OBRA REGULATIONS

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987 has evolved from a little understood entity to become a common, everyday term, in the l ong-term care industry. The enforcement of the regulations contained w ithin this act have involved and affected every department within thes e facilities. Nursing home staff have spent hours planning, preparing, and implementing policies, procedures, handbooks, and numerous docume nts to achieve the outcomes OBRA outlines. This article provides a bri ef history and overview of OBRA, highlighting areas most affected in t he area of resident care management. Emphasis will be placed on discus sion of the facilities' approach both to the regulatory compliance and expansion of programs that provide improved quality of life within a customer service orientation.