News & Events
6 join Affinity management team
Affinity Health Services welcomed six new members to the management team in June 2020:
- Tammy Leister, Regional Operational Manager
- Karen Hartung, Accounts Receivable Specialist
- Kristen Spezialetti, Community Relations Specialist
- Dan McCullough, Financial Consultant
- Jack Nelson, Director of Financial Planning and Project Management
- Mike Morlacci, Digital Media Marketing Specialist
Learn more about the management team >
PADONA 2020 Virtual Webinar Convention
Angela Huffman, Clinical Services Coordinator at Affinity Health Services, will be presenting as part of the Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (PADONA) Virtual Webinar Convention. Additional information regarding registration for this virtual webinar can be found below.
Date of Event:
Thursday, August 20th, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Presentation:
Anatomy of an IDR
Overview:
This informative session will outline and break down the key components for preparing and writing an Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) to dispute deficiencies cited by the Department of Health. In additional to outlining this process, Angela will also provide tips on presenting credible evidence to support the informal dispute by utilizing real case scenarios.
Learning objectives include:
1. Understanding the Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) Process.
2. Describe and understand the framework and key components for preparing an IDR.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the tools needed for a successful IDR.
PADONA Virtual Conference Info:
2020 Virtual Webinar Convention Schedule
2020 Convention Virtual Webinar Registration Form
PADONA Credit Card Authorization Form
About Angela:
Angela brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and long-term care field. She began her career as a Quality Assurance State Surveyor and moved on to focus on ensuring quality resident care and overseeing clinical operations as a Director of Nursing and Nurse Manager. Following her work as Nursing Manager, Angela gained over 10 years of experience as a Clinical Services Consultant providing regulatory compliance services and clinical training. She then served a region of 68 long term care facilities spanning 8 states as a Compliance Field Investigator. Prior to joining Affinity, Angela’s most recent position was as a specialized paralegal, conducting comprehensive medical record reviews and analysis. In addition to meriting the philosophy of providing quality care, Angela is passionate about education and strives to develop problem solving leaders who are confident in their skills, enabling them to provide excellent customer service in a high stress environment.
We would to thank PADONA for the opportunity to be a part of their annual conference.
Learn more about PADONA
The Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (PADONA) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learn more at the official PADONA website
PACAH Summer Webinar Series
Affinity Health Services to Serve as PACAH Webinar Presenter
Affinity Health Services is privileged to serve as a webinar presenter with PACAH’s Summer Webinar series. In today’s litigious culture, documentation in the medical record is the primary source utilized when it comes to trying defend the care and services that have been provided. This session is geared toward providing strategies and key elements in medical record documentation to meet the challenges of documenting.
Angela Huffman, Clinical Coordinator with Affinity will hold an essential webinar session focused on ‘Defensive Documentation’ which will be held on Tuesday, July 14th at 1p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Learning objectives will consist of: Review the role of the medical record in litigation.
- Describe key requirements of a defensible medical record.
- Understand how the medical record is used to prove/disprove allegations.
To register for this webinar series please visit the PACAH website http://www.pacahpa.org/Pages/PACAH-Webinars.aspx
Angela Huffman, RN , WCC — Clinical Services Coordinator
Angela brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and long-term care field. Angela began her career as a Quality Assurance State Surveyor for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Subsequent to the State Survey position, Angela began her career as both an Assistant Director and Director of Nursing for two skilled nursing facilities. After a short stint in a Primary Care Center, Angela returned to Long Term Care and gained over 17 years of experience as a Clinical Services Consultant and Compliance Field Investigator for a large for-profit chain. As the Compliance Investigator she served a region of 68 long term care facilities spanning 8 states. Prior to joining Affinity, Angela’s most recent position was as a specialized paralegal, conducting comprehensive medical record reviews and analysis. Angela has also achieved a Certificate of Training in Infection Prevention in the Long-Term Care Setting.
Affinity Health Services and LeadingAge PA to Present Webinar Series
Affinity Health Services, Inc. and LeadingAge PA invite administrative leaders of skilled nursing facilities to participate in a three-part webinar especially geared for Administrators and Nurse Managers to understand the MDS process and the impact on your facility. After this training, you will develop a stronger awareness of the process, the effects of the quality reporting, best practices for PDPM and auditing tools that as a leader you can implement for your facility.
