Month: June 2015

HIEs could improve patient outcomes for nursing homes

Communication through health information exchanges could help nursing homes improve patient outcomes. Read More »

Study: Even residents not taking antibiotics experience drug-resistance effects

In a new JAMA study, researchers found that even residents who aren't taking antibiotics can be affected by overuse in a nursing home. Read More »

Study shows benefits of wearable ventilation technology in respiration therapy

Wearable ventilation device can increase physical activity in those with chronic respiratory disease, notes a new study. Read More »

Survival of the fittest

It’s never too late to start taking care of the body that takes care of you. Maintaining strength, muscle tone and confidence are instrumental in positive aging. Read More »

Senior housing industry experts create quality care organization

Two long-term care industry leaders join forces to create Innovative Health LLC.  Read More »

Turn your data into dollars. Why quality is the new currency.

Performance-based reimbursement requires an efficient approach to documentation and data collection. Between readmission penalties and the IMPACT Act of 2014, the data we use to demonstrate quality outcomes is quickly becoming the currency of our business. Success in the changing reimbursement models means we need to take a data-driven, proactive approach to improving care and quality of life in nursing homes.The Affordable Care Act of 2010 resulted in a provision to develop standards we now know as “QAPI” programs or Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement programs.QAPI is the foundation.Click here to read more. Read More »

OSHA inspections add focus on nursing risks

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration expanded its inspections to include musculoskeletal injuries related to patient or resident handling and four other risks to nurses. Read More »

Time to say goodbye

Residents often form warm relationships with their direct caregivers. Employee turnover is not a surprise in the long-term care field, but even for the aide that is going back to school, changing jobs or beginning a family, it’s hard to say goodbye to the older resident who relied on them. Read More »

Nurses revamp discharge summaries

A project led by nurses is attempting to automate the discharge process to reduce hospital readmissions. Read More »

Detailed brain imaging advances Alzheimer’s treatment options

Advanced imaging technology could help treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Read More »

Caregivers fired after ignoring resident injury, dragging him across the floor

Three caregivers from Peninsula Nursing and Rehabilitation Center face felony charges for ignoring a sick, bleeding resident and then dragging him across the floor.  Read More »

Assessment finds missing measures in Medicare’s pay-for-quality programs

A new Avalere assessment of quality measures finds many important medical conditions are not represented in Medicare's pay-for-quality programs. Read More »

And the 2015 OPTIMA Award winner is…

So many excellent programs entered the competition for this year’s OPTIMA Award, but one program rose above the others. See who won! Read More »

Fire at Mexico nursing home kills 16, injures 5

A fire ripped through a nursing home in Mexicali, Mexico City, this week, killing 16 residents and injuring five others Read More »

BREAKING NEWS: SCOTUS votes to uphold subsidies in King v Burwell

The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 today to uphold marketplace subsidies in the landmark case King v Burwell. Read More »

ACHCA’s Grachek stepping down

After nine years of leadership in the long-term care industry, ACHCA President and CEO Marianna Grachek announces that she will be retiring next month. Read More »

Texas governor signs ‘three strikes’ bill to improve nursing home oversight

A measure to strengthen nursing home regulations in Texas was signed by Governor Greg Abbott this week. Read More »

Medalogix partners with Homecare Homebase

The partnership between Medalogix and Homecare Homebase will provide analytics to an already well-known long-term care software solution. Read More »

Report: Nursing homes inflate staff numbers for better Nursing Home Compare ranking

A Center for Public Integrity report shows as many as 80 percent of nursing homes are inflating their staffing levels on Medicare.gov for higher rankings. Read More »

MatrixCare add EHR interfaces for therapy data

Therapy services documentation and billing just got easier as a leading electronic health record vendor adds interfaces for therapy data. Read More »

New Senior, Health Care REIT announce major acquisitions

In the last week, Health Care REIT and New Senior Investment Group announced acquisitions totaling more than a billion dollars.  Read More »

Getting ready for assessment data and the IMPACT Act

Workgroups responsible for implementing the standardization of documentation codes across care settings under the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) have been busy during the past year, and SNFs may have to be ready to report under the new assessment data as early as fall 2016, noted panel presenters at this week's Long-Term and Post-Acute Care Health IT Summit in Baltimore. Read More »

What is your facility’s bullying policy?

What happens when one of your residents is the victim of bullying? Do you have a policy in place to address it? Read More »

CAST releases updated meds management matrix

The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) releases updated portfolio to help providers choose the right medication management technology for their needs. Read More »

Feds arrest several doctors, nurses in largest Medicare fraud bust ever

More than 240 people were arrested in 17 cities for allegedly billing Medicare for $712 million for care that was never given.  Read More »

LTC professionals take their message to Congress

UPDATED June 23, 2015: Congressional actions got a few steps closer to repealing two key Obamacare provisions--the medical device tax and the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Read More »

My inspirational item was a casualty

It’s just good “housekeeping” to go purge one’s living area of unwanted, unused, broken, dated or unimportant possessions. Sometimes during downsizing, however, things can go awry. Read More »

Practicing emergency color codes

Code Blue, Code Gray, Code Red, Code White... Do your clinical and administrative staff practice color-code emergencies? Read More »

Bayer to divest its diabetes care business

Panasonic Healthcare Holdings to buy diabetes care business, including several popular blood glucose monitor devices, from Bayer AG. Read More »

Caremerge launches chronic care coordination solution

Bridging the gap between physicians, residents and families, Caremerge launches a chronic care management solution that takes care coordination reimbursement into account. Read More »