AHCA/NCAL Offers New Online Training for Improving Functional Outcomes

Dave Kyllo 

AHCA/NCAL has released a new online training titled Functional Outcomes Improvement and designed for all staff who have a role in improving patient functional outcomes quality and services, including nurses, CNAs, therapists, activities staff and recreational therapists.

This course advances knowledge and skills about functional improvement through an array of learning tools and resources designed to meet the educational needs of various staff and departments. This includes learning about daily care best practices and real-world tools that improve functional outcomes.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the IMPACT Act, and CMS called for the development of functional improvement measures based on the self-care and mobility sections of the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) tool.

The program is flexible and can be completed in one sitting or one module at a time. The training is delivered in five modules, including:

• Module 1 – Explores the connection between functional outcomes and person-centered care, and how utilization of evidence-based pragmatic programs leads toward continuous improvement.
• Module 2 – Reviews the regulations related to functional outcomes including the CMS Requirements of Participation and how functional improvement impacts reimbursement.
• Module 3 – Covers best care coordination practices for short- and long-stay patients, including coordinating with therapy processes, and provides an overview of effective restorative nursing programs.
• Module 4 – Closely examines care practice application and what individuals can do to increase function, team engagement and concludes with a discussion of various quality initiatives that lead to better outcomes.
• Module 5 – Reviews the tools and resources needed to further functional outcomes improvement approaches to person-centered care.     

The cost for the training program is $199 for AHCA/NCAL members and $650 for non-members and offers 6.5 NAB CE credits for administrators and 6.5 contact hours for nurses through the Iowa Board of Nursing. There is a quiz at the end of four of the five modules and participants must pass a final exam with a score of 80 or higher to receive credit. Click here to register or go to ahcancal.org/functionaloutcomes.

Members will need to login with their AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords to register. For assistance obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, members should e-mail educate@ahca.org with their name and facility contact information.