Policy

Grassroots strategies for MDS success

Proficiency in Minimum Data Set (MDS) completion is critical in long-term care. Skill and accuracy in completing the MDS is gaining even more Read More »

The importance of a Health Information Management department

With the emphasis today on accurate MDS coding, proper reimbursement, and complete and timely documentation, having an effective and ef-ficient Read More »

Questions & answers from the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC)

Q: Regarding Significant Change in Status Assessments (SCSA): The RAI User's Manual states that improvement or decline would be in two or more of Read More »

It’s coming! Long-term care system certification

Has your organization been confused, frustrated, and generally unable to decide what long-term care computer support system will meet your Read More »

Focuson Infection Control

Skin Care Lantiseptic® skin care products, available from Links Medical Products, Inc., provide skin barrier protection for incontinence. They are Read More »

A long-term care facility attacks UTI prevalence

Infection control is one of four quality measures that state regulators assess on annual review surveys in long-term care (LTC) facilities in Read More »

Survey success depends on knowing recent SOM revisions

Survey survival” within the January 2007 revisions of the State Operations Manual (SOM) will most often require substantial policy, procedural, and Read More »

Operating a sanitary and safe kitchen

Salmonella…E. coli…C. botulinum… These ominous words have been making headlines. Contaminated or tainted food can have devastating—even Read More »

The Dreadful Documenters: A zoology

In the Medical Records world, I have come across a variety of documentation species. Some are more dangerous than others. A number of them can sink Read More »

Medicare 101: Know your documentation

Basic knowledge of Medicare's skilled care criteria has been historically considered a “must-know” for skilled nursing facility (SNF) admission Read More »

HIPAA Olympics win gold

Preparing questions for the Olympians HIPAA Olympians at the front desk After the HIPAA security and privacy laws were passed, we poised ourselves Read More »

Do you know the HIPAA monitoring rules?

Don’t look now, but HIPAA has some regulatory teeth. On second thought, please do review the following to make sure you’re in compliance and not Read More »

State of the (healthcare) union

President Bush's 2007 State of the Union address, delivered last month, included a clear definition of societal responsibilities for healthcare Read More »

Questions & answers from the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC)

Q: What is AANAC and how do I get my questions answered on the Resident Assessment Instrument/Minimum Data Set (RAI/MDS)?A: The American Association Read More »

Feds ‘no-show’ on LTC policy

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest national organization devoted to research and debate on public health Read More »

Beware of the Deficit Reduction Act

BY JENNIFER B. CONA, ESQ.  Beware of the Deficit Reduction ActA law seeking to reform long-term care financing can pose problems. Facilities should Read More »

The White House Conference on Aging: A positive view

The report issued this September was born of a conference of controversy. Here's one professional's perspective on what it means. Read More »

Paul Willging Says…

PAUL WILLGINGsays... PACE can show us the way  Let's face it; we have a healthcare delivery and financing system for America's elderly that appears Read More »

Survey Survival

I Advance Senior CareI Advance Senior Care is the industry-leading source for practical, in-depth, business-building, and resident care i... Read More »

Update on DOL’s Regulations for Employee Exemption

BY JOHN E. LYNCHESKI AND LISA L. GARRETT   Update on DOL's regulations for employee exemptionAre you in compliance with definitions Read More »

Bed Safety: Preventing Fires Caused by Hospital Beds

BY JULIE A. BRAUN, JD, LLM, AND MARK E. BRULEY, BS  Bed safety: Preventing fires caused by hospital bedsHot tips for clinical staff and Read More »

Checking Up on Medicare Part B

BY GENE HARDY Checking up on Medicare Part BAre you sure your processes are in order? What sort of help is available? Read on...  Regardless of Read More »

Paul Willging Says…

PAUL WILLGINGsays... Medicare is worth it, but be careful  If Medicaid is going down the tubes, private pay is drying up, and long-term care Read More »

Be a Winner in Medicare RUG-53

BY CHERYL FIELD, MSN, RN, CRRN, AND JIM KAZMER Be a winner in Medicare RUG-53Still struggling with the new grouper? A refresher course to bring you Read More »

Special Section: Medicare Part D: Early Experiences

I Advance Senior CareI Advance Senior Care is the industry-leading source for practical, in-depth, business-building, and resident care i... Read More »

Paul Willging Says…

PAUL WILLGING says...It all comes down to education  Having spent so much of my professional career in the public-policy arena, and now working in an Read More »

Survey Survival

SURVEY survivalBY RETA A. UNDERWOOD, ADCBeyond the survey checklist  Findings from yet another report should continue to diminish our dependence on Read More »

FDA Bed Safety Guidance: Mitigating Risk

FDA bed safety guidance: Mitigating riskJulie A. Braun, JD, LLM, interviews Larry Kessler, ScD, Director of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Read More »

Preparing for Disasters

BY JOSHUA D. NATHAN Preparing for disastersWith key ingredients, the prescription is easy  With a new hurricane season bearing down and memories of Read More »

Paul Willging Says…

PAUL WILLGING says...A professional association can serve society   The aging of America is pressuring state and federal governments Read More »