Navigating Psychotropics, Depressive Symptoms, and Behaviors
member exclusive
Event Details
Overview:
This session explores the Quality Measures focused on psychotropic medications, including antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics, as well as residents who have depressive symptoms or have behavior symptoms affecting others. Participants will explore how prescribing practices, clinical documentation, and MDS coding directly impact quality measure outcomes, Five-Star ratings, and survey risk. The session emphasizes appropriate indications, gradual dose reduction (GDR) requirements, informed consent, and non-pharmacological interventions. Practical strategies will be shared to support interdisciplinary collaboration, accurate assessment, and documentation practices that promote resident-centered care while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the Quality Measures related to psychotropic medication use, depressive symptoms, and behaviors affecting others.
- Apply accurate MDS coding and assessment principles.
- Describe requirements for gradual dose reductions (GDRs), informed consent, non-pharmacological interventions, and ongoing monitoring.
Target Audience: SNF, Nursing leadership, MDS/RAI nurses, Quality Assurance staff
Registration closes 5/5/26 at Noon CST
Eleisha Wilkes is a Board Certified Gerontological Nurse and AAPACN certified MDS consultant with over twenty years of experience in long-term care.
She has served as a Director of Nursing, Case Manager and Resident Assessment Coordinator with extensive responsibility and success in driving QA in the areas of person-centered assessment and care planning through effective systems, staff development, and interdisciplinary team collaboration. Eleisha specializes in RAI completion, MDS validation audits, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement compliance, competency-based staff education programs, and works with clients extensively to facilitate SNF/NF survey readiness. She also contributes to McKnight’s LTC News as the “Ask the Payment Expert” columnist.