Leverage Live Data to Inform Quality Improvement Strategies

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. A recent analysis of nearly 10,300 closed claims by the global insurance broker and risk advisor, Marsh, revealed that falls in long-term care account for nearly 50% of claims paid by facilities—amounting to an estimated $448.8 million annually! Despite these staggering numbers, falls among the senior population are preventable through appropriate screening and interventions in care. This session will examine how nursing facilities can leverage Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) plans to reduce fall-related injuries and deaths. Utilizing the PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT framework, we will delve into how live clinical data can be harnessed to identify risk factors and inform actionable prevention strategies.

To serve as a guiding case study throughout the session, MaryPat Carhart, Vice President Clinical Services at Upstate Services Group (USG), will share her insights on Root Case Analysis (RCA) and illustrate the steps required to identify the underlying factors of falls. She will also review the application of a 4-point QAPI planning approach, showcasing how 7 of USG’s facilities in New York have been able to create effective plans that mitigate fall risks.

Joining MaryPat will be Kathy Derleth, RN, BSN, Clinical Program Director at Real Time Medical Systems. Kathy will discuss how the use of live EHR data analytics can be incorporated into daily operations to help nursing facility care teams identify high-risk patients, reduce avoidable hospitalizations due to falls, highlight the potential for medication-related fall risk, achieve regulatory compliance, and improve overall quality of care provided.

Drawing on insights and lessons learned from USG’s experience, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how live data analytics can reduce fall rates in nursing facilities, improve patient outcomes, and prevent costly claims.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the steps of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and the QAPI 4-point plan to develop effective fall prevention strategies in nursing facilities
• Evaluate the role of live data analytics in identifying fall risk factors, optimizing medication management, and improving patient outcomes
• Implement data-driven interventions to reduce fall rates, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, and ensure regulatory compliance in daily operations

Speakers

• MaryPat Carhart, MHA, BS, RN, Vice President Clinical Service, Upstate Services Group
• Kathy Derleth, RN, BSN, Clinical Program Director, Real Time Medical Systems

This session is presented as part of the 2025 AHCA Quality Summit.