NEW FOOD AND DINING STANDARDS OF PRACTICE TO BE SUBMITTED TO CMS

National agreement has been reached on new food and dining standards of practice that support individualized care and self-directed living versus traditional diagnosis-focused treatment for people living in nursing homes.  You can read them here: 
http://www.pioneernetwork.net/Providers/DiningPracticeStandards/

The Dining Practice Standards will be submitted to CMS, FDA, CDC and the long-term care community at large. It is anticipated that CMS will refer to these new agreed-upon standards of practice within long term care interpretive guidance as CMS usually refers to the current standards of practice set by the clinicians who work within the long term care field. It is anticipated that surveyors, clinicians and interdisciplinary team members will put these new standards into practice in order to continue their efforts to improve quality of life for those living in nursing homes across the country.