Angie's Blog

HealthCap® USA

Angie Szumlinski, NHA, RN-BC, RAC-CT and BS

Director of Risk Management

Angie SzumlinskiMs. Szumlinski is a nationally-recognized leader in long-term care with experience as an Owner/Provider, Administrator, Director of Nursing, Corporate Quality Assurance Coordinator and independent consultant. Ms. Szumlinski conducts risk management visits at facilities across the country, touching every acuity level within the post-acute care spectrum. Ms. Szumlinski served as an Associated Board Member for NCAL, is a member of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Committee, NCAL Risk Management Committee, HCAM Legal/Clinical Committee and is a Senior Examiner/Team Leader for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program. Ms. Szumlinski is a Nurse Planner for the HealthCap® ANCC accredited education program.

Don’t Do That, Do This!

Angie Szumlinski Compliance

When posting facility data In this time of ever-changing rules and regulations, providers are now responsible for posting facility data on the CDC/NHSN website. This data may be used to determine when and if an infection control survey should be initiated, how much PPE is being utilized, how much PPE will be needed, how you are doing with staffing, etc. …

Illustration of medical staff in front of nursing home

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

Parade Celebrating Friendship When Pleasant View Health Care Center in Barberton, Ohio originally paired with local high school students, it was supposed to be a short senior project. Little did they know, it would turn into so much more. More than a dozen high school seniors from the Four Cities Compact (Barberton, Norton, Copley and Wadsworth) enrolled in the Advancement …

Coronavirus

COVID-19 Acknowledgement Liability Waiver

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

When admitting new residents when you have active cases of COVID-19 in your facility, it’s a good idea to have the resident sign an acknowledgment and liability waiver. Here is a template from our Resource and Education Center that you can use and customize to your facility: https://80fee2ec951e17a2efc9-3f722877eef59cb04cbb76e3d9907237.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/hcrmi_db55a41ff546ace084d74727e815c888.pdf

Nurse multitasking

Care Efficiency – Bundling Tasks

Angie Szumlinski Health

During these difficult times, it is critically important to decrease the risk of resident and staff exposure to COVID-19.  The nature of what we do day-to-day lends itself to risk so it might be time to step back and re-evaluate how we do things as this is how “we have always done it” may not be an option anymore. There …

Cognitive Decline or Age-Related Hearing Loss?

Lisa O'Neill Health, Studies

Recent studies have shown that constant changes in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for processing memory, play a role in increasing the risk of being diagnosed with dementia. In this study, it was observed that the greater the hearing impairment, the weaker the brain plasticity in the hippocampus, and the weaker the ability to change and adapt …

Illustration of medical staff in front of nursing home

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Angie Szumlinski News

Heritage of Bel-Air (Norfolk, NE) Senior care staff are working harder than ever, offering more of themselves every day to provide quality care for their residents. Showing your staff appreciation is crucial in a time like this, and Heritage of Bel-Air has found a meaningful way to give back to their employees. The dietary department has been providing free meals …

The Next Meal…Food for Thought

Lisa O'Neill Health, Studies

Researchers in France conducted a study focusing on diet, the combination of foods consumed, and the impact it may have on dementia. What the researchers found is that it wasn’t necessarily the quantity of food that was a determining fact in diagnosis, but rather food choices. The study participants were those living with dementia and patients with no symptoms or …

New Admissions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

As facilities get closer to opening up and accepting new admissions, it’s important to be attentive to the fact that their congregate nature and population served already puts them at a high risk of COVID-19 spreading and affecting residents. Facilities must be careful in their admission process, and consider many different aspects of opening up during the pandemic. Below is …

Dining Recommendations

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

As a place formerly used for gathering, best practices in your facility’s cafeteria may need to be adjusted. Read our tips for serving food in your community’s dining room during the COVID-19 outbreak: https://80fee2ec951e17a2efc9-3f722877eef59cb04cbb76e3d9907237.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/hcrmi_03512f582a39108693d5944bef0ac78d.pdf

Illustration of medical staff in front of nursing home

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

Mallards Landing Retirement Center Most of us could use a good laugh in times like these, and today’s HealthCap Hero Danielle Vandenbossche of Mallards Landing Retirement Center knows just how to keep her residents smiling. As a member of the center’s Activities Department, Danielle has gone above and beyond during the pandemic to keep people stimulated and engaged. She visits …