We’re Excited to Connect With You!
WHCA’s Virtual Winter Conference is a fantastic opportunity to connect virtually with other long-term care providers from throughout Washington, and to learn invaluable skills and insights to help your facility provide quality care.
Invite your colleagues and save! Get a $50 discount for each additional attendee when 2 or more individuals from your facility register.
Keynote:
Reach for The Sky – Spitting in the Face of the Staffing Crisis
Presenter: Steve Moran, Senior Living Foresight
Long-term care is in the middle of the worst staffing crisis they have ever experienced. Solutions seem impossible – but there are things you can do. Steve will be sharing specific and proven strategies for becoming the long-term care employer of choice in any market. It is possible to have team members who love coming to work every day, who never want to leave, and who will recruit their friends and family to be a part of your organization.
To stay up-to-date on the 2024 Virtual Winter Conference, please bookmark this page, or follow WHCA on LinkedIn or Facebook. We will be posting frequent updates to this page between now and the conference.
Conference Schedule
Registrants will receive their digital program, including links to access each session via Zoom, on Friday, January 26. All conference materials and information will be sent to the email address that was used during registration.
Tuesday, January 30
Wednesday, January 31
Thursday, February 1
8:30am – 10:00am
10 Critical Employment Law Compliance Issues
Christine Thelen – Shareholder, Lane Powell PC
Gain techniques for effectively addressing employee complaints in this invaluable session. Topics discussed will include, among others, critical employment policies, issues related to compensation, and managing attendance.
AL ESF SNF
Staff Safety & Resident Behaviors
Shamus Harmon – Safety Trainer, ERNWest
Starting with a layman’s reading of the relevant laws, this class will explore common, effective techniques to safely provide care in an often-challenging environment.
AL ESF SNF
Safely Improving Resident Quality of Life
Krystle Malo – Behavioral Health Training Specialist, DSHS
Come join us for an interactive training to gain insight and ideas on how to improve resident quality of life! We will brainstorm ideas on what is possible and how to incorporate this into facilities. Participants will be asked to share their ideas.
AL ESF SNF
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Workforce Development and Retention Toolkit
Stephanie Marko, MBA, SHRM-CP – Workforce Development & Retention Program Specialist, DSHS/ALTSA
This presentation will highlight the work that ALTSA is doing and provide an overview of the Retention Toolkit, which was created with input from direct care workers and supervisors, responses to surveys and focus groups.
AL
Back to Basics-Information for Facilities Staff
Kimberly Bloor – Deputy State Fire Marshal, Washington State Patrol
What are the citations that the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office cites every year? There are a couple of big ones, and it’s easy for you to stop getting cited for them.
AL SNF
Legislative Update
WHCA Gov/Leadership Team
Join the WHCA Government Relations team for an in-depth briefing covering everything you need to know about the 2024 legislative session. Whether it’s assisted living Medicaid funding, the transition to PDPM, or a bill that threatens the foundations of home and community-based care settings, what happens in Olympia impacts your work.
AL ESF SNF
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Reach For the Sky – Spitting in the Face of the Staffing Crisis
Steve Moran
Senior Living is in the middle of the worst staffing crisis they have ever experienced. Steve will be sharing specific and proven strategies for becoming the senior living employer of choice in any market. It is possible to have team members that love coming to work every day.
AL ESF SNF
9:30am – 11:00am
Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program for Nursing Homes
Melissa Lawton – CMPRP Grant Specialist, DSHS/RCS
Does your skilled nursing facility need funds for projects or programs for training to improve quality of care or activities to improve quality of life for residents? Attendees will learn how to complete the grant application and requirements, get project ideas, and ask any questions they may have.
SNF
Long Term Care Efforts & Accomplishments: A Recap of 2023
WHCA Leadership
In this session, learn from the WHCA subject matter experts what key work has been done and what is continuing into 2024! Topics include: TB WACS, Emergency Planning, Transfers and Discharges, and more.
AL ESF SNF
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Assisted Living Nurse Leader Forum
Vicki McNealley, PhD, MN, RN – Director of Assisted Living, WHCA
Albert Munanga, DrBH, MSN, RN, HC – Chief Clinical Officer, Serengeti Home Care
This one-hour session is the start of a three-part series focused on the role of nurse managers in assisted living, where assisted living nurse leaders can gather in a safe space and brainstorm on issues facing the long-term care profession and specifically nurses working within the assisted living industry.
