Best Practices for Informal Dispute Resolution
*A 15-minute break will be scheduled
The number of deficiencies per survey has increased significantly for providers as well as increased numbers of harm level and immediate jeopardy scope and severity deficiencies. The overall number of deficiencies and harm level scope and severity negatively impacts the provider’s 5-star rating, which can affect the provider’s public image and reduce the number of potential residents seeking placement in your community. During this session, the process for an informal dispute resolution (IDR) will be discussed including the timeline for requesting an informal dispute resolution, reviewing documentation that can be beneficial for provider’s cases during an informal dispute resolution, and educating providers on what documentation can prevent deficient practices. Following the educational presentation, a mock-IDR will be completed with representatives from Dorsey & Whitney, the Department of Inspections and Appeals, a member community, and an independent reviewer.

• Review how deficient practices and harm level scope and severity deficiencies can impact the 5-star rating.
• Establish key dates upon receiving a deficiency that effects the Informal Dispute Resolution process.
• Identify documentation that can be used to support the provider’s evidence of compliance.

Becki Brommel, Partner/Attorney, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Des Moines

Surveyor Guidance for RoPs
On June 29, 2022, CMS issued revised surveyor guidance for nursing home Requirements of Participation (RoPs) in multiple sections of the federal regulations which can impact many areas of care that are provided to residents in nursing homes. During this session, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will review the revisions in the surveyor guidance from Appendix PP, including potential impacts to State interpretations such as abuse reporting timeframes.  

• Outline revisions to the surveyor guidance in the nursing home Requirements of Participation.
• Establish areas of care and treatment to residents that will require revisions, including policies and procedures, admission contracts, and resident care practices.
• Identify changes to DIA interpretations and surveyor training that will impact nursing homes.

Vicki Worth, RN, BSBA, LTC Bureau I Chief, Department of Inspections and Appeals, Des Moines

Break

Identifying Your Leadership Style
Have you ever wondered what type of leadership style suits you best? How about what type of leadership style is best for the staff you lead? Effective leadership is one way to reduce employee burnout (including the leader) and reduce turnover, but sometimes effective leadership is easier said than done. During this interactive session, participants will self-evaluate their leadership style and determine, based on the staff that they supervise, what leadership style is best for them.

• Establish why effective leadership is vital to reducing employee burnout and turnover.
• Identify what employees that each attendee supervises requires in a leader to perform at the highest potential.
• Self-identify what leadership style suits the attendee and examine how each person can adapt to what their employees require in a leader.

Julie Thorson, President/CEO, Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge

Wrap-Up
Education experience can be enhanced when we bring it all together at the end. During our wrap-up, participants will have the opportunity to share what elements they’ll implement and the first steps they’ll take with this process when they return to their campus.

Kellie Van Ree, Director of Clinical Services, LeadingAge Iowa, Urbandale