Administration

Healthland buys American HealthTech

Two technology companies combine their products to provide electronic data documentation across the care continuum—from hospitals to SNFs to home care. Read More »

CMS revises discharge planning guidelines

New CMS guidelines take a deeper look at discharge planning, clarifying who is responsible for what at the time of discharge and why discharge planning is a key to reducing 30-day readmissions. Read More »

Protecting your digital assets

If you've got data, you've got risks. A former White House CIO shares insights and advice on safeguarding LTC’s valuable data in an increasingly mobile and cloud-based world. Read More »

Front Porch puts mHealth medication management on front burner

The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing and CareSpeak Communications develop a patient-centric medications reminder service to improve seniors' medication compliance. Read More »

Evacuation costs may be levied on ill-prepared La. SNFs

Ignoring evacuation plans may become costly for Louisiana facilities that do not have adequate systems in place to move their residents out of harm's way. Read More »

CMMI rethinks its innovation program, sharpens focus for Round 2 funding

CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announces a significantly smaller and more-focused project list for Round Two of the funding awards. Read More »

Signature HealthCARE acquires six Kindred Healthcare SNFs

Signature HealthCARE has acquired six facilities from Kindred Healthcare, increasing Signature’s national presence to 78 facilities. Read More »

Senate confirms Marilyn Tavenner as permanent administrator of CMS

 Tavenner is the first permanent administrator of that federal agency to be confirmed in nearly a decade. Read More »

Skilled nursing occupancy hovers near 8-year low

Overall nursing occupancy is near the eight-year cyclical low, but private-pay nursing units are seeing some recovery. Read More »

Medicare fraudsters nabbed in $223 million nationwide bust

This week’s Medicare fraud sting operation involved nearly 100 people across multiple states, including physicians, nurses and therapists. Read More »

FDA approves 24-hour COPD drug

The FDA has approved the first once-a-day inhalant to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More »

Nighttime housekeeping is disruptive

While nursing homes are a 24-hour-a-day operation, maintenance/housekeeping staff need to schedule loud and/or noisy projects at times that won't limit accessibility to residents or disturb their routines. Read More »

Staff shortages trigger investigation of W. Va. veterans nursing home

Too many hours, too little pay and too few staff are the accusations at a West Virginia nursing home for veterans currently under state investigation. Read More »

ALFA 2013: ALFA honors six Senior Living Hero Award winners

Fmr. First Lady Laura Bush presents the Hero Awards at the ALFA 2013 conference. Read More »

ALFA 2013 Keynote: Are you a leader of possibilities?

The attendees at ALFA’s 2013 conference learn lessons about leadership (and Beethoven) from world-renowned orchestra conductor Benjamin Zander. Read More »

Contaminated mattresses: A new source of concern in infection control?

Don’t take infection control lying down. The most effective risk management program can be undone by not taking a few simple precautions. Read More »

A trainee’s misstep

A confrontation on feeding protocol and personal safety takes place between an aide in training and her instructor in the presence of residents. Read More »

The brave, new LTC world: Are you on board?

As Americans continue to aging in growing numbers, long-term care faces challenges on several fronts in providing the relevant care, services and accommodations that this new senior demographic will demand. Read More »

LTC property investors shirk SNFs as financial risks

Several of long-term care’s biggest property owners are shedding their interest in the financially challenged skilled nursing sector. Read More »

CMS proposes $180 million increase in hospice reimbursements

CMS has proposed a new rule that would raise hospice payments under Medicare by $180 million next year. Read More »

Long-Term Living wins big at ASHPE

Long-Term Living earns four awards for its content excellence from the American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors.  Read More »

Leaders of Tomorrow: Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC

Congratulations to the fourth of our five 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow: Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC. After 30 years in acute care, Segal has dedicated herself to educating LTC facilities about infection control and prevention. Read More »

Admission screening for C. difficile targets carriers

Hospital pre-admission testing may help to deter the spread of healthcare-acquired infections by identifying carriers prior to admission, according to a new study. Read More »

Activists petition for safer bed rails in nursing homes

Bed rails are supposed to keep residents safe, but some advocates say stricter standards are needed to keep them from doing more harm than good. Read More »

The controversy over an independent living facility’s CPR policy

Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears provides a resident's perspective on the recent public firestorm over a nurse's refusal to perform CPR on a resident. Read More »

Assisted living redefined in new building codes

The International Building Code has been revised to reclassify assisted living facilities, acknowledging their difference from nursing homes and hospitals. Read More »

Assisted living fundamentals softened in 1Q13

For the first quarter of 2013,  assisted living occupancy showed a decline from the numbers it had been achieving as it recovered from the economic challenges of the past two years. However, absorption and inventory showed gains. Read More »

A resurgence of fraud cases based on quality allegations

Alleged poor quality charges are landing providers in the poorhouse. A look at cases based on poor quality of care and the subsequent verdicts handed down. Read More »

CMS sweetens the deal for fraud whistleblowers

Know about someone conducting sneaky Medicare billing practices? CMS’ new whistleblower proposal might pay you more than your boss does. Read More »

Senate committee approves Tavenner for CMS helm

Marilyn Tavenner has obtained a vote of confidence from a Senate committee in her bid to become the first confirmed administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in seven years. Read More »