Skilled Nursing

Creating a culture of collaboration in LTC

With the need for states to rein in healthcare budgets, we are seeing a rapid move toward managed long-term care in states across the country. These changes are forcing many LTC providers to adapt to a new healthcare environment. Read More »

Payors line up to carry the reform mantle if ACA falls

Some insurers aren't waiting for the Supreme Court's decision to show how they feel about some of the reforms within the Affordable Care Act. Read More »

Ask the Medical Director: The appropriate use of antipsychotic medications in LTC

Last spring (May 2011), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published a report titled, "Medicare Atypical Antipsychotic Drug Claims for Elderly Nursing Home Residents." Here is what medical directors practicing in long-term care had to say about the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications. Read More »

Welcoming LTC’s technology future: Bring it on

Is your organization tuned in to technology? The 2014 chapter of Meaningful Use is closer than it appears in the rear-view mirror. Read More »

Supported living for persons with brain injury: Addressing an aging population

Cutting-edge organizations that are effectively meeting the challenges of caring for an aging population with acquired brain injuries are implementing strategies that promote good health and quality of life by actively engaging both mind and body. Read More »

Hospital readmissions won’t improve without better transitions of care

Solving the problem of hospital readmissions will take much more than follow-up calls at home. Each link in the care chain has quality improvements to make, say health IT experts at the 2012 LTPAC Health IT Summit. Read More »

MDS 3.0 updates require critical action steps

With the federal government’s escalating war on healthcare fraud and abuse, long-term care operators are on high alert in their efforts to be compliant in documentation and reporting. A leading educator pounds home the need for documentation and compliance. Read More »

Genesis HealthCare acquires Sun Healthcare for $217 million

Genesis HealthCare, one of the nation’s largest long-term care providers, buys Sun Healthcare Group to expand its services, geographic presence and grow business during these uncertain times in the healthcare industry. Read More »

eHDS User Group: While CMS continues to innovate, unpredictable Congress could cut healthcare funding

NASL’s Cynthia Morton shares insights on Congressional legislation and CMS innovation projects with attendees at this week’s eHDS User Group meeting. Read More »

Perseverance pays off when targeting physicians for referrals

A basic strategy you should use to grow qualified referrals is targeting physicians for referral development. Consider these recent successes by clients employing this strategy. Read More »

Study indicates a vascular link to Alzheimer’s

A study shows how ApoE4 can unleash an excess of the protein cyclophilin A into the cardiovascular system, causing inflammation in atherosclerosis and other conditions. The study also found that ApoE4 makes it more likely for cyclophilin A to accumulate in cells that help maintain the blood-brain barrier, reducing blood to the brain and allowing toxic substances to infiltrate. Read More »

LTPAC HIT Summit: Harnessing the power of resident consumerism and wellness engagement

Consumer empowerment is on the rise, and HIT leaders explain why the LTPAC industry is looking with new eyes at another potential data source for electronic health records: the residents themselves. Read More »

LTPAC HIT Summit: Leaders reveal goals, concerns for 2012-2014 and meaningful use

Today’s morning sessions at the LTPAC HIT Summit included the “Roadmap for 2012-2014” and the meaningful use keynote by Deputy National Coordinator for Programs and Policy Judy Murphy, RN. Both share how far we’ve come in the last two years, and how much further we need to go. Read More »

Long-term care scores big in Texas

Throughout the country, select organizations have received CMS Innovation awards for projects that aim to improve healthcare and access to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs. Read More »

Finding a good AFO vendor

I am back to square one with shabby looking AFOs. I am going to contact my former orthotists for their input. But, I may have to go to a different orthotic company to get the braces I want. Read More »

Study: Reducing avoidable hospitalizations for dual-eligibles could save millions

The authors identified five conditions—pneumonia, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infection, dehydration and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma—that were responsible for more than three-quarters of the potentially avoidable hospitalizations. Read More »

A bitter battle on Capitol Hill

Another bitter battle is brewing on Capitol Hill over how to prevent student loan interest rates from increasing from the current 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1, and believe it or not, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities may be asked to help pay the tab. Read More »

Ohio nursing homes take $30M hit

Although funding was approved in last year’s Ohio budget, Gov. John Kasich slashed bonuses to high-performing nursing homes by a line-item veto for the state’s midterm budget review. Read More »

Teamwork, communication tied to quality of nursing home care

Nursing homes that foster an environment in which workers feel they are valued contributors to a team of caregivers provide better care to their residents, according to a new study. Read More »

AHCA to Congress: Don’t use Medicaid’s provider tax rates to bail out student loans

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) tell Congress to stop eyeing Medicaid tax rates as rescue funds for student loans. Read More »

The number of hospitals that “observe” rather than admit is growing, research shows

New research data shows that many Medicare recipients are prevented from transferring to skilled care based on their hospital admission status. Read More »

U.S.News & World Report releases list of top nursing homes in California

Among best nursing homes in California, both for-profit and non-profit facilities earn five-star ratings. Read More »

5 team building practices that will make your staff want to stay

When it comes to building a team, forget corporate retreats and singing “Kumbaya” around the campfire. Here are five practical, easy-to-incorporate strategies you can use at your nursing stations starting today. Read More »

End-of-life discussions shouldn’t be saved til the end, ACPEL conference urges

Experts at this week’s International Society of Advance Care Planning & End of Life Care conference discuss medical ethics, caregiver responsibilities, and a culture of avoidance when it comes to end-of-life care decisions. Read More »

The case for hospice in the skilled nursing setting

In my years as a med nurse, unit manager and DON I always enjoyed working with hospice. My experience was that they were also there for the resident and staff. That is why hospice belongs in long-term care. Let us help you help the resident. Let’s collaborate and share the load. How can we help you today? Read More »

CMS announces partnership to reduce improper antipsychotic drug use

CMS announces a new partnership initiative to combat the improper use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. Through better reporting and data sharing, the partnership vows to cut the use of antipsychotics in nursing homes by 15 percent before the end of this year. Read More »

Nursing home profits soar in Q1 2012, yet many facilities provide “lousy” care

Strong revenues may please corporate shareholders, but CMS data shows that many nursing homes are providing substandard care for residents. Read More »

U.S. senators propose federal guidelines for use of antipsychotics in nursing homes

A proposed amendment to pending legislation would require federal regulators to issue guidelines requiring nursing homes to get permission from patients or designated advocates before administering antipsychotics. Read More »

Nursing’s top 10 pressing issues

A newly released book, “The Power of Ten—2011-2013: Nurse Leaders Address the Profession’s 10 Most Pressing Issues,” takes on hot button topics, with input from more than 30 international nurse leaders. Read More »

Assisted living options grow, while nursing home occupancy declines

A new study indicates that private-pay nursing home residents are seeking assisted living or home- and community-based options. Without the subsidies provided by private-pay residents, nursing homes are left to rely on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Read More »