IHCA Spring Conference

Pre-Conference Education Session

Leading with Resilience – Actionable Strategies to Prevent Burnout and Reduce Turnover

Speaker: Dr. Simon Mittal
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.5 for ALL

This session examines burnout and turnover in health care through an organizational lens, highlighting their impact on staffing stability, culture and financial performance. Participants will explore evidence-based strategies to address root causes, including workload management, staff autonomy, peer support and transparent workplace practices. Emphasis is placed on the leader’s role in modeling resilience, setting boundaries and fostering a culture where well-being is prioritized and supported. Attendees will leave with practical tools and implementation ideas to position burnout prevention as a key driver of retention and operational stability.

Opening General Session

Goal-Driven Leadership and High-Performance Interdisciplinary Teams

Speaker: Veronica Ceaser
Location: Bishop AB
CEUs: 1.0 for ALL

High-performing long-term care organizations are built through intentional, goal-driven leadership and strong interdisciplinary collaboration. This session connects leadership vision to frontline execution, demonstrating how leaders translate organizational goals into daily team behaviors, accountability and outcomes. Participants will explore how clear goals, role clarity and trust-based teamwork improve quality, staff engagement and resident outcomes. Practical examples and actionable strategies will help attendees align teams, strengthen communication and drive performance across the continuum of care.

Breakout Session 1

Preparing for PDPM LTC Changes – Accuracy, Compliance and Optimization

Speaker: Veronica Ceaser
Location: Bishop A
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, N, SS, DH

The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) continues to evolve, and long-term care leaders must be prepared to respond with precision, strategy and interdisciplinary alignment. This session provides a practical roadmap for navigating upcoming PDPM changes, focusing on how coding accuracy, documentation integrity and care planning alignment directly impact reimbursement, survey risk and quality outcomes. Participants will learn how to strengthen assessment accuracy, reduce revenue leakage and mitigate audit risk while maintaining regulatory integrity. The session emphasizes actionable strategies to align interdisciplinary practices and protect both reimbursement and resident-centered care. 

Managing Change and Transition

Speaker: Cathy Bergland
Location: Bishop B
CEUs: 1.5 for ALL

In our world of near-constant change, William Bridges offers helpful perspectives and a framework for managing the whole transition process, not just the specific change itself. In this workshop, participants learn about 12 characteristics of a transition, the concept of the “neutral zone,” and four specific steps to lead through transition and change more effectively. Bridges notes that “the single biggest reason that organizational changes fail is that no one thought about endings or planned to manage their impact on people.” This session provides practical ways to make current and future changes more successful.

Leader “Hats” – Mentor, Leader and Coach

Speaker: Kim Warnecke
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.5 for ALL

Leaders in long-term care wear different hats at different times — serving as mentors, leaders and coaches to support staff and residents. This session explores how each role shapes team performance, workplace culture and the overall care environment. Participants will learn practical strategies to strengthen leadership presence, support staff development and create settings where people want to work, live and thrive. The session emphasizes how effective leadership directly influences employee engagement and resident experience. 

What to Know Before You Call

Speaker: Jodi Wilson
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, ALMC, N

This session teaches nurses the essential information to gather and steps to take before contacting a provider, family member or care partner. It covers how to quickly assess the situation, organize key clinical details, anticipate follow-up questions and communicate clearly using structured frameworks. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce back-and-forth calls, support confident clinical decision-making and ensure safe, timely patient care.

Breakout Session 2

Navigating LTC Reimbursement

Speaker: Melinda Renshaw
Location: Bishop A
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, N, SS

This session provides a clear, practical overview designed for professionals who want to understand how diagnoses, clinical conditions and selected interventions directly impact reimbursement across payer types. Participants will review PDPM for traditional Medicare; how Medicare Advantage plans differ in authorization, payment methodology and risk; how Medicaid case-mix systems influence rates based on acuity and functional status; and VA reimbursement models, including eligibility and coordination of benefits.

Non-Anxious Leadership

Speaker: Cathy Bergland
Location: Bishop B
CEUs: 1.0 for ALL

Non-anxious leadership has been noted in research as an effective way to lead, particularly in times of crisis and change. In this session, attendees will learn about the characteristics of being a non-anxious presence, understand the importance of dealing with our own anxiety as we lead others and having access to diagnostic checklists. This session will include educational content and small-group discussions.

