CHUG Team

CHUG’s Foodborne Illness Incident Series is here!

Exclusively for Members in the Long-Term Care, Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, & Independent Living Facility spaces.

Wrap up 2026 by joining the workshop, tabletop, full-scale exercise, or all three!

Each event builds practical knowledge and response capabilities, giving teams the opportunity to strengthen preparedness and put their plans into practice.

Not a member yet? Check out the Events calendar for more: https://www.chugteam.org/external-events

Already a member? Visit the portal to register and see all upcoming events: https://www.chugteam.org/member-login

“Right now, those audit results are informational only, but as we know, anytime CMS does anything that’s ‘information only,’ it usually turns into future regulation.”

What the first wave of data validation audit results signal for nursing home compliance Results from the first batch of skilled nursing data validation audits are trickling in, with reviewers reporting inconsistent or missing documentation in key assessment areas.

What if your organization didn’t have to face an emergency alone?

That’s the power of CHUG membership.
Members gain access to:
✔️ Mutual aid support
✔️ Emergency preparedness resources
✔️ Training and exercises
✔️ Industry education
✔️ Preparedness and regulatory support

Because having a plan is important.

Having a network behind that plan is even better.

Learn more about CHUG membership: https://www.chugteam.org/become-a-member

"It’s a clear indicator that there is a push to modernize the hospice benefit, and there’s a push to hold hospices accountable to administering the benefit. They need to be aware of what other providers are serving to the patient.”

New SSVI System a ‘Matrix’ for Hospice Compliance The newly created service and spending variation index (SSVI) scoring system could challenge hospices’

CHUG’s October training series is designed to help healthcare organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from an infectious disease incident.

Each step builds on the last, from learning the fundamentals to practicing decision-making and ultimately putting your response capabilities to the test.

These October events are listed on CHUG’s current 2026 events calendar.

CMS enforcement is changing, and compliance readiness matters more than ever.

For healthcare organizations, compliance gaps can create serious challenges when regulators come calling. Staying informed and addressing potential gaps now can help your organization be better prepared for increased scrutiny.

Don’t wait until a compliance issue becomes a bigger problem.

Read CHUG’s latest blog to learn what healthcare organizations need to know about CMS enforcement and compliance readiness. https://www.chugteam.org/resources/cms-enforcement-plan-compliance-readiness

Twenty-five years ago, our nation faced an unimaginable tragedy.

Today, CHUG remembers the lives lost on September 11th and honors the first responders, healthcare workers, and everyday heroes who ran toward danger to help others.

Many do not know that CHUG exists because of that day. Connie Polke and Bill Pretzer founded the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group in the wake of 9/11 to close the gaps in emergency planning and response that the tragedy exposed.

What began as a response to crisis has become a mutual aid collaboration supporting healthcare providers nationwide with evacuation, transportation, relocation, restoration, and recovery services.

Now, healthcare organizations across the country depend on readiness when the unexpected happens, and preparedness is the legacy this day left behind.

To every first responder, healthcare worker, and caregiver who serves with courage: our team at CHUG thanks you.

We will never forget.

Where are the gaps in your emergency preparedness plan?

It’s easy to assume your organization is prepared when you have a plan in place. But true preparedness means knowing whether that plan works when it’s actually put to the test.

CHUG’s consulting services can help you identify gaps, strengthen your emergency preparedness program, and build a plan that works for your organization.

Don’t wait for an emergency to find the gaps.

Learn more about CHUG’s consulting services at https://www.chugteam.org/contact

Happy Labor Day from your team here at CHUG!

"Emerging research highlights the potential of AI-enabled social robots to enhance social interactions in dementia care, according to the study. By leveraging machine learning, computer vision and natural language processing, such robots use text, voice and images to simulate human-live interactions and foster engagement."

https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/news/can-social-robots-be-effective-long-term-in-dementia-care-heres-where-the-research-stands/

Can social robots be effective long term in dementia care? Here’s where the research stands The global increase in dementia, linked to the rise of the world’s aging population, calls for innovative interventions to address care challenges, according to the researchers behind a new study.