HCSSA Joint Training Opportunities

Seminar Date/Time Location Fee Class Availability
October 2023
Emergency Preparedness in HCSSAs
(course description)
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Webinar
(Class size: 300)
Free
Managing Complaints in HCSSAs
(course description)
Thursday, October 12, 2023
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Webinar
(Class size: 300)
Free
Most Frequently Cited Violations for Home and Community Support Services Agencies
(course description)
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Webinar
(Class size: 300)
Free
Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement (QAPI) for HCSSAs
(course description)
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Webinar
(Class size: 200)
Free

Continuing Education Information

A Certificate of Successful Completion will not be issued to anyone arriving late (late is defined as once the activity begins, registration closes at the time the activity begins), or returning late any amount of time following time designated for a break or lunch. Exceptions will not be made.

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services-Regulatory Services Division approves HCSSA initial administrator and continuing administrator hours in accordance with 40 TAC §97.259 and §97.260 state licensure rules.

Course Descriptions

Are They Employable?

This webinar was developed to improve HCSSAs effectiveness and consistency in staffing policies and procedures.

The webinar will not be recorded. Email questions to LTCRjointtraining@hhs.texas.gov.

COVID-19 Response: Re-opening Visitation (Hospice Inpatient Unit)

The purpose of this 60-minute webinar is to provide an overview of the Inpatient Hospice visitation rules and requirements.

Emergency Preparedness in HCSSAs

To most people, emergency preparedness simply means getting ready for emergencies before they happen. However, preparedness is only part of the entire emergency preparedness and response process. The goal of emergency preparedness is to simplify decision-making during emergencies. The emergency preparedness and response process incorporate the means to rapidly identify, evaluate and react to a wide spectrum of emergencies and emergency conditions.

This two-hour webinar will focus on HCSSA responsibilities to follow program rules and ensure client safety during an emergency.

The webinar will not be recorded. Participants must attend the entire training to receive a certificate for 2 administrator clock hours. Email questions to LTCRPolicy@hhs.texas.gov.us

Emergency Preparedness in HCSSAs (includes COVID-19 & hurricane guidance)

To most people, emergency preparedness simply means getting ready for emergencies before they happen. However, preparedness is only part of the entire emergency preparedness and response process. The goal of emergency preparedness is to simplify decision-making during emergencies. The emergency preparedness and response process incorporates the means to rapidly identify, evaluate and react to a wide spectrum of emergencies and emergency conditions.

This two-hour webinar will focus on HCSSA responsibilities to follow program rules and ensure client safety during an emergency, COVID-19 and hurricane guidance.

No certificates, continuing education credits or administrator clock hours will be provided.

Emergency Preparedness in HCSSAs (includes COVID-19 Guidance)

To most people, emergency preparedness simply means getting ready for emergencies before they happen. However, preparedness is only part of the entire emergency preparedness and response process. The goal of emergency preparedness is to simplify decision-making during emergencies. The emergency preparedness and response process incorporates the means to rapidly identify, evaluate and react to a wide spectrum of emergencies and emergency conditions.

This 60-minute webinar will focus on HCSSA responsibilities to follow program rules and ensure client safety during an emergency.

The webinar will not be recorded. No certificates, continuing education credits or administrator clock hours will be provided. Email questions to policyrulestraining@hhsc.state.tx.us.

HCSSA Plan of Care

Patients and clients are accepted for treatment on the reasonable expectation that the HCSSA can meet the patients medical, nursing, rehabilitative and social needs in his or her place of residence. Each patient or client must receive an individualized written plan of care, including any revisions or additions. This 60-minute webinar will focus on the development of the plan of care, a plan of cares components, and the coordination of services required to provide the highest quality of care. Note: This webinar is open to all HCSSA license categories but is primarily intended for certified agencies. The webinar focuses on the standards found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42, §484.60 Condition of Participation - Care Planning, Coordination of Services and Quality of Care.

HCSSA Plan of Care

 

Patients and clients are accepted for treatment on the reasonable expectation that the HCSSA can meet the patient’s medical, nursing, rehabilitative and social needs in his or her place of residence. Each patient or client must receive an individualized written plan of care, including any revisions or additions.

 

 This 60-minute webinar will focus on the development of the plan of care, a plan of care’s components, and the coordination of services required to provide the highest quality of care.

 

Credit for Administrators and Alternate Administrators - Please read carefully

 • Participants must attend the entire training to receive a certificate for 1 administrator clock hour (For example…do not log off early &/or sign on late).

-Participant attendance times will be reviewed before clock hour certificates are awarded.

 -Participants must complete the evaluation after the training to receive clock hours.

• Certificates will be sent by email after attendance time & evaluation criteria confirmed to be met.

• You must have provided your legal name & a valid email address to receive the certificate.

 • HHSC is not responsible for technical problems participants may experience.

• Each participant will receive an individual registration link to use; only the registered participant will receive credit for attending. Do not share your link; participation time will not calculate.

• No CEUs are provided.

. Email questions to ltcrpolicy@hhs.texas.gov.

Hot Topic: Get Ready for Flu Season

This month's Hot Topic presentation will provide an overview of flu facts, its symptoms and potential complications, and how to best prepare for and prevent the flu.

Hurricane and Flooding Readiness for HCSSAs

This training covers Home and Community Support Service Agency provider requirements related to the development of emergency preparedness plans with a focus on hurricanes and flooding. Topics include risk assessment, the four phases of emergency management and the core elements required for an emergency plan. 

