September 18th, 2008 by dcarter
Calling all nurse leaders (that means you). I’ve been invited to be on a panel next month at the AHCA Conference on Nursing Leadership. Here are topics of discussion for the Nurse Executive Leadership Session:
- Identify the importance of nursing leadership development.
- Recognize road blocks that hinder professional development for nurses in long term care.
- Discuss the current role of nursing in long term care and project what it could be in the future.
With 70 million elders coming at us as the baby boomers retire, geriatric nurses will play a critical role in providing health care for America. How would you answer these important questions? Diane
August 29th, 2008 by dcarter
From the newspaper this AM: Fully 50% of those that died during Katrina were 75 or older! There’s an Associated Press article out today by Lindsey Tanner about a study done by Joan Brunkard, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The story parallels statements I’ve have made about the elderly being somehow expendable in culture that often pits the young against the old. Having said that, “the measure of a culture is how it treats its elders.” For those of you in this region are we prepared this time? Your thoughts?
August 20th, 2008 by dcarter
Hi Everyone,
Yesterday I attended the Advancing Excellence Steering Committee meeting. On September 11th, we will be making decisions about the goals of the campaign for the next two years.
What are your thoughts? Continue with the same goals? Continue with the same goals and add new goals? If we add goals, what are your recommendations for additional goals?
To respond to this blog, hit the comment button below and type in your comments for me. I can assure you that the Advancing Excellence committee will hear your ideas. After all as a member of this association, you’re my boss and the board and I need direction from you. Diane
August 17th, 2008 by dcarter
Did you know nurses, read “health care professionals,” are at the center of a national debate on future health care workforce issues? Why? Because of a recently released Institute of Medicine (IOM) study entitled “Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce.”
This report identifies recommendations for how to manage the 70 million person tsunami that will be upon us by 2030. The concern is there will not be enough health care professionals to care for all these people. And with turnover rates being what they are, this is a huge issue. This is of personal interest to me as I will be part of that elder tsunami by then.
As I say, literally, every one is talking about you. “You” would be loosely defined, as there is only one mention of the “n” word (nurses) by name, in the summary of this important report. We are referred to as “health care professionals.” I find that somewhat disturbing because I’m guessing nurses will provide the preponderance of care for 70 million elders.
I have been invited to no less than four national advisory groups representing AANAC and ANNEX to discuss you and the workforce issues we face as a nation.
Since everybody is talking about you, turnover, and why you leave jobs, send me your coments and I will my best to convey your concerns and your solutions. I think they care but what to tell them?
Thanks! Diane Carter
Here is a summary of the IOM recommendations:
Recommendation 1.1: Congress should require an annual report from the Bureau of Health Professions to monitor the progress made in addressing the crisis in supply of the health care workforce for older adults.
Enhancing Geriatric Competence
Recommendation 4.1: Hospitals should encourage the training of residents in all settings where older adults receive care, including nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and patients’ homes.
Recommendation 4.2: All licensure, certification, and maintenance of certification for health care professionals should include demonstration of competence in the care of older adults as a criterion.
Recommendation 5.1: States and the federal government should increase minimum training standards for all direct-care workers. Federal requirements for the minimum training of CNAs and home health aides should be raised to at least 120 hours and should include demonstration of competence in the care of older adults as a criterion for certification. States should also establish minimum training requirements for personal care aides.
Recommendation 6.2: Public, private, and community organizations should provide funding and ensure that adequate training opportunities are available in the community for informal caregivers.
Increasing Recruitment and Retention
Recommendation 4.3: Public and private payers should provide financial incentives to increase the number of geriatric specialists in all health professions (4.3).
Recommendation 4.3a: All payers should include a specific enhancement of reimbursement for clinical services delivered to older adults by practitioners with a certification of special expertise in geriatrics.
Recommendation 4.3b: Congress should authorize and fund an enhancement of the Geriatric Academic Career Award (GACA) program to support junior geriatrics faculty in other health professions in addition to allopathic and osteopathic medicine.
Recommendation 4.3c: States and the federal government should institute programs for loan forgiveness, scholarships, and direct financial incentives for professionals who become geriatric specialists. One such mechanism should include the development of a National Geriatric Service Corps, modeled after the National Health Services Corps.
Recommendation 5.2: State Medicaid programs should increase pay and fringe benefits for direct-care workers through such measures as wage pass-throughs, setting wage floors, establishing minimum percentages of service rates directed to direct-care labor costs, and other means.
Redesigning Models of Care
Recommendation 3.1: Payers should promote and reword the dissemination of those models of care for older adults that have been shown to be effective and efficient.
Recommendation 3.2: Congress and foundations should significantly increase support for research and demonstration programs that:
· Promote the development of new models of care for older adults in areas where few models are currently being tested, such as prevention, long-term care, and palliative care; and
· Promote the effective use of the workforce to care for older adults.
Recommendation 3.3: Health care disciplines, State regulators, and employers should look to expand the roles of individuals who care for older adults with complex clinical needs at different levels of the health care system beyond the traditional scope of practice. Critical elements of this include:
· Development of an evidence base that informs the establishment of new provider designations and reflecting rising levels of responsibility and improved efficiency;
· Measurement of additional competence to attain these designations; and
· Greater professional recognition and salary commensurate with these responsibilities.
Recommendation 6.1: Federal agencies (including the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services) should provide support for the development and promulgation of technological advancements that could enhance an individual’s capacity to provide care for older adults. This includes the use of ADL technologies and health information technologies, including remote technologies that increase the efficiency and safety of care and caregiving.
August 14th, 2008 by dcarter
Wasn’t that a song or something?
Here at World Headquarters, we struggle everyday to guess your needs, thoughts and feelings about your world. Without being able to talk face to face in the break room, it is challenging to get to know each other. So let’s create our own virtual break room, Would you like to join me in the blogosphere? I invite you to tell me what to do next for you?
Stay tuned …………..
Diane Carter
