Long Term Care Best Practices, Care of Elderly the Focus of Today's Joint Provider/Surveyor Training Conference in Novi

Contact: Melanie Brown 517-373-9280
Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

September 10, 2013 - The Joint Provider/Surveyor Training Conference began today at the Suburban Collection showplace in Novi.  “Quality of care best practices and the increasing complexity of caring for the elderly in long term care facilities are among our top priorities,” said LARA Deputy Director Shelly Edgerton.  “This is a unique opportunity for providers and surveyors to come together for training and learn the latest in new policy, safety regulations and best practice care.” 

Keynote speaker is Karen Schoeneman, owner of Schoeneman Consulting who will discuss coping with, and implementing change in the long term care environment – balancing regulations with a common sense approach to providing the highest quality of care for Michigan’s most vulnerable population. The conference also features diverse training sessions on emergency preparedness for long term care, pain management, accident prevention, drug regimen in long term care, quality assurance and process improvement. 

More than 800 nurses, nursing home administrators, medical directors, social workers, registered dieticians and nursing home surveyors from across the state will attend today’s conference. Held every spring and fall since 2001, the joint training is statutorily required as amended by PA 322 of 2012. 

Residents in Michigan long term care facilities on any given day is 39,146 which represents an average occupancy rate of 80 percent of 48,993 available beds.

The conference is presented by the Bureau of Health Care Services (BHCS), located in the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs.  The Bureau includes the Health Professions Division, Long Term Care Division, and Health Facilities Division. BHCS is responsible for regulating more than 400,000 health professionals in Michigan. As the State Agency for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), BHCS also oversees the federal licensing and certification programs for long term care and non-long term care providers in Michigan. The certification process and priorities are set by CMS. BHCS also oversees the state licensing and certification programs for both long-term care and non-long term care providers. 

For more information about the Bureau of Health Care Services, go to www.michigan.gov/bhcs
For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara
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