Featured Content

Civil Money Penalties (CMP) Request Form and Instructions

The CMP Request Form and Instructions to Request Approval for Use of Civil Money Penalty Funds for certified nursing homes from the Long Term Care Residents' Trust Fund are available in Publications and Forms. .
At the direction of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ) is required to list all the expenditures of CMP money for the public to view.
2019 Approved CMP Projects

Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program

Background Check Center

The Background Check Center is an electronic tool to help employers make a hiring decision. There is a law that establishes the system. The BCC Helpline is (302) 421-7405. Providers can call this number with questions.

Quick Background Check links:

The Adult Abuse Registry

The Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry

The National Sex Offender Public Website

The Delaware State Nurse Aide Registry

The Office of the Inspector General

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

This Program investigates and resolves complaints made by (or on behalf of) residents of long term care facilities. The program also provides volunteer opportunities for friendly visitors / advocates in nursing homes.

What's New?

The Delaware Division of Health Care Quality - New Castle County Offices Have Relocated
Date: February 28, 2022

The Current Addresses For DHCQ Are:

Division of Health Care Quality - Newark Office of Long Term Care:

The Cambridge Building - University Office Plaza

263 Chapman Road, Suite 200

Newark, DE 19702-5408

Phone: (302) 421-7400

Fax: (302) 421-7401

Division of Health Care Quality - Milford Office of Long Term Care:

The Windsor Building

24 NW Front Street, Suite 100

Milford, DE 19963-1440

Phone: (302) 424-8600

Fax: (302) 424-2939

Division of Health Care Quality - Office of Health Facilities:

The Cambridge Building - University Office Plaza

263 Chapman Road, Suite 200

Newark, DE 19702-5408

Phone: (302) 292-3930

Fax: (302) 292-3931

Fax: DHSS_DHCQ_OHFLCFax@delaware.gov

To: Delaware Certified Nursing Assistants
Date: Updated 2022

• Recertification Procedures effective January 1, 2020, click here: Delaware Recertification Procedures
• RELIAS CNA Recertification Process click here:RELIAS CNA Recertification Process
• Reciprocity Application click here:DELAWARE NURSE AIDE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE RECIPROCITY

If you have any questions, please call the Division of Health Care Quality at 302-421-7410 (New Castle County

Additional updates will be forthcoming.

INTERAGENCY TRANSFER FORM

On February 14, 2018, Governor Carney signed House Bill (HB) 208 into law. HB 208 amended 29 Delaware Code, Chapter 79, Subchapter VI to mandate the use of an Interagency Transfer Form, for exchange of information between health-care agencies and facilities regarding consumer, resident, or patient health conditions and care needs to ensure ongoing quality of care and consumer, resident, or patient centered care for the consumer, resident, or patient in any care setting.

Providers licensed by the Division of Health Care Quality as skilled nursing or assisted living facilities are required to utilize the Interagency Transfer Form are required to utilize the Interagency Transfer Form beginning January 6, 2020.

Providers licensed by the Division of Health Care Quality as skilled nursing or assisted living facilities are required to utilize the Interagency Transfer Form are required to utilize the Interagency Transfer Form beginning January 6, 2020.

An Interagency Transfer Form does not need to be completed by a hospital system if:

• The hospital system is transferring a patient within the hospital system; and
• The sending hospital unit calls the receiving hospital unit with a verbal transfer report prior to the transfer (this must be documented in the medical record); and
• The receiving unit has immediate access to the entire medical record.

The Division of Health Care Quality stands ready to work with your facility to implement these requirements. Feel free to contact us by e-mailing Corinna Getchell at Corinna.Getchell@delaware.gov with any questions or further guidance.

The Division of Health Care Quality stands ready to work with your facility to implement these requirements. Feel free to contact us by e-mailing Corinna Getchell at Corinna.Getchell@delaware.gov with any questions or further guidance.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DELAWARE HOSPITALS !
Per the U.S. News and World Report, Delaware hospitals rank #1 for Hospital Quality. The full article of the Health Care Quality Rankings can be found here: U.S. News - Best States for Health Care Rankings Page.