AL ESF
Human Resources Gold Standard: Addressing Performance Plans & Disciplinary Actions
Lynette Hatcher, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
This session will provide an overview of Performance Management with a focus towards preventing and managing challenging situations including separation. Learn tips to protect employee rights, increase employee retention and manage employment risk for your facility.
AL ESF SNF
COE- Facility Assessment Approach to Behavioral Health
David Rodriguez – Behavioral Health Specialist-Improvement Advisor, Comagine Health
This presentation will cover regulatory updates that pertain to BH and SUD as well as tools and resources available for skilled nursing facilities.
AL ESF SNF
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Infection Control/Change of Condition
Nina Sanderson – Senior Improvement Advisor, Comagine Health
An overview of the current regulatory requirements for Infection Prevention and Control training. During this session, we will discuss the required components of a robust infection control training program and the survey pathways used to evaluate those programs, as well as provide tools and resources you can easily adapt for your facility.
AL SNF
Advance Care Planning in Long Term Care: Peace of Mind for Everyone
Hilary Walker
Oftentimes residents and their families are not approached about end-of-life choices and advance care planning efforts. Discover the best ways to start serious illness conversations and create an open and trusting dialogue, as well as formulate a working plan for the resident, family, and staff.
AL ESF SNF
Risk Management
Carin Marney – Shareholder, Lane Powell PC
This session will cover how to plan for and mitigate legal, regulatory, and reputational risk when a crisis occurs. Learn best practices for internal and external communications ranging from families to media, strategies to reduce regulatory and civil liability exposure, and other tips for training and preparing your team on risk management.
AL ESF SNF
9:30am – 11:00am
Co-Advocacy and Patient Engagement: Take on the Challenge
Margaret Holm, JD, RN – Public Health Nurse Consultant, WA Board of Nursing
Tips to assist the nursing role to enhance patient-family centered care. Will address challenges and barriers encountered with implementing professional obligations of advocacy and engagement.
AL ESF SNF
Here’s the Scoop: Best Practices for Interacting with Surveyors and Licensors from RCS
Anna Facio – RCS Office Chief: Policy, Training, Quality Improvement and Informal Dispute Resolution
Come learn about the roles of headquarters staff working at Residential Care Services (RCS) at DSHS. This presentation will cover the roles of key headquarters staff in Olympia, as well as the roles of the leaders in each region of the state.
AL ESF SNF
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Nursing Assistants 2024: Training & Testing Changes
Kathleen Moisio – Director of Nursing Assistant Programs, WA Board of Nursing
The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) has been working with interested parties across the state on major innovations to nursing assistant training and testing for the past several years. 2024 is the year it is all coming to fruition for actual implementation.
AL ESF SNF
Bringing Infection Prevention Education to Healthcare Workers Modules, Podcast, and Text Messaging
Madyson Schuh – WA DOH
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to recognize how infection prevention and control training has evolved to fit the learner audience through language and their schedule.
AL ESF SNF
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Overview of Respiratory Protection Program Requirements: Protecting Your Workers
Catherine Connon, PhD, RN, COHN-S – Occupational Health Nurse Consultant, WA DOH
Employers have an obligation to protect their employees from hazards in the workplace. Learn about the Respiratory Protection Program requirements and identify resources to help.
AL ESF SNF
Understanding Enforcement Remedies and Timelines for Skilled Nursing Facilities
Elena Madrid – VP of Education & Regulatory Affairs, WHCA
In this session, we will provide an overview of federal SNF enforcement remedies and timelines, as well as our state agency (DSHS/ALTSA/RCS) enforcement. We will also discuss the facility’s legal rights and options in relation to federal and state enforcement.
SNF
Ways to Achieve Regulatory Compliance
Tara Hawks, RN, BSN – LTC Quality Improvement Manager, DSHS/RCS
Kathleen Robl, RN, BSN – LTC Quality Improvement Manager, DSHS/RCS
Kathy Wrynn, RN, BSN – LTC Quality Improvement Manager, DSHS/RCS
This presentation will provide an overview of the RCS Long Term Care Quality Improvement Program. Attendees to this presentation will learn about how LTC QIP services can help them achieve regulatory compliance and improve care in their LTC setting.
AL SNF
Registration Options
Registration
Session Access
The Virtual Winter Conference is hosted on Zoom. Access to all conference sessions will be sent via email prior to the conference.
More Information
We will be releasing additional information about the conference, agenda, speakers, and more over the coming weeks. Please check back soon for more details!