National Nursing Home Survey Underway
The National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention began data collection for the 2004 National
Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) on August 19, 2004. AMDA encourages its
members to complete the survey. The survey has increased the current
resident sample size, allowing more detailed and better information to
be collected about this population. In addition, it has been redesigned
and expanded to include the following topics:
- Medications and adverse experiences with medications;
- Medical, mental health and dental services provided residents;
- End of life care and advance directives;
- Education, specialty credentials, and length of service for key staff;
- Turnover and stability of nursing staff; use of temporary/agency staff; overtime shifts worked, and benefits; and
- Facility practices for immunizations, dining, and use of mechanical lifting devices.
| AMDA Members at a Glance |
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The percentage of full-time medical
directors has decreased from 23% in 2002
to 16% in 2004.
The percentage of medical directors also
serving as attending physicians has
increased from 79% in 2002 to 87% in
2004.
In 2004, only 59% of AMDA members
reported maintaining a private practice,
which is a decrease of 11% from 2002.
In May 2004, AMDA electronically distributed a
demographic survey to 3,276 members. The results of the survey reflect
more than a 20% response rate.
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As reported in the June 2004 issue of Health Policy Advisor,
this year's survey includes several items on medical directors,
including questions on their education, specialty credentials, and
length of service. Another new part of the survey is the National
Nursing Assistant Survey. In about half of the facilities participating
in the NNHS, a sample of nursing assistants will be selected to take
part in a telephone survey to learn more about what attracts people
into the nursing assistant position and what makes them leave their
positions, states NCHS Chief of the Long Term Care Statistics Branch,
Robin Remsford, PhD, APRN, BC. This will provide information needed to
recruit, retain and develop this essential paraprofessional long-term
care workforce.
For more information about the National Nursing Home Survey, check the web site at www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nnhsd/nnhsd.htm.
Reports and data from previous surveys are also available in
publications and public use data files on the web. Findings from the
surveys are analyzed and disseminated widely in a series of articles
and electronic data products. To sign up for the Long-Term Care
listserv, to learn more about the survey, and to receive announcements
when data are released, go to the NNHS website or leave a message at
301/458-4747.
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