WALA News for December 17, 2009

1. WALA will soon announce (offically) our Training Partnership with assisted living education academy, llc (alea)

In the summer of 2009 alea and the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA) began negotiations to create a strategic partnership together to become the source for high quality assisted living training in the state of Wisconsin. In November 2009, alea officially became WALA's Training Partner.

assisted living education academy, llc (alea) provides state-of-the-art online/computer-based training of State of Wisconsin required DHS 83.19 Orientation, 83.21 All Employee Training, 83.22 Task Specific Training, and 83.25 Continuing Education courses. In addition to online training, alea offers all of the courses included in the categories above, as well as DHS 83.20 required courses, as scheduled classroom events or "on demand" at your facility as requested. Go to www.ewala.org to get more information about alea. Courses are available in January and February!

2. Clinical Roundtable hosted by WALA and the Laureate Group. Register today for this free session!

WALA is hosting the first of three Clinical Roundtable discussions exclusively for WALA members. This free session is designed for clinicians to meet with clinical peers in their community and discuss issues, challenges and solutions unique to the Assisted Living environment.

The first Clinical Roundtable Discussion will take place on January 20, 2010 from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m at Layton Terrace Community in Greenfield WI. To find out more about this session, please go to www.ewala.org for more information. To register go to the WALA Store or call the office at (608) 288-0246.

3. WALA's Administrator Course returns by popular demand!

Coming Soon! CBRF & AFH Introductory Administrators Course

The business of operating a CBRF or AFH is complex. One must have a comprehensive knowledge of all parts of operations such as budgeting, assessments, care plans, staffing, regulatory compliance and most importantly the quality care of your residents. This course is designed to provide administrators with a foundational level of understanding and provide you with the tools that you need and the state demands to be successful as an administrator in assisted living.

This course is scheduled for February 16-17, 2010 at River View Lodge in Stevens Point.

Watch your mail for the brochure or check out our website in January for more details and how to register!

PLEASE NOTE - this is NOT the course designed to help train new administrators to meet the 83.15 Department Approved Administrators qualifications as the course requirements for the Department Approved course have not yet been issued. However, the Bureau of Assisted Living has encouraged future administrators who need the department approved course to take the WALA course until such time as the course requirements are issued and WALA (and others) can develop that course. WALA will issue a discount voucher for those who take the current course to attend the department approved course offered by WALA when it becomes available.

4. Compensation Survey Update

There is still time to take the Compensation Survey! We have gotten many responses so far but we are looking for more. The more responses the better the information will be.

Take the WALA Wisconsin Specific, Assisted Living Specific Compensation Survey today!

Have you ever wondered what and how other providers are compensating their staff around Wisconsin? WALA has been working months on a Survey that will give you the information that you have been seeking! We are asking all Wisconsin providers to fill out this survey, and in turn, for a small fee, you will be able to obtain a report that has Wisconsin specific salary and benefit information. (Of course, WALA Members get a discount!)

Just go to the WALA Website at www.ewala.org and you will see a link to the compensation survey on our main page. Follow the instructions listed there. If your company has more than one facility and would like an alternative way to enter data, please call or email Stephanie Gerberding at Wipfli LLP at 608/270-2972 or sgerberding@wipfli.com.

5. New DQA Memos

DQA Memo 09-048/Notice of Change in Certification Fees for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Providers.

DQA memo 09-049/Notice of Change in Certification Fees for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Providers to take effect on Counties in 2011.

DQA Memo 09-050/ Staffing of Facilities and Programs During a Pandemic.

*This memo contains a variety of links to sample pandemic plans to use as reference and below is the main points of the memo:

During pandemics, emergency declarations may be made by government agencies that allow waivers or variances to regulations and requirements. These waivers may address staffing criteria. Because of the differences between various provider settings, it is not practical to determine staff shortage thresholds that could trigger waivers. Although staffing waivers or variances may be considered, providers need to have plans in place to deal with staff shortages caused by pandemic illness.
DQA Memo 09-051 / Domestic Partnership - Chapter 50 Information Update.

DQA Memo 09-052/Plans of Correction Via Attestation for Assisted Living Facilities.

DQA memo 09-053/Webcast Presentation - F441: Infection Control - Guidance to Surveyors.

DQA Memo 09-054/Cleaning and Disinfecting Glucose Meters Shared Between Residents.

For more information on these and other DQA memos go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Publications/BQAnodMems.htm

6. Next AL Forum is being held ONLY via Microsoft Live Meeting.

Please take note that the next AL Forum on January 12, 2010 will be held ONLY via Microsoft Live Meeting and will not be at the Madison Area Technical College. This is to help with commuting costs and time in this cold winter month in Wisconsin. DHS sent out a reminder about this on 12/8/09 and listed the computer requirements you will need to tune in. Below is what DHS sent through the ListServ:

Computer Requirements:

You will need a computer with the capability to produce sound to be able to listen to the meeting (e.g. computer speakers, headset, etc.). Although not necessary, a computer microphone is needed for a participant to have the ability to speak during the meeting. Participants may also use a web camera to allow other participants to see them.

First time users may test their computer equipment prior to the meeting by using the check your system link given in this email from the ListServ. https://www125.livemeeting.com/cc/test2007/join?id=LiveMeeting2007Test&role=attend&cn=user&pw=&recording_agreement=accepted&placewareLicenseCookie=true

The Bureau of Assisted Living is in the process of developing a web page that will contain all of the detailed information you will need in order to log into Microsoft Live Meeting and will send the web page information out via the ListServ as soon as it is complete. If you are unable to log onto the Live Meeting website, you will need to contact your internal IT staff. The Division of Quality Assurance will not be able to provide IT technical support.

7. EPA Energy Star Survey from ALFA

Help ALFA and other Associations partnering with the EPA Energy Star ProgramÂ® formulate strategies for energy conservation. Go to the ALFA website at http://www.alfa.org/alfa/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=965&SnID=388406747

to take a useful survey for the EPA to find out your energy usage in order to strategize ways to help you conserve energy and in return help the environment.

Now more than ever, senior care communities are struggling with higher energy costs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that electricity prices will climb an average of 9.8% in 2009, due to increased costs of generating power. For more information about this survey, go to the ALFA website at www.alfa.org. This survey closes December 31st so act now to help make the environment better and save yourself some energy costs in the future!