Recruitment Strategies for Long-Term Care

Speaker: Kim Warnecke
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.0 for ALL

Recruitment in long-term care depends heavily on retention, culture and employee engagement. This session explores how organizations can strengthen recruitment efforts by focusing first on retaining and supporting the staff they already have. Participants will review practical strategies for building partnerships with colleges and trade schools while creating workplace environments where employees feel valued and invested. The session emphasizes the connection between engaged teams and stronger resident, patient and client experiences. 

Advanced Care Planning Conversations

Speaker: Jodi Wilson
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, ALMC, N, SS, DH

It is often said that the last mile of one’s life is the most important, and with that mile comes difficult conversations and tough decisions. It is for this reason that planning for the future with an interdisciplinary approach is vital in post-acute care. Learn how to make advanced care planning conversations a more comfortable and regular experience in your facility. Most importantly, help your residents meet their last mile of life with confidence.

Breakout Session 3

What High-Performing Facilities Do Differently

Speaker: Angela Miller
Location: Skinner A
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, N, DH

High-performing long-term care facilities don’t succeed by chance — they operate with intentional systems, strong leadership alignment and a consistent focus on quality and compliance. This session draws on consulting insights from a wide range of long-term care settings to examine the common practices that distinguish high-performing organizations from those that struggle. Designed for LNHAs, DONs, regional operators, department heads and surveyors, this presentation explores the operational, clinical and cultural strategies that drive sustained success. Participants will gain insight into how top-performing facilities approach regulatory readiness, staffing stability and continuous quality improvement.

Avoiding Costly PDPM Errors – Real-Life Case Studies

Speaker: Veronica Ceaser
Location: Skinner B
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, N, SS

PDPM was designed to reward clinical complexity, but documentation gaps, coding inconsistencies and interdisciplinary misalignment can quietly cost facilities significant revenue. This interactive session uses real-life case scenarios to highlight common mistakes related to primary diagnosis selection, comorbidity capture, Section GG scoring, IPA timing, interrupted stay rules and triple-check processes. Participants will learn how breakdowns occur and how to strengthen collaboration among nursing, therapy, MDS and billing teams. The session emphasizes practical safeguards and audit strategies that support PDPM accuracy, compliance and appropriate reimbursement. 

The Drive to De-Prescribe

Speaker: Amy Siple
Location: Skinner C
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, ALMC, N, SS

Polypharmacy is becoming increasingly common in health care, with older adults disproportionately affected and at greater risk for adverse drug events. This session explores the factors driving polypharmacy, the risks involved and practical strategies to address it, including the growing emphasis on de-prescribing and use of updated BEERS criteria. Participants will learn how to identify high-risk medications, evaluate medication lists and engage in shared decision-making to improve safety and outcomes. Real-world examples will highlight opportunities to optimize therapy and reduce medication-related harm across care settings.

Beyond the Incident – Conducting Effective Investigations to Strengthen Safety and Compliance

Speaker: Cat Selman
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, N, SS, DH

This session offers a comprehensive roadmap for conducting thorough, compliant investigations, from timely reporting and documentation to interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence and ruling out abuse. The presenter will highlight common gaps identified by state investigators, including missed reporting deadlines, lack of individualized assessments and failure to implement preventive interventions. Attendees will leave with practical tools and frameworks to strengthen investigation processes, identify trends and support a culture of safety and accountability.

Leadership in Health Care – Guiding Imperfect Humans

Speaker: Jodi Wilson
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.25 for ALL

Health care leadership is challenging not because the work is complex — but because people are. This session explores the real heart of leadership: imperfect humans leading imperfect humans. In an environment where emotions run high, staffing is stretched and expectations are constantly shifting, the most effective leaders aren’t the ones who demand perfection — they’re the ones who create clarity, connection and accountability even in the chaos. 

Breakout Session 4

From Crisis Management to Proactive Planning

Speaker: Angela Miller
Location: Skinner A
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, N, DH

Long-term care organizations often operate in a constant state of reaction — responding to survey findings, staffing shortages, clinical events and regulatory changes after they occur. This session shifts the focus from crisis-driven decision-making to proactive, sustainable planning that strengthens compliance, improves outcomes and reduces organizational risk. Designed for LNHAs, DONs, regional operators, department heads and surveyors, this presentation explores practical strategies to anticipate challenges before they escalate into deficiencies or adverse events. Participants will learn how to identify early warning indicators, implement structured risk-assessment processes and align leadership teams around proactive operational and clinical planning.

