The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' rule on hospital "observation stays" has generated much controversy. The American Health Care Association strikes back with a long list of changes that should be made--and why. Read More »
Developing relationships with potential referral sources is one of the most important duties of a senior living executive. One provider found that offering CE courses helped acquaint referral sources with its community while providing these professionals with valuable content. Read More »
In March 2013, the majority of nursing home residents will experience a radical change—no more government checks in the mail. Long-term care facilities should start now to educate their staffers and their residents on the new electronic direct deposit system. Read More »
When it comes to performance based on 30-day mortality rates, care facilities may be getting skewed performance ratings for ischemic strokes, a new study says. Read More »
In early August, Massachusetts became the 17th state to protect registered nurses from mandatory overtime. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a healthcare law that identifies restrictions. In California and Missouri, regulations contain provisions for mandatory overtime. Read More »
Residents who are recovering from surgery need special transitions of care and monitoring to prevent post-operative complications and hospital readmissions. Read More »
When it comes to getting Medicaid assistance for long-term care costs, too many rule variations among the states have created a chaotic system, a GAO report concludes. Read More »
Knowing that the quality measures (QMs) are used by surveyors and the public to evaluate your facility’s care outcomes should convince you to give high priority to understanding the details of the QMs. Read More »
A nursing home in one New Orleans parish chose to ride out Hurricane Isaac, but the facility is now flagged for evacuation as storm surge exceeds the nearby levees, flooding the neighborhood. Read More »
Last month I blogged about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ controversial Five-Star Quality Rating System in light of news of its revamped Nursing Home Compare website. I invited readers to share their thoughts on the rating system and the website, knowing that this was one issue certain to generate some commentary. And it sure did. Read More »
We’re still enjoying the vestiges of summer, but it’s never too early to begin educating elderly residents about influenza risks and the importance of vaccinations. Read More »
To address cultural differences, many organizations make an effort to learn about the cultural practices of the different groups represented in the community. But sharing our cultural norms isn’t enough. What is most important to addressing the challenges of difference is to create a culture of respect, where each person feels valued and accepted. Read More »
Tropical Storm Isaac is predicted to change its name to Hurricane Isaac later today as it continues on its path to New Orleans and other coastal points. Read More »
People with Parkinson’s have to take pills many times a day to control their symptoms. A new medication technique developed at the Cleveland Clinic uses a gell-based medication to curb the “fall off” effects that pills often have. Read More »
A facility’s infection control program should start from the bottom, the top and sides. Housekeeping and maintenance departments are key players in infection control. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services on Friday published a final rule pushing back the compliance deadline for converting to the ICD-10 system of diagnostic and procedural coding to October 1, 2014 from October 1, 2013. Read More »
Ohio is the latest state to launch a pay-for-quality program for skilled nursing reimbursement. But with 10 percent of reimbursement riding on passing the quality program, is the test tough enough? Read More »
Long-Term Living talks with Lynne Katzmann, president and CEO of Juniper Communities, on how benchmarking combined with a “double bottom line” philosophy have resulted in increased census and recognition as one of the top 25 women-owned businesses by Crain’s New York Business. Read More »
I believe it is the role of senior care administrators to generate motivation in their employees. This goal can be accomplished with a clear mission that is supported and reinforced on an ongoing basis, particularly through hands-on actions. Read More »
One more reason to consider shedding those extra pounds: A neurology study suggests that obesity can contribute to reduced cognition in later life. Read More »
Residents often enter long-term care with surprisingly little knowledge about their conditions, whether they have a recent diagnosis or have been living with an illness for many years. Here are five reasons why we should teach our residents about the illnesses they live with. Read More »
Kindred Healthcare invests deeply in the heart of Texas, announcing its agreement to purchase IntergraCare's Texas-based home care and hospice operations. Read More »
As Medicare and Medicaid programs grow, the insurance market is spending billions to get a larger slice of the government-backed healthcare markets. Read More »
Should unused drugs be flushed? Tossed in the trash? The nation’s top hospice organizations partner to create better training on the safe disposal of unused medication. Read More »
Online marketing has skyrocketed in recent years and if you, long-term care provider, have yet to dip your toes into the Web waters, now’s the time if you hope to get a leg up on your local competition. Read More »
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL)awards are here: This year 458 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities were recognized, but only two took home the gold. Read More »
