Quality Assurance

Lunch with Lori: The Quarterly WCCEAL Review Webinar

On Wednesday, June 19th, we hosted Lunch with Lori: The Quarterly WCCEAL Review Webinar - welcoming special guest presenter, Lori Koeppel. For those unable to attend, we have provided a recording of the webinar along with the slide deck below. Read More

ICYMI: RAI/MDS Educational Forum - March 20, 2024, at 1 p.m.

The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) is hosting the quarterly Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)/Minimum Data Set (MDS) Educational Forum on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. The MDS Education Coordinator will address current MDS 3.0 topics relevant to nursing home providers. Read More

ICYMI: Important and Useful Resources from our partners at the Superior Health Quality Alliance

Superior Health Quality Alliance shared a variety of useful resources for healthcare facilities and providers. These resources include clarification on the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) annual survey, COVID-19 testing kits for long term care and assisted living facilities, and much more. We encourage all healthcare providers and facilities to take advantage of these valuable resources. Read More

ICYMI: Important and Useful Resources from our partners at the Superior Health Quality Alliance

Superior Health Quality Alliance shared a variety of useful resources for healthcare facilities and providers. These resources include clarification on the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) annual survey, COVID-19 testing kits for long term care and assisted living facilities, and much more. We encourage all healthcare providers and facilities to take advantage of these valuable resources. Read More

ICYMI: Resources from the Superior Health Quality Alliance

Superior Health Quality Alliance shares multiple resources to improve quality of care in 2024. Additionally, if your assisted living facility, independent living facility, or senior service agency in need of a free mobile vaccination clinic, Superior Health Quality Alliance can help! Read More

ICYMI: Resources from the Superior Health Quality Alliance

Superior Health Quality Alliance shares multiple resources to improve quality of care in 2024. Additionally, if your assisted living facility, independent living facility, or senior service agency in need of a free mobile vaccination clinic, Superior Health Quality Alliance can help! Read More

ICYMI: Resources from the Superior Health Quality Alliance

Superior Health Quality Alliance shares multiple resources to improve quality of care in 2024. Additionally, if your assisted living facility, independent living facility, or senior service agency in need of a free mobile vaccination clinic, Superior Health Quality Alliance can help! Read More

AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award application deadline is Thursday, January 25th at 8:00 p.m. EST – Apply now!

The National Quality Awards Program, sponsored by our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), is a progressive program that is based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. While we encouraged WHCA/WiCAL members to file the Intent to Apply, it was not a mandatory step in the selection process.  All WHCA/WiCAL member nursing facilities and assisted living centers may still submit an application by the January 25th filing deadline. Read More

WHCA/WiCAL Participates in Quarterly Nursing Home Meeting with DQA Personnel

WHCA/WiCAL staff recently met with Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) staff for our regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. These meetings focus on a discussion of survey and environmental trends that DQA staff is observing in the field as well as discussing issues of importance to WHCA/WiCAL and other Associations represented at the meeting. Read More

From DQA and UW-Oshkosh: Staff Training Resources

The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) continues to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Center for Community Development, Engagement & Training (CCDET) to ensure regulated healthcare and homecare providers have access to education to build knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care, treatment, and services. Read More

WHCA/WiCAL congratulates Wisconsin’s five 2023 Silver Quality Award Winners!

Sponsored by our national partner, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the National Quality Awards Program is a progressive, quality improvement program that is based on the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence. It is with great pleasure that WHCA/WiCAL congratulates and presents Wisconsin’s 5 2023 Silver Quality Award recipients! Read More

WHCA/WiCAL congratulates Wisconsin’s five 2023 Silver Quality Award Winners!

Sponsored by our national partner, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the National Quality Awards Program is a progressive, quality improvement program that is based on the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence. It is with great pleasure that WHCA/WiCAL congratulates and presents Wisconsin’s 5 2023 Silver Quality Award recipients! Read More

From DQA and UW-Oshkosh: Staff Training Resources

The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) continues to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Center for Community Development, Engagement & Training (CCDET) to ensure regulated healthcare and homecare providers have access to education to build knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care, treatment, and services. Read More

Supply Chain Sources for COVID Testing Supplies and NHSN Reporting Post Public Health Emergency

Wisconsin’s Quality Improvement Organization, Superior Health Quality Alliance/Metastar, continues to be a valuable and free resource to members. Superior will be offering a series of “office hour” sessions focused on National Health Safety Network (NHSN) reporting post-Public Health Emergency. Additionally, Navigator can be a partner to supply you with COVID testing and related supplies. Read More

ICYMI: PEAL Pause

Join Vice President of Business Development, Jena Jackson, live on Facebook, the third Wednesday each month for the PEAL Pause. Read More

ICYMI: 2023 Caregiver Workshops Announced

The University of Wisconsin (UW) Oshkosh Center for Community Development, Engagement and Training (CCDET), and the WI Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), are pleased to offer virtual and in-person training sessions of the Wisconsin Caregiver Abuse and Neglect Prevention Project in 2023. These workshops are partially subsidized by DQA. Read More

Impressive National Quality Award Numbers for WI

We are proud to announce that Wisconsin had impressive National Quality Award numbers, meaning we had a great amount of facilities apply for this award in each of the three categories. 4 – Bronze AL, 9 – Bronze SNF, 2 – Silver and 5 – Gold, with a total of 20 facilities applying. Read More

AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program Renewal Update

AHCA/NCAL has announces the opportunity for all AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Bronze and Silver recipients to continue to remain active in the Quality Award process. In order to remain active, a recipient will need to submit a Silver or Gold self-assessment or submit a next level application for the 2023 award cycle. Submission deadline for the self-assessment is January 26, 2023 Read More

AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program Renewal Update

AHCA/NCAL has announces the opportunity for all AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Bronze and Silver recipients to continue to remain active in the Quality Award process. In order to remain active, a recipient will need to submit a Silver or Gold self-assessment or submit a next level application for the 2023 award cycle. Submission deadline for the self-assessment is January 26, 2023 Read More

ICYMI: Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls Receives Silver National Quality Award

Recently, AHCA/NCAL released the names of the skilled nursing care centers and assisted living communities in states that have earned the 2022 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award, which includes one facility in Wisconsin. The Silver Award is part of AHCA/NCAL’s National Quality Award Program, a recognition program based on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence program. Read More

Congratulations! Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls Receives Silver National Quality Award

Last week, AHCA/NCAL released the names of the skilled nursing care centers and assisted living communities in states that have earned the 2022 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award, which includes one facility in Wisconsin. The Silver Award is part of AHCA/NCAL’s National Quality Award Program, a recognition program based on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence program. Read More

APPLICATION DEADLINE APRIL 25: Funding Opportunity for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers, and Long-Term Care Facilities

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that it will launch a program to award approximately $4.5 million in matching funds to support nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other types of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Nursing homes and other LTCFs can apply for matching funds up to 50% of the total project cost with a cap of $20,000 per license. Read More

New Funding Opportunity for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers, and Long-Term Care Facilities; Grant Applications Due April 25th!

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that it will launch a program to award approximately $4.5 million in matching funds to support nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other types of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Nursing homes and other LTCFs can apply for matching funds up to 50% of the total project cost with a cap of $20,000 per license. Read More

DHS Announces New Funding Opportunity for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers, and Long-Term Care Facilities; Grant Applications Due April 25th!

Earlier today, as part of an award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that it will launch a program to award approximately $4.5 million in matching funds to support nursing homes and other types of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) with infection prevention and infrastructure needs. Nursing homes and other LTCFs can apply for matching funds up to 50% of the total project cost with a cap of $20,000 per license. Read More

LTC Trend Tracker Releases New SNF Resident Characteristics Report

​Earlier this month, LTC Trend Tracker released the new customizable SNF Resident Characteristics report, which replaces the previous CASPER Resident report. This enhanced report provides users with a detailed overview of the organization’s resident characteristics and allows users to customize which measures that would like to see displayed. Registered users can create multiple, different, customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports within this report, as well as build, save, and schedule their customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports directly in their LTC Trend Tracker profile. Read More

LTC Trend Tracker Releases New SNF Resident Characteristics Report

​Earlier this month, LTC Trend Tracker released the new customizable SNF Resident Characteristics report, which replaces the previous CASPER Resident report. This enhanced report provides users with a detailed overview of the organization’s resident characteristics and allows users to customize which measures that would like to see displayed. Registered users can create multiple, different, customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports within this report, as well as build, save, and schedule their customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports directly in their LTC Trend Tracker profile. Read More

LTC Trend Tracker Releases New SNF Resident Characteristics Report

​Earlier this month, LTC Trend Tracker released the new customizable SNF Resident Characteristics report, which replaces the previous CASPER Resident report. This enhanced report provides users with a detailed overview of the organization’s resident characteristics and allows users to customize which measures that would like to see displayed. Registered users can create multiple, different, customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports within this report, as well as build, save, and schedule their customized SNF Resident Characteristics reports directly in their LTC Trend Tracker profile. Read More

This Month: Free Virtual Bronze Award Workshop

The National Quality Award Program team will be hosting a full day virtual Bronze workshop to help interested applicants complete their 2022 Bronze application. This free event will take place Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST. This workshop is designed to help applicants work through the application process in one day. Read More

Quality Reporting Program: Requests for Exception or Exemption Due August 13

CMS is providing notifications to facilities that were determined to be out of compliance with Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements for CY 2020, which will affect their FY 2022 Annual Payment Update (APU). Non-compliance notifications are being distributed by the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and were placed into facilities’ CASPER folders in QIES, for Hospice and SNFs, and into facilities’ My Reports folders in iQIES, for IRFs and LTCHs, on July 14, 2021. Facilities that receive a letter of non-compliance may submit a request for reconsideration to CMS via email no later than 11:59 pm, August 13, 2021. Read More

Quality Award Renewal Extension

We just received this notice about the National Quality Award Program. This applies to you if your facility has reached its third year at any level. Typically, if you did not apply for the next level in 2021 you would have to start over at the Bronze level. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, AHCA/NCAL is offering the following extension. Read More

SNF QRP COVID-19 PR Tip Sheet is Available

The SNF COVID-19 PR Tip Sheet is now available. The purpose of this Tip Sheet is to help providers understand CMS’ public reporting strategy for the PAC QRP in the midst of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Read More