On July 30, Centers Health Care, the northeast’s largest continuum of nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities with 45 locations in the northeast, including two in Southern New Jersey, plus five more in the Midwest, had their annual company-wide retreat at The Venetian in Garfield.
At past retreats, Centers Health Care would offer important topics of discussion in order to help educate their employees further. Some subjects in years past included wound care treatment, motivation, and training & development. This time, company founder and CEO Kenny Rozenberg offered a number of crucial areas including survey preparedness and statewide security implementation, plus company compliance, a major topic that Centers includes yearly with attorney Adam M. Ostreicher of Ostreicher Law PLLC, based in Cedarhurst, New York.
“Not a week goes by without the news media talking about negligence, fraud and abuse happening in healthcare companies throughout the country,” said Rozenberg. “It’s all about protecting our residents and protecting ourselves, and the government has set rules and regulations in place to benefit the residents, and put away those who don’t follow the rules.”
Mr. Rozenberg showed a number of news videos of various bad media stories as an example to demonstrate where staff committed crimes in other parts of country, then ending up in jail. That lead into Mr. Ostreicher’s presentation on company compliance including the seriousness of healthcare cyber-security. Ostreicher was clear to point out the technical safeguards, policies and procedures, and he got deep into a discussion about what a well-designed corporate compliance program should look like. He discussed the number of focus areas the Department of Justice looks at including risk assessment and training in high risk areas, and then looked at the structured Centers Health Care plan, such as the company’s manual which is concise, straightforward and functional.
Attorney Adam M. Ostreicher, Ostreicher Law PLLC
“A robust Compliance and Ethics Program effectively prevents and detects wrongdoing and promotes quality of care,” said Mr. Ostreicher. “It was a pleasure reflecting on the Compliance accomplishments we have achieved at Centers Health Care with company employees at every level. It is clear that the commitment to Compliance comes straight from the top at Centers and the profound effect this sentiment has on the entire organization is apparent.”
Out of a staff of 25,000 throughout the Centers Health Care family, the company then honored 54 of it’s employees of the year filled with a techno-light show of floor sparklers as the parade of the 54 made it to the balcony of the dining hall, shaking hands with Mr. Rozenberg and other leadership personnel receiving warm cheers from their colleagues.
Mr. Rozenberg then introduced former New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Division Director of Nursing Homes and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Ms. Jackie Pappalardi, RN., as the Director of Educational Development and Grant Management at the New York State Health Facilities Association/New York State Center For Assisted Living (NYSHFA/NYSCAL). Having more than 40 years of experience, Ms. Pappalardi worked for New York State when it came to surveys being conducted throughout the state’s nursing home facilities. Today she educated the Centers staff on how to best prepare yourself for an upcoming survey.
“A facility must ask itself, does our infection control program provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment to prevent infections from developing and spreading?,” questions Ms. Pappalardi. “You must then know the five “C’s”, cleanliness in the front lobby, hallways, the residents, clutter, caring/comfort, care plans and compliance.”
Ms. Pappalardi also talked about what the surveyors do and prepare for before arriving, emergency preparedness, and the latest revisions to Guidance Citing Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) where she discussed noncompliance with regulations, what happens when a serious injury or death occurs and immediate actions would take place.
Pappalardi with Rozenberg following her presentation.
Staff representing all 50 facilities and corporate cannot wait until the next retreat sometime happening in 2020.