Affinity Health Service Presenters
Tammy Lucas-Coleman, RN, RAC-CT, Clinical Reimbursement Consultant
Michele Conner, RN, RAC-CT, Clinical Consultant
Dates and Registration
Part 1: MDS Basics 101 – May 19, 2020
https://www.leadingagepa.org/Calendar-Events/Details/part-1–basics-of-the-mds-webinar
Part II: MDS Quality Reporting – June 30, 2020
https://www.leadingagepa.org/Calendar-Events/Details/part-2–mds-data-for-quality-reporting-webinar
Part III: PDPM Best Practices – July 16, 2020
https://www.leadingagepa.org/Calendar-Events/Details/part-3–pdpm-best-practices-webinar
Time
1:00pm to 2:00pm
LeadAge PA Members: No Fee
Non Members: $70.00 each session
This course meets requirements for CEU certification.
Click here to download this information as a PDF
Find additional information at https://www.leadingagepa.org/Education-Research/Webinars
Affinity Clinical Services Coordinator to Present At PADONA 2020 Conference
2020 PADONA Spring Conference
Angela Huffman, Clinical Services Coordinator at Affinity Health Services, will be presenting at the 32nd Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (PADONA) Spring Conference in 2020. The annual conference will be held at the Hershey Hotel from April 1st to April 3rd.
Date of Event:
Thursday, April 2nd from 2:30 PM -3:30 PM, Garden Terrace East
Presentation:
The Anatomy of an IDR
Overview:
Angela’s presentation is of part the administrative educational track held in Garden Terrace East. This informative session will outline and break down the key components for preparing and writing an Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) to dispute deficiencies cited by the Department of Health. In additional to outlining this process, Angela will also provide tips on presenting credible evidence to support the informal dispute by utilizing real case scenarios.
Learning objectives include:
1. Understanding the Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) Process.
2. Describe and understand the framework and key components for preparing an IDR.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the tools needed for a successful IDR.
View the PADONA 2020 Conference Schedule
About Angela:
Angela brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare and long-term care field. She began her career as a Quality Assurance State Surveyor and moved on to focus on ensuring quality resident care and overseeing clinical operations as a Director of Nursing and Nurse Manager. Following her work as Nursing Manager, Angela gained over 10 years of experience as a Clinical Services Consultant providing regulatory compliance services and clinical training. She then served a region of 68 long term care facilities spanning 8 states as a Compliance Field Investigator. Prior to joining Affinity, Angela’s most recent position was as a specialized paralegal, conducting comprehensive medical record reviews and analysis. In addition to meriting the philosophy of providing quality care, Angela is passionate about education and strives to develop problem solving leaders who are confident in their skills, enabling them to provide excellent customer service in a high stress environment. In addition to being Certified in Healthcare Compliance, Angela is also a credentialed Wound Care Consultant and has completed requirements to be a Certified Infection Control Practitioner.
We would to thank PADONA for the opportunity to be a part of their annual conference.
Learn more about PADONA
The Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (PADONA) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learn more at the official PADONA website
Barbara Smith Earns Personal Care Home Administrator License
We would like to congratulate Barbara Smith, NHA, RN, PCHA on her recent achievement of receiving her Personal Care Home Administrator (PCHA) license.
Barbara has experience in Long Term Care, Home Care and Acute Care. Her career in Long Term Care began in 2001 giving Barb more than 18 years of tenure in senior living. She has served as Assistant Director of Nursing, Director of Quality Assurance/Staff Development, Director of Nursing, Assistant Administrator and Nursing Home Administrator. She has worked in the for-profit, non-profit and government owned operations. Additionally, Barb has experience managing Personal Care, Skilled Nursing and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s). Barb has extensive hands on experience in regulatory compliance, survey management, clinical programming, budgeting and cost controls, census development and staff training. Barb had worked with Affinity Health Services, Inc. for 6 years prior to her most recent assignment as interim administrator and now serving in a consulting role for Affinity Health Services managed homes and consulting clients.
Visit our website to learn more about Affinity Health Services staff achievements and experience at http://dev.affinityhealthservices.net/staff-profiles/
Jennifer Cisneros, NHA Shares Perspective on Long-Term Care
McKnight’s Women of Distinction Rising Star Program
Jennifer Cisneros, Nursing Home Administrator at The Williamsport Home has been nominated and selected as a member of McKnight’s inaugural class of Rising Stars- Women of Distinction program.