Risk Management in Assisted Living – Falls, Elopement and High-Risk Resident Profiles

Speaker: Veronica Ceaser
Location: Skinner B
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, ALMC, N, SS, DH

Assisted living communities care for increasingly complex residents while operating with fewer clinical resources than skilled nursing. This session provides a practical, systems-based approach to identifying high-risk resident profiles related to falls, elopement and unmanaged behaviors, along with strategies to prevent adverse events. Participants will learn how to strengthen documentation, communication and team coordination while moving from reactive incident response to proactive risk anticipation. The session emphasizes practical steps that protect residents, staff and the organization while supporting regulatory readiness. 

Protecting Your License

Speaker: Amy Siple
Location: Skinner C
CEUs: 1.5 for N, ADM, ALMC

Your license is your livelihood; protect it with knowledge and proactive strategies in this session for nurses. Learn the most common reasons nurses face board discipline, including documentation errors, scope-of-practice violations and boundary issues, and how to avoid them through best practices and ethical decision-making. The session will cover real-world case studies, risk-reduction techniques and steps to take if a complaint is filed, along with insight into the disciplinary process and available legal resources. Equip yourself with the tools to safeguard your career and practice with confidence and integrity. This presentation does not constitute legal advice.

Mastering CMS Critical Element Pathways – Ensuring Compliance and Quality in LTC

Speaker: Cat Selman
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, N, SS, DH

In recent years, CMS has updated its Critical Element Pathways (CEPs) to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the nursing home survey process, yet many facilities remain unfamiliar with how to use them to support compliance. This session provides a practical overview of the CEPs, their role in surveys and how they guide surveyors in evaluating care and operations. Participants will review recent updates, key areas of change and how surveyors now approach investigations, including the documentation and evidence they expect to see. Attendees will leave better prepared to proactively address compliance risks and reduce the likelihood of citations.

Activity Program Management and Planning

Speaker: Bryan Rife
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, AP

This session focuses on program planning strategies that support a resident-centered activity calendar while maintaining regulatory compliance. Participants will learn practical approaches to developing meaningful programming for large resident populations, including how to individualize activities, balance group and one-on-one engagement and align offerings with survey expectations. The session will provide tools to help activity professionals build inclusive, compliant calendars that meet diverse needs and preferences.

Home Health CMS Report Workshop

Speaker: Annette Lee
Location: Polk County Room
CEUs: 1.5 for ADM, N, HC

This session provides a practical walkthrough of the key CMS reports used in home health and how to read, interpret and act on the data they contain. Participants will review each report, learn what the metrics mean and understand how the information can be used to guide performance improvement and compliance efforts. The session will focus on turning report data into actionable insights that support quality care, operational decision-making and survey readiness.

Breakout Session 5

Understanding OIG and Compliance Programs

Speaker: Brenda Irlbeck
Location: Skinner A
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, N, DH

This session provides a practical overview of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the role of compliance programs in long-term care organizations. Participants will review core elements of an effective compliance program, common risk areas and expectations for monitoring, reporting and response. The session will also highlight how proactive compliance efforts support ethical operations, regulatory readiness and organizational accountability.

Survey Readiness and RI Prevention in Assisted Living

Speaker: Maggie Eder
Location: Skinner B
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, ALMC, N, DH

This session focuses on the most common assisted living deficiencies identified in Iowa and practical strategies to prevent them. Participants will learn what surveyors look for, where providers most often fall short and how to build compliance into everyday operations and documentation practices. The session emphasizes actionable steps staff and leaders can implement immediately to strengthen performance and reduce risk.

Managing Care Transitions Across the Continuum

Speaker: Kim Schilling
Location: Skinner C
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, ALMC, N, SS, DH

Care transitions are defining moments within continuum-based organizations — shaping resident experience, team trust and overall outcomes. This session offers a real-world look at how leaders manage transitions across multiple levels of care, the challenges that commonly arise and the ways teams stay aligned through change. Through shared experiences and reflection, participants will explore how intentional care transitions can strengthen outcomes, satisfaction and organizational culture.

