Wartburg Hosts 2015 AANAC Resident Assessment Coordinator – Certified (RAC-CT) Three-Day Certification Workshops

LeadingAge New York, the state’s premier association of aging services organizations, together with the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC) presented the 2015 AANAC Resident Assessment Coordinator – Certified (RAC-CT) three-day certification workshop at Wartburg, a leader in senior residential and healthcare services, on August 10 through August 12. This most respected Minimum Data Set (MDS) credentialing program was held in the Gatz Conference Center located on Wartburg’s beautiful 34-acre historic campus in Mount Vernon, NY. Forty-two healthcare professionals from across the state attended the program led by keynote speaker, Michelle Synakowski, RN, LNHA, C-NE, RAC-MT of LeadingAge New York/ProCare.

“Wartburg is always excited to host opportunities for professional development. This certification program will enable professionals from a variety of disciplines to improve assessment and documentation skills leading to better care outcomes. Very few things are more important as we continue to move towards outcomes-based population health management.” said David J. Gentner, Wartburg President and CEO, as he welcomed the participants.

AANAC’s Resident Assessment Coordinator –Certified (RAC-CT) certification is the distinguishing characteristic of an expert in resident assessment. AANAC’s RAC-CT program has long set the national standard for skilled nursing facility Prospective Payment System (PPS) and MDS education. The three-day workshops presented in-depth training on specialized areas including -MDS coding for Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) and PPS, OBRA timing and scheduling, care area assessments, five-star quality rating system and quality measures.

“Wartburg’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to seniors entrusted to our care is made possible by hiring and retaining those individuals who are experts in their fields. As a manager, I am pleased when a member of my Wartburg staff has completed an AANAC Resident Assessment Coordinator- Certified (RAC-CT) certification workshop, as they fulfill their personal career goals, they also become a valuable resource in providing long term care within our organization. Individuals who have achieved certification, have mastered the expertise in the Resident Assessment process which includes, assessment, care planning, reimbursement, quality measures and case mix.” said Paulette Watson, Wartburg Vice President of Nursing.

Wartburg

Wartburg is an award-winning provider of comprehensive senior services, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s/dementia care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and hospice care. Its 34-acre campus in Mount Vernon serves seniors and their families in southern Westchester and the northern Bronx and now the NY Metro Area. Wartburg’s nursing home has been recognized by U. S. News & World Report as among the “Best Nursing Homes in New York State for four consecutive years, in 2014. Over the past few years, Wartburg has launched an ambitious building expansion program, including the Friedrichs Residence, with 61 independent living apartments, and a Rehabilitation and Adult Day Services Center, both opened in 2013.