McKnight’s, a prominent news organization providing information on long-term care trends and stories across the country, launched this new program in 2019.
According to Mcknight’s, “The Rising Stars category honors women younger than 40, or who have less than 15 years of experience in the senior living or post-acute care industries. The group encompasses women working in skilled nursing, senior living, hospice, associations and academia.
McKnight’s received several hundred nominations for Rising Stars and Hall of Honor inductees, making the selection process by a national, independent panel of judges extremely competitive.”
Affinity Health Services is proud to work with Jennifer as part of our team and partner with The Williamsport Home. Hear Jennifer’s perspective on Long-Term Care in this interview presented by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
National Nurses Week
During National Nurses Week, we would like to thank all the nurses we have the privilege to work with including our Affinity Clinical team for their professionalism, expertise and commitment to ensuring quality care, training to lead others in the Nursing field. Learn more about our Clinical team at AffinityHealthServices.net/Staff-Profiles/
National Nurses Week is a time for everyone – individuals, employers, other health care professionals, community leaders, and nurses – to recognize the vast contributions and positive impact of America’s 4 million registered nurses. Each year, the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Learn more about the history and celebration of Nurses Week at The American Nurses Association Web Page.
Affinity Health Services to Present at PACAH Spring Conference
Denise McQuown-Hatter, President and CEO of Affinity Health Services, will be presenting with Jamie Aurand, NHA, Administrator at Susque-View Home Nursing & Rehabilitation/Premier Healthcare Resources, Inc. and Erica Mulberger, Executive Director at Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation (CPWDC) at the Pennsylvania Coalition of Affiliated Healthcare & Living Communities (PACAH) Spring Conference, to be held at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center from April 23rd to April 26th.
Date and Time of Presentation:
Thursday, April 25 from 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Room 207
Presentation:
Quantity, Quality, and Advocacy to Support the Direct Care Workforce Crisis
Overview:
We are in the eye of the storm whether you are in Skilled Nursing, Personal Care, Continuing Care Retirement Communities,
Home Health or Acute Care. Sufficient staff resources are plaguing healthcare but other industries in the Commonwealth also
have serious challenges. Labor shortages are no longer only a health care crisis but don’t second guess that there is indeed an
access to care crisis. Survival techniques are in full swing dealing with an aging workforce, increased wages and benefits and
a lack of a qualified workforce. This coupled with declining reimbursement, staffing star ratings and increased competencies is
and will continue to be the number ONE (#1) challenge we face.
The reality is that no one has all the answers. There is no silver bullet. There is however best practices in areas of recruitment and
retention. There are also people that are making things happen when it comes to putting forth creative methods of infiltrating
people into the workforce. Add to the equation that there are advocacy initiatives in which we need everyone to support
aggressively.
At the end of the program participants will be able to identify:
• Trends and statistics regarding staffing that impact our planning and daily operations in long-term care
• The basics of recruitment and retention that are often overlooked
• Strategies for recruitment and retention with analysis of success and challenges
• Initiatives currently taking place both in and out of the long term care arena
• The advocacy efforts that need immediate and swift action and support from the associations and individuals
About PACAH:
PACAH was formed in 1951 to represent county nursing facilities. Now, PACAH represents over 143 diverse long-term living and supports providers and associated businesses, including both county, veterans, private, and non-profit nursing facilities.
Announcing The Keynote Speaker for Affinity Days
A Look Ahead to Affinity Days 2019
The date is quickly approaching for Affinity Days 2019. This annual training and development conference features various speakers who aim to provide motivation and inspiration to Affinity communities who continue in their goal of delivering excellent services.
This year’s keynote speaker, Clint Maun, CSP, will aim to help in this inspiration. Clint is nationally recognized for his innovative expertise in healthcare consulting, speaking and research. Clint is a co-founder of Maun-Lemke Speaker and Consulting LCC and his entire career experience has been in healthcare operations, management, leadership, quality enhancement and self-development programs. Clint has the proven ability to motivate individuals to positive action and implement results-oriented change and his dedication to our profession is evident as he brings advocacy for positive self-esteem and motivation to a new level. See Clint’s full bio here, or you can listen to his free daily audio podcast at www.clintcast.com.
Among other training presentations featuring Affinity staff members, we are excited to welcome Clint and look forward to learning from his experiences.
Resources
Clint Maun, CSP Official Website
Maun-Lemke LLC
ClintCast.com