BACKGROUND CHECK CENTER (BCC)
There has been an ongoing, nationwide concern, about people's privacy. Both of our Federal and State partners are increasing the number of restrictions placed on our system and how the information is accessed. Based on ever evolving rules and regulations and after a recent review, the Division of Health Care Quality has drafted a new list of disqualifiers. This list is similar to the list used by the State of Delaware, Board of Nursing, in that it encompasses a number of similar offenses used to qualify potential employees. We understand that people make mistakes. Further, that these mistakes should not be held against a person for unusual amounts of time. With that in mind we have grouped the offenses in to six different time constraints. 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and No limit. These new time constraints will help give you more confidence in our evaluation of an applicant's conviction history and ultimately your decision to hire. We believe that the adoption of this list will better serve the users of the BCC and safe guard those vulnerable people we all wish to help.

195th GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE REVISIONS
The legislation recently signed into law was contained in four (4) separate bills: HB 195, HB 196, HB 208 and HB 225. To find these bills, go to the Delaware General Assembly page. A majority of these revisions included the Division name change, Divisional authority, definitions, replacing of outdated terms, and style/grammar related revisions. Here's a recap of the 195th General Assembly Legislative Revisions.

• DHCQ Recap

House Bill (HB) 219
Revised the language in 16 Del.C. §122(3)(y and z) to be consistent with terminology used by accreditation organizations and other states, replacing the term "invasive medical procedure" with the term "office-based surgery". In addition, this Act clarifies the definition to ensure that all facilities that perform such procedures do so in a safe and sanitary environment. Finally, HB 219 adds a requirement that the approved accreditation organizations shall report, at a minimum, findings of surveys and complaint and incident investigations, and data for all office-based surgical facilities to the Department.

House Bill (HB) 91
The Division of Health Care Quality representatives attended the Senate vote on June 5, 2019. HB 91 updates the definition of hospital, raises the fees associated with hospital licensing, and imposes an additional fee for plan reviews prior to construction or renovation of hospitals. The bill was passed and has been signed by the Governor on June 26, 2019.

Free Standing Emergency Department Regulations
The update to the Free Standing Emergency Department regulations are complete. The regulations are scheduled to be published as proposed July 1, 2019.

Office-Based Surgery Regulations
The regulations were published as proposed June 1, 2019 and were open for public comments until July 1, 2019. One comment which supported the regulations was received. The regulations are effective August 11, 2019. .

Emergency Preparedness

In preparation for an impending weather emergency:

• Healthcare facilities should:
  
  • Review the facility emergency plans
  • Proceed through any checklists
  • Prepare a current list of staff with emergency contact phone numbers
  • Prepare fuel supplies and any flood mitigation measures that are needed to protect infrastructure
  • Verify equipment and generator operations
    
    
• Home care agencies should:
  
  • Review the agency emergency plans
  • Proceed through an checklists
  • Prepare a current list of staff and patients with emergency contact phone numbers
  • Verify equipment and generator operations for patients as necessary
  • Review individual and emergency plans with patients/clients/families, including the decision to shelter in place/evacuate and the need for sufficient food/water/medications/supplies
  • Ensure patients requiring power for life support equipment are registered with the local utility companies and with local emergency offices

In the event of a storm or other disaster, for the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County, always contact your Emergency Management Coordinator first.

Please visit the DHCQ Emergency Preparedness page for additional information.

Delaware Music and Memory

Millions of aging Americans living in long-term care facilities face cognitive and physical difficulties and have left behind their familiar surroundings, familiar faces, and even their favorite music. Despite the best efforts of loved ones, their lives often lack meaning, spontaneity, choice, and reliable social interaction. Delaware Music and Memory, provides personalized music for residents in long term care facilities. These musical favorites tap deep memories not lost to dementia and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present.

Ongoing research and evaluation of Music and Memory's work in care organizations shows consistent results:

• Participants are happier and more social.
• Relationships among staff, participants and family deepen.
• Everyone benefits from a calmer, more supportive social environment.
• Staff regain valuable time previously lost to behavior management issues.
• There is growing evidence that a personalized music program gives professionals one more tool in their effort to reduce reliance on anti-psychotic medications.

To see the benefits of this program watch the following videos





Please visit the DHCQ Music and Memory Facebook Page for more information.

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