Text Box: NOWAC recently reviewed Quality Assurance (QA) Reports and Recommendations made during 2007 in the member counties that we perform QA reviews, in order to identify any trends or patterns. QA reviews are completed as mandated by the state for those individuals receiving waiver or non-waiver supported living services. The intent of the Trends & Patterns Report is to assist County Boards and Providers in identifying how to continuously improve the quality of services and outcomes for individuals. Quality Assurance is a continuous process; however, we want to make clear that just because recommendations are being made does not necessarily mean there are serious health or safety issues. The majority of the QA recommendations are made due to changing rules, ODMRDD requirements, individual requests, and documentation requirements. Recommendations made on QA Reports are based on what the reviewer has seen or been told during the QA process. For the purpose of the Trends & Patterns Report, recommendations have been placed into one of twelve categories: required components on ISP/ISP compliance; health; safety; additional needs identified; ISP matches assessment/LOC (service planning); satisfaction; choices & options; personal income; service monitoring; skill development; behavior plan; UI/MUI reporting; and service documentation compliance. The total number of QA Reports reviewed for the purpose of the Trends & Patterns Report is 54. This article will identify the top 3 recommendations made to county boards and providers in 2007. The percentage following the category title displays the percentage of how often a recommendation was made in this category. Text Box: 2007 quality assurance Trends & Patterns Identified By Shannon Timmerman, QA Manager Text Box: Page #

Volume 7, Issue 1
Text Box: TOP 3 COUNTY BOARD/SSA RECOMMENDATIONS Required ISP Components: 25.27% Address required components of the ISP, such as frequencies, durations, types of service, missing provider types, missing signatures, incorrect effective dates, identifying supervision levels, and the timely completion of the plan. Possible Additional Needs Identified (service planning): 23.63% Address additional supports that may be needed, include more specific/descriptive information on the ISP , ISP’s need updated to reflect changes that have taken place and the need to notify other team members when changes occur that require the plan to be updated. Choices & Options: 10.99% Individual expressing a desire to participate in specific recreation/leisure activities, requests to be assisted with contacting friends and family, and purchase requests. TOP 3 PROVIDER RECOMMENDATIONS Service Documentation Compliance: 29.31% Issues with service documentation containing incorrect frequencies and/or durations, missing required Medicaid numbers, and missing service locations. Service Monitoring: 22.99% Issues related to incomplete or incorrect service documentation, supports not being provided in accordance with the ISP, service delivery problems not being noted, and service hours not being delivered in accordance with the ISP/PAWS. Health: 16.67% Issues related to health complaints, medication administration, late medical appointments, and incomplete medical documentation.