Nationally-recognized culture change educator/consultant Carmen Bowman guided participants through the historical context for nursing home regulation, and discussion about ways specific long-term care regulations support culture change practices. Providers and survey agency folks alike were challenged to view the regulatory construct as tool to rethink current practices and expectations, and to allow for more person-centered approaches to care.

Joint long-term care provider and surveyor training has been a tradition in Kansas since 2000, when provider and agency stakeholders came together to identify ways for regulators and the regulated community to gain a common understanding on deficient as well as best practices. Trainings are held in two locations twice a year, and while they generally have focused on clinical care, the first culture change-related joint training was held in 2002.