Heron's Key

Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.

Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.

Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.

Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.

Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Allow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.

Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.

Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.

Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.

Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.

Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.