Qsource Podcasts

In this episode of the Qsource Podcast, nurse surveyor Linzie Bugg explains regulation F695, which covers respiratory and tracheostomy care in long-term care facilities. Linzie details the regulation’s requirements, common deficiencies, and best practices for compliance, emphasizing staff training, documentation, and emergency preparedness. She illustrates key points with a real-life scenario involving ...

F880 (Infection Prevention and Control) remains one of the most frequently cited F-tags in nursing homes, often due to inconsistencies in daily practice rather than lack of policy. This blog outlines how facilities can strengthen compliance by focusing on routine hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, cross-departmental communication, and ongoing monitoring. By embedding infection prevention into team culture and workflows, facilities re...

Recurring nursing home citations often point to deeper systemic issues, not individual errors. This blog explores five of the most frequently cited F-tags: F880 (infection control), F689 (accident hazards), F684 (quality of care), F812 (food safety), and F600 (abuse prevention), highlighting how staffing challenges, inconsistent protocols, and leadership turnover contribute to repeat deficiencies. Qsource supports facilities in rec...

This episode explores the significance of World Alzheimer’s Day and how long-term care facilities can take meaningful action to support residents living with dementia. Linzie Bugg shares practical strategies for raising awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering engagement among staff, residents, and families. The discussion underscores the importance of ongoing education, personalized care approaches, and collaborative partnerships...

In this episode of the Qsource Podcast, Linzie Bugg highlights National Immunization Awareness Month and its significance for long-term care facilities. She discusses the importance of vaccines in protecting residents and staff from diseases like flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and shingles. Linzie emphasizes education, accessibility, and compassionate communication to boost vaccination rates, and shares helpful CDC and WHO resources. Sh...

Qsource partners with nursing homes to drive measurable improvements in infection prevention, staff engagement, survey recovery, and operational performance. From simplifying workflows and reinforcing hand hygiene to rebuilding morale and guiding facilities through Immediate Jeopardy citations, Qsource provides real-time coaching, tailored tools, and regulatory expertise that translate into better outcomes. Whether addressing high ...

Effective incident reporting and investigation in nursing homes goes beyond regulatory compliance, it builds a foundation for safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. This blog explores how shifting from blame to systems thinking, conducting deeper root cause analyses, and fostering open reporting across all departments can create a proactive culture that prevents harm. Qsource provides tools, coaching, and support to he...

Qsource discusses the most frequently cited deficiencies in nursing homes, F-tags, such as resident safety, infection control, quality of care, food safety, and abuse prevention. We explains how these issues often stem from routine practices and systemic challenges. The episode highlights proactive strategies, training, and tools offered by Qsource to help facilities prevent deficiencies, maintain compl...

In this episode of the Qsource Podcast, nurse surveyor Linzie Bugg discusses staff health and safety in nursing homes. She highlights common risks such as musculoskeletal injuries, infection exposure, workplace violence, environmental and chemical hazards, and emotional stress. Linzie emphasizes the importance of proper training, safe resident handling, infection control, violence prevention, ergonomics, incident reporting, adequat...

Sepsis is a leading cause of hospital transfers and death among nursing home residents, yet its early symptoms are often mistaken for routine aging-related issues. This blog explores how all staff, nurses, CNAs, dietary, housekeeping, and therapy, play a critical role in identifying subtle changes that may signal sepsis. By fostering a culture of communication, vigilance, and early action, nursing homes...

Qsource helps nursing homes prevent pressure ulcers by improving skin assessment protocols, training staff to identify early signs of skin breakdown, and promoting the use of tools like the Braden Scale. Through structured assessments, proper documentation, and interdisciplinary care planning, facilities can improve outcomes, ensure CMS compliance, and enhance resident safety.

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Qsource helps nursing homes improve dementia care by training staff to recognize behavioral symptoms as communication and deliver personalized, person-centered support. By fostering consistency, empathy, and dementia-friendly environments, facilities can enhance quality of life for residents and reduce challenging behaviors.

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High-quality resident care begins with confident, capable staff, and that confidence comes from more than orientation checklists. It comes from training that’s relevant, timely, and connected to real-world challenges. At Qsource, we help nursing homes build and maintain a culture of learning that strengthens both compliance and care delivery.

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In the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of long-term care, the pressure to meet regulatory expectations is always present, and for good reason. Citations issued during regulatory surveys serve as formal indicators that a facility has not met specific federal standards. But for nursing home staff, they represent much more than just survey outcomes. Citations can affect everything from resident care and staff morale to facility re...

Medication management is one of the most critical components of care in a nursing home, and one of the most heavily scrutinized during surveys. F761, Labeling and Storage of Drugs and Biologicals, exists to ensure that every medication administered is safe, effective, and handled properly. Yet, this F-tag is among the most commonly cited, often due to errors that occur in the rush of daily routines.

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In nursing homes, the quality of care starts with the people delivering it. Yet staffing remains one of the most persistent and difficult challenges facilities face, especially when turnover is high, recruiting is reactive, and burnout is common. The solution isn’t just hiring more people, it’s hiring the right people and creating the conditions that make them want to stay.

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Linzie Bugg discusses mental health and wellbeing for older adults in long-term care settings. She shares person-centered strategies, like cognitive stimulation, social connection, hobbies, movement, and trauma-informed care, that support residents’ mental and emotional health while meeting CMS regulatory requirements. Linzie also highlights the importance of behavioral health services, social services,...

Improving care in nursing homes requires more than compliance, it takes collaboration, customization, and a strong support system. Qsource partners directly with long-term care teams to strengthen infection control, staff training, documentation, and regulatory readiness. With hands-on consulting tailored to each facility’s needs, Qsource helps nursing homes navigate challenges and build sustainable systems that put residents first...