Quality measures can be much more than a reporting requirement. When supported by accurate MDS coding and thoughtful analysis, quality measure data can help clinical leaders identify opportunities, focus improvement efforts, and develop more person-centered approaches to resident care.
Carol Maher, Hansen Hunter’s Director of Education, will explore these opportunities during the AAPACN 2026 Quality Virtual Conference, taking place virtually September 1 through September 3, 2026. The three-day event will bring together MDS and quality experts to help post-acute care professionals strengthen quality outcomes, improve survey readiness, reduce financial risk, and build sustainable quality improvement processes.
Work With Instead of Against Your Quality Measure Data
Carol Maher will present “Work With Instead of Against Your Quality Measure Data” on Tuesday, September 1, from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. ET.
Her session will help long-term care professionals better understand how quality measure data can be used to identify meaningful clinical opportunities. Rather than viewing quality measures as an obstacle, participants will learn how accurate MDS coding and careful investigation can turn that data into a practical resource for improving resident care.
Carol Maher will discuss how facilities can determine which quality measures warrant the greatest attention, including measures with higher percentiles and those connected to findings from a previous survey. She will also explain how teams can identify residents who have triggered specific quality measures and use those findings to develop individualized clinical plans.
The session will highlight several quality measures that commonly raise survey concerns and offer interventions intended to support better outcomes.
Turning Quality Data Into Action
Collecting quality data is only the beginning. Long-term care organizations must also understand what the information indicates, recognize meaningful trends, investigate potential root causes, and determine how findings should inform clinical action.
- Following the session, participants will be able to:
- Identify the value of understanding a skilled nursing facility’s clinical opportunities for improvement
- Discuss how to investigate those opportunities and support person-centered care planning
- Explain how interdisciplinary teams can work together to improve care associated with a triggered quality measure
This practical focus reflects a broader theme of the conference: quality improvement depends on the connections between clinical excellence, documentation, regulatory compliance, reimbursement, leadership, and resident-centered care.
Practical Education for Long-Term Care Professionals
The AAPACN 2026 Quality Virtual Conference is designed for nurse assessment coordinators, directors of nursing services, nursing home administrators, clinicians, quality improvement coordinators, and others committed to advancing quality in long-term care. Its agenda includes quality measure management, survey preparedness, documentation, audit and denial prevention, managed care, PDPM, ICD-10 coding, QAPI, leadership, dementia care, staff safety, artificial intelligence in nursing practice, regulatory compliance, and the financial impact of quality performance.
Attendees will have access to all three days of educational sessions, digital conference materials, and live online access. Registration closes September 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Learn more and register for the AAPACN 2026 Quality Virtual Conference.
