Important Update from the Agency for Health Care Administration

The PASRR provisions of the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) amendments to the Medicaid Act, and implementing federal regulations, establish a comprehensive plan for ensuring that individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI) or intellectual disability or related conditions (ID) who do not meet nursing facility level of care are not admitted to and do not reside in a Medicaid-certified nursing facility (NF). Read more...

Florida Medical Directors Association Call for Presentation and Poster Submissions for the 2015 BCP Conference

Florida Medical Directors Association Accepting Call for Presentations for Best Care Practices 2015

12^th Annual Call for Poster Presentations also Announced

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting “Call for Speaker Presentations” for its Annual Best Care Practices in the Geriatrics Continuum conference, October 22-25, 2015, at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club in Lake Buena Vista. Presenters who wish to speak at the conference are invited to submit an online proposal with details about the intended presentation. Submissions should be based on FMDA’s needs assessment with issues related to long-term care and geriatrics. The submission deadline for all applicants is March 29, 2014 and a decision on accepted presentations will be made by May 31, 2014.

FMDA is launching its 5^th “Call for Speaker Presentations”, which falls into FMDA’s mission of providing the highest quality education to health care practitioners in long-term care. High-profile and relevant educational programs have always been the pinnacle of the annual conference. Attendees expect clinical topics to be strong evidence-based lectures with cited references and administrative topics to be relevant to their setting and focused on current best care practices. It is the presentation review committee’s intent, that the best presentations incorporate attendee networking, case-discussion (Q&A), small groups, and take home tools such as handouts, key points, guides or quick tips. These types of presentations have been successful at Best Care Practices in the past and are highly encouraged.

Dr. Naushira Pandya, chair of the LTC and Poster Awards Committee, is already gearing up for this year’s poster presentation submissions. This year is FMDA’s 12^th annual Poster Session, and as always, it will take place during trade show hours at the annual conference in October. All submissions that are complete and follow the Criteria for Acceptance of Posters will be considered and reviewed based on the content contained within the proposal. Submission of a proposal is a commitment by at least one author to be present at the designated times to discuss the information in the poster with symposium participants. The first 10 applicants who are accepted by the review committee will receive complimentary registration to the 2015 conference (only one applicant per poster presentation will be considered). Poster award winners will be announced during the Annual Awards Luncheon.

FMDA President Dr. Robert Kaplan remains very enthusiastic about the continued success of both the call for presentations and call for posters process.

“FMDA is committed to providing quality unbiased education to our health care professionals working in long-term care and geriatrics. The unique process of accepting calls for presentations has only strengthened the quality of our annual conference,” said Dr. Kaplan. “FMDA is very eager to evaluate this year’s crop of poster submissions, to add to our already stellar program.”

To learn more about FMDA’s “Call for Presentations”, or its “Call for Posters”, or to submit a proposal, go to www.bestcarepractices.org. Ian Cordes, the executive director for FMDA, can be reached by telephone at (561) 689-6321.

The Florida Medical Directors Association represents nearly 250 medical directors, attending physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Florida’s postacute care continuum including subacute care, hospice, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities, as well as in continuing care retirement communities. The mission of FMDA is to promote the highest quality care as patients’ transition through the long term care continuum. FMDA is dedicated to providing leadership, professional education and advocacy for the inter-professional team.

FMDA is the official state chapter of the American Medical Directors Association and a Specialty Society of the Florida Medical Association.  It is based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Florida Medical Directors Association Post-Conference Press Release

 Florida Medical Directors Association Hosts Successful 2014 Best Care Practices Conference

11^th Annual Poster Award winners announced

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA) and President Dr. Robert Kaplan are extremely pleased with the outcome of the recent Best Care Practices in the Geriatrics Continuum conference, held this past October. The renowned geriatrics conference gathered together more than 240 physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, and administrators at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Excellent accommodations, amazing speakers and a focused clinical theme, “Future Directions: Transforming Long-Term Care”, were highlights of the conference that aims to provide a high quality educational and networking experience for all those with an interest in long-term care and geriatrics.
This year’s conference again featured an outstanding presence from AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, FMDA’s National Affiliate. Best Care Practices was honored to have AMDA President, Dr. Leonard Gelman, AMDA President-Elect and FMDA Director, Dr. Naushira Pandya, speak on Friday and Saturday of the conference. AMDA Past-President Dr. Charles Crecelius, AMDA Executive Director, Mr. Christopher Laxton, and AMDA’s Director of Public Policy, Mr. Alex Bardakh, were also in attendance.
A major focus of the conference each year is the National Leaders Forum which invited Dr. Gelman, Sharon Clackum, PharmD, President Elect of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and Rachel Pryor, Senior Adviser to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington, D.C., to speak briefly about their respective organizations and what challenges they may be facing. This is a very important session every year and brings up great talking points that impact the continuum of long-term care in clinical, administrative, and legislative areas.
FMDA President Dr. Robert Kaplan is delighted with the growing success of Best Care Practices and the level of support received year after year from our collaborating organizations.
“As the president of FMDA, we are very grateful for our successful collaboration with numerous long term care health care organizations across the state. FMDA will continue to work hard to provide high quality education for those practicing in long-term care and working for our nation’s elderly population.”
Lastly, during the Annual Awards Luncheon at this year’s conference, winners of the 11^th Annual Posters Session were announced. Katherine Hypes, ARNP, was named the 1^st place winner and received a $50 Amazon gift card for her study on video games as therapy in the skilled nursing facility. Dr. Pandya, who chairs the Poster Awards Committee, was impressed with the amount of quality submissions this year. She is already looking forward to next year’s process.
For more information about next year’s Best Care Practices Conference taking place at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, October 22-25, 2015, please contact FMDA’s Sr. Manager of Association Services, Matt Reese at (561) 689-6321.

The Florida Medical Directors Association represents nearly 250 medical directors, attending physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Florida’s post-acute care continuum including sub-acute care, hospice, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities, as well as in continuing care retirement communities. The mission of FMDA is to promote the highest quality care as patients’ transition through the long term care continuum. FMDA is dedicated to providing leadership, professional education and advocacy for the inter-professional team.

FMDA is the official state chapter of the American Medical Directors Association and a Specialty Society of the Florida Medical Association.  It is based in West Palm Beach, Florida.