Hurricane Emergency Preparedness for Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs)

This 2-hour webinar provides guidance for registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, social workers, licensed nursing facility administrators, and other staff members who develop and contribute to the development of a disaster/emergency plan to ensure the health and well-being of individuals in their care during a natural disaster and/or an emergency. You will learn the provider requirements related to the development of emergency preparedness plans with a focus on hurricanes and flooding. Topics covered include the state and federal requirements of emergency preparedness including risk assessment, the three phases of emergency management, and the core elements required for an emergency plan.

Registered Nurses earn 1.50 contact hours upon successful completion of this webinar.

  • 1.00 hours for social workers
  • 2.00 hours for nursing facility administrators and,
  • 2.00 clock hours for all other attendees

Incident Reporting & Investigations for HCSSAs

Survey findings of violations related to incident reporting are consistently cited in the top 10 licensure violations for HCSSAs.

This 60-minute webinar will focus on the HCSSA’s responsibility related to reporting and investigating alleged incidents of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Infection Control Basics for HCSSAs

During this webinar we will review Standard Precautions and Transmission-based Precautions; learn proper hand hygiene techniques; demonstrate how to utilize personal protective equipment (PPE); and discuss the importance of social distancing in an outbreak situation.

The webinar will not be recorded. No certificates, continuing education credits or administrator clock hours will be provided. Email questions to ltcrpolicy@hhs.texas.gov.

Managing Complaints in HCSSAs

This webinar was designed for service providers of home and community support services agencies (HCSSA) to facilitate an understanding of how to manage and reduce complaints received.

The webinar will not be recorded. Participants must attend the entire training to receive a certificate for 1 administrator clock hour.

Managing Complaints in Home and Community Support Services Agencies

This course was designed for nurses, social workers, and other professional and non-professional staff providing services in or performing duties related to Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSA) to facilitate an understanding of how to manage and reduce complaints received. This course was developed to improve the effectiveness and consistency of managing complaints. This training is intended to promote quality of care and quality of life for individuals receiving care through HCSSAs. At the end of this course, participants will be able to describe the regulatory process for complaint and incident intakes, compare contrasting intake data which impact HCSSAs, identify the top ten complaints against HCSSAs, develop prevention techniques used by HCSSAs to reduce complaints, identify the top ten actual citations for licensure and certification, compare contrasting data between actual citations and complaints, illustrate how to use quality assessment/performance improvement (QAPI) to manage and reduce complaints, develop person centered approaches to manage complaints and explain how perception can be an ally or foe in reducing complaints.

Registered Nurses earn 6.25 contact hours upon successful completion of this activity.

  • 7.20 contact hours for LP/VNs.
  • 8.00 clock hours for Administration of Agencies

Most Frequently Cited Violations and Deficiencies for Hospice Agencies

This 60-minute webinar focuses on the violations and deficiencies most frequently cited during survey of Home and Community Support Services Agencies.

The webinar will not be recorded. No certificates, continuing education credits or administrator clock hours will be provided. Email questions to ltcrpolicy@hhs.texas.gov.

Most Frequently Cited Violations for Home and Community Support Services Agencies

This one day course addresses the most common licensing violations cited by HHSC Regulatory Services in Licensed Home Health agencies (LHH), and Personal Assistance Services (PAS) agencies. This course does not address hospice services. The training will also discuss HHSC survey tasks. The class provides the opportunity for providers and HHSC Regulatory Services surveyors to discuss and identify health and safety concerns in LHH agencies and PAS agencies across the state. Under 26 TAC §558.259, Initial Education Training in Administration of Agencies HHSC has approved this course to qualify for 8 clock hours for the subjects of:

  1. legal issues regarding advanced directives;
  2. agency responsibilities;
  3. complaint investigation and resolution;
  4. emergency planning and implementation; and
  5. abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Under 26 TAC §558.260, Continuing Education in Administration of Agencies HHSC has approved this course to qualify for 8 clock hours for the subjects of:

  1. material covered under 26 TAC §558.259; and
  2. quality improvement.

Continuing Education certificates will be awarded only after completion of the entire course.

Person Centered Services in Home Health Agencies.

Person Centered Services Webinar

This course will focus on person-centered services and the person-directed planning process with specific attention to service delivery and planning in Home Health Agencies. 

It will also review House Bill 4001, which adds habilitation to the types of services that may be provided by a HCSSA. 

Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement (QAPI) for HCSSAs

Survey findings of violations related to QAPI are consistently cited in the top 10 licensure violations for HCSSAs. This 60-minute webinar will focus on the HCSSA’s responsibility to maintain a QAPI program that is ongoing and focused on measurable outcomes.

The webinar will not be recorded. No certificates, continuing education credits or administrator clock hours will be provided. Email questions to LTCRPolicy@hhs.texas.gov.us.

Role of the HCSSA Administrator

Survey findings of violations or deficiencies related to Administrators responsibilities are consistently cited in the top 10 licensure violations and certification deficiencies for HCSSAs. This 60-minute webinar will focus on the role of the HCSSA Administrator including administrative responsibilities, qualifications, and conditions for employment. Note: This webinar applies to all HCSSA license categories.

Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Texas (HCSSAs)

The purpose of this webinar is to assist Texas HCSSAs in stopping the spread of infection, including all variants of COVID-19, in light of the recent surge in cases.  We will review basic infection control principles, PPE, physical distancing, benefits of vaccination and revised Response Plan information.

The webinar will not be recorded. Email questions to LTCRpolicy@hhs.texas.gov

Survey Process for Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs)

The goal of this course is to give HCSSA providers a detailed overview of what to expect during the survey process. The course also addresses provider responsibilities and expectations during the survey, surveyor review of key documents (such as client records and personnel files). Finally, the course reviews key systems, such as QAPI and emergency preparedness. This course includes written exercises and role play activities.

For additional information, please email LTCRJointTraining@hhs.texas.gov.