicians and staff in the western United States. Ms. Dixon’s legal experience includes representation of clients for Social Security Disability Insurance providing legal counsel and representation at disability hearings and appeals, medical malpractice defense, and representation of nurses before the Colorado Board of Nursing.

As a registered nurse and attorney, Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University, RECEP of Denver, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Drake University College of Law, Des Moines, Iowa, and a Registered Nurse Diploma from Saint Luke’s School Professional Nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and California.