Choices that Matter – Empowering Residents Every Day

Speaker: Cat Selman
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.0 for ALL

Every day, residents in long-term care settings face a delicate balance between receiving necessary care and maintaining their independence. This session is designed to help staff at all levels enhance care by focusing on resident autonomy and choice. This session provides practical tools and strategies to turn routine care into personalized, meaningful experiences that promote dignity, self-esteem and well-being. Participants will explore how respecting resident preferences supports improved outcomes, satisfaction and quality of life while fostering a more person-centered care environment.

The Future of AI in Activity Planning

Speaker: Bryan Rife
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, AP

This session explores how artificial intelligence is beginning to shape activity planning in long-term care and what it could mean for the future of engagement programming. Participants will learn how AI tools can support idea generation, personalization and documentation while still preserving the human connection that defines meaningful activities. The session will highlight practical use cases, considerations and opportunities for integrating AI into daily planning and operations.

Spring Changes – CMS Change for CAHPS and OASIS E-2 Effective April 1

Speaker: Annette Lee
Location: Polk County Room
CEUs: 1.0 for ADM, N, HC

This session provides an overview of the CMS updates to CAHPS and OASIS E-2 taking effect April 1 and what they mean for home health providers. Participants will review key changes, documentation expectations and operational impacts related to assessment, reporting and patient experience measures. The session will focus on practical steps organizations can take now to prepare staff, adjust workflows and maintain compliance.

Breakout Session 6

Culture Change – A Sustainable Solution to Workforce Engagement and Repair

Speaker: Sarah Friede
Location: Skinner A
CEUs: 1.25 for ALL

This session explores how culture change can serve as a sustainable solution to workforce engagement, retention and organizational repair. Participants will examine how leadership behaviors, team dynamics and workplace systems influence morale, trust and performance. The session highlights practical strategies to rebuild engagement, strengthen communication and create environments where staff feel supported and valued. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to embed culture change into daily operations and long-term workforce strategies.

AL Policy and Occupancy

Speaker: Morgan Merritts
Location: Skinner B
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, ALMC, N, DH

This interactive session outlines best practices in policy development and implementation, identifies compliance requirements for assisted living occupancy agreements and supports providers in managing risk while maintaining regulatory compliance. Participants will gain practical guidance to strengthen policies, align practices with expectations and reduce potential compliance issues.

Medicaid Eligibility Training

Speakers: Dawn Helm and Avis Tripilas
Location: Skinner C
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, N, SS, DH

This session provides practical training on Medicaid eligibility requirements with guidance from members of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Participants will review application processes, documentation expectations and common challenges that can delay eligibility determinations. The session will focus on strategies to improve accuracy, timeliness and coordination with state partners.

Staying Ahead of Risk – Legal and Regulatory Hot Topics in Long-Term Care

Speakers: Katie Cownie and Adam Freed
Location: Salon 1&2
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, ALMC, N, SS, DH

Stay current on the legal and regulatory issues shaping long-term care operations in this timely hot topics session led by attorneys Katie Cownie and Adam Freed of Dorsey + Whitney LLP. Designed to address emerging challenges facing providers, this session will highlight key developments in the legal and regulatory landscape and what they mean for day-to-day operations, risk management and compliance. Special focus will be given to the growing role of technology and electronic device use in care settings — including smartphones, recording devices and social media — and the legal considerations that accompany them for staff, residents and families. Attendees will gain practical insight and strategies to help navigate evolving expectations while protecting their organizations and supporting compliant, resident-centered practices.

Beyond BINGO

Speaker: Bryan Rife
Location: Salon 3
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, AP

This session explores interactive game ideas that move beyond traditional bingo to engage residents in fun, competitive and meaningful ways. Participants will learn how to design and facilitate activities that encourage participation, social connection and cognitive stimulation across varying ability levels. The session will provide practical ideas that can be implemented immediately to refresh activity programming and boost engagement.

Integrating Community-Based Resources for Improved Patient Outcomes

Speaker: Karena Laswell
Location: Polk County Room 
CEUs: 1.25 for ADM, N, H

This session explores community-based resources and how to integrate them into a patient’s plan of care to support engagement and outcomes. Participants will learn how to identify local resources and understand their role in improving patient and caregiver support, functional outcomes and value-based care goals. The session emphasizes practical approaches for leveraging community partnerships to deliver more comprehensive, coordinated care.