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 »
Even the little bills mean a lot. The right accounts payable technology can help LTC communities keep their business partners happy and avoid costly late fees. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued various documents related to the electronic submission of staffing and census information in an effort to promote greater accountability for long-term care facilities. Referred to as “Payroll Data Submission – Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) Reporting,” this new reporting structure will be mandatory effective July 1, 2016.Read on to learn about the goals of PBJ, what these additional requirements mean to providers, how to approach and implement the changes, and how to address the challenges that must be considered.Click here to read more Read More »
Millions of older adults experience elder abuse each year. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aims to educate the nation on how to spot elder abuse and prevent it from happening. Read More »
Surveys repeatedly cite food as a major factor in customer satisfaction. If residents and their families aren’t happy with meals, they tend to find fault in other service areas. Read More »
Articles appearing in Long-Term Living won two awards presented June 5 in the All Ohio Excellence in Journalism competition organized by the Press Club of Cleveland. Read More »
Clothes that maintain their color, size and shape please residents and their families and also provide visible evidence to prospective residents of the quality of care and services you provide. How do you satisfy staff members and regulators, too? Here are some ideas. Read More »
More than 150 food companies, retailers, and human and animal health stakeholders have committed to the responsible use of antibiotics in conjunction with the June 2 White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship. Read More »
Those attending the Nurse Leadership Summit hosted by the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination identified top challenges facing directors of nursing in long-term care. Read More »
Residents and chefs faced off against one another in an “Iron Chef-style” challenge May 19. Each team had 60 minutes to prepare for judges an appetizer, main entrée and dessert containing a secret ingredient. Read More »
In our latest Partnerships@Work installment, a Connecticut long-term care community teams up with an infection control company to reduce the site’s “closed days” and curb the spread of airborne infection risks. Read More »
Leaders from organizations representing providers of housing, care and services for older adults say they continue to scrutinize the 653-page proposal of reforms to Medicaid managed care plans that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued May 26, but they shared their initial reactions with Long-Term Living. Read More »
If mobility is an issue that stops an older person from connecting with nature, then a Missouri community shows how teamwork opens doors—and trails—for seniors. Read More »
In preparation for the shift to value-based reimbursement, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that the new Minimum Data Set (MDS) Focused Survey will be expanding nationwide this year in effort to incent providers to focus more on individualized care planning and person-centered care.Read on to learn what areas will be under the most scrutiny in the new survey process, what you can do to prepare, and some target areas for deficiencies.Click here to read more Read More »
Antibiotic resistance is still outpacing researchers’ ability to develop new types of antibiotics, and too many physicians still overprescribe, according to a policy brief released this week by the Health Affairs journal. Read More »
Communication devices are everywhere. Indiscriminate use of “bring your own device” policies can threaten privacy for residents and your organization. Read More »
Exercising your brain may have as much to do with gait and balance as exercising your legs—and race may play a factor, too, says a recent study. Read More »
