One nursing home reduced its avoidable hospital visits by educating its residents and families on the role of hospice care—including the importance of respecting a resident's wishes to die in peace rather than be subject to aggressive hospital intervention at the end of life. Read More »
How detailed and integrated are your clinical records? Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Briarwood, N.Y., has spent the past few years creating an electronic health record (EHR) system that knows its residents almost as well as the staff does. Read More »
This year's OPTIMA Award winner, Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Briarwood, N.Y., has slashed its hospitalizations despite having one of the highest acuity rates in its region. Long-Term Living's Pamela Tabar spent two days visiting the site and learning how the SNF is using collaborative care teams, customized electronic documentation and early-intervention tools to keep its unique resident population out of the hospital. Read More »
MDS coordinators are charged with the responsibility to ensure all of the data accurately reflects all residents and the care that is being provided to them. Read More »
IBM continues its buying spree by capturing Merge Healthcare, bringing IBM's Watson data analytics technology to the world of medical images--providing new research data to improve electronic medical records, wearables, and more. Read More »
Seniors seem to be getting plenty of mental health medications, like antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills. But a recent report shows that older adults are far less likely than younger adults to receive the supportive mental health services that often accompany a mental health diagnosis. Read More »
More seniors and their families are using the Internet to evaluate and "window shop" for assisted living communities. What does your website say about you? Read More »
Dramatic results from a recent study indicate that integrating Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) into the active range of motion portion of a restorative program improves strength and balance. Read More »
Mindy and CG, who live the same SNF as Long-Term Living’s resident blogger Kathleen Mears, continue to take steps to transition as a couple into the community at large. Read More »
Long-Term Living's content wins big at this year's American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) national awards banquet in New York City. See which articles took the prizes! Read More »
Getting staff on board with a new electronic health record (EHR) can be daunting. A Connecticut provider shares how concerted training efforts with its EHR system vendor helped ensure a smooth transition for staff and residents. Read More »
The 400-page proposal includes new rules to reduce hospitalizations, infections and resident risks. But, opponents question the financial impacts: Feds estimate the cost would be nearly $90,000 per facility over two years. Read More »
Medicare celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 30. Experts on aging discuss the program's history and future goals at an American Society for Aging event this past June. Read More »
According to data analysis by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), independent and assisted living properties are feeling the pinch. Read More »
In a milestone addition to its physician payment schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposes to add a new billing code to allow for the reimbursement of advanced care planning services. Read More »
Shall we dance? Activity professionals hail senior communities as ideal venues for bringing the joys and benefits of musical movement back to older adults. Read More »
Still think pharmacy is just an “ancillary service”? Better think again. New standards are coming to put pharmacy data in a front-seat role in senior care delivery. Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
From customer satisfaction surveys to resident councils and hallway suggestion boxes—how welcoming is your process for receiving feedback on the good, the bad and the ugly? Read More »
