A Symphony of Learning and Collaboration: Celebrating GAPNA’s Chapter Leaders
By Michelle Moccia
"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can – there will always come a time you will be grateful you did." - Sarah Caldwell
This quote certainly echoes the theme of GAPNA's Chapter Leader's "Sweet 16". The group is an incredible "think tank," sharing ideas, commenting on others, and helping each other with needs identified during the monthly meeting. The leaders are exploring creating a "student engagement" tool kit. There is heightened interest in exploring a Student Chapter. National Leaders and others are brainstorming this concept.
Multiple Great Lakes Chapter (Michigan) members (Dr. Deborah Dunn, Dr. Bethany Duyser, Dr. Linda Keilman, Dr. Cyntheria McNeill), numerous professional associations, clinicians, researchers, nursing home residents, direct care workers and certified nurse assistants, government agencies and others are actively engaged in the Moving Forward Coalition work. Michigan received a two-year $499,000 Health Aging grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund that will enable the national coalition and a Michigan-based team to continue to improve nursing home residents' quality of life in that state. Michelle Moccia helps lead the inter-professional work in Michigan.
Guest speakers this past quarter include Alice Bonner and Amanda Meier from IHI on the Age-Friendly Health System action plan committee invitation. 4Ms – Mobility, What Matters, Medication, Mentation. Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes – provides recommendations for implementing a series of actions system-wide. Workbook for Nursing Home Teams – companion to Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes. Nursing homes are recognized as Age-Friendly Health Systems upon submission and acceptance of a nursing home Care Description describing how they plan to provide 4Ms care. Join IHI's 2024 Action Community! 7-month virtual community, monthly webinars, a community of mutual learning, no participation fee.
Midge Bowers – Nominating Committee – discussed the upcoming National positions. Nominations for President-Elect; Secretary; Director-at-Large; Nominating Committee (2)
Brette Svensson – GAPNA Awards Committee – GAPNA Excellence Awards discussed the Award categories and tips for nomination.
Cindy Gerstenlauer – Historical Committee – has volunteered as a liaison from the Historical Committee for chapters, committees, and SIGs to assist with accurate record-keeping within the Exchange.
The Carolinas, Ohio, and Northern California hosted conferences. The Great Lakes Chapter hosted a Student Mentorship evening. All Chapters are busy hosting educational meetings and giving back. Aparna discussed a significant proposal: CMS Hospice Wage Index proposal (released March 28) and the Home Health proposal (later this year). HWI has changes pertinent to practice, including the HOPE tool's new quality measure.
Meghan discussed the March into Excellence campaign and chapter drive. From February 15 through April 15, the chapter with the highest percentage of new members receives a chapter trophy, a table during GAPNA Gallery, and one complimentary conference registration to the 2024 Annual Conference in San Antonio! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OHIO CHAPTER ON THE WIN!
In conclusion, thank you to Meghan Cash and Cassandra Vonnes for keeping us informed of National initiatives. I appreciate you.
Best,
Michelle Moccia, DNP, ANP-BC, GS-C
Chapter Chair
mocciamichelle@gmail.com