Seniors transferring from nursing homes to home- and community-based services are at 40 percent greater risk of “potentially preventable” hospitalizations, according to a newly published study. Read More »
A new tip sheet is designed to help healthcare professionals determine the scope, cause and type of chronic pain experienced by those in their care. Read More »
Makers of antibacterial products used in healthcare facilities are off the hook—for now. A recently announced FDA proposed rule on safety and effectiveness will be limited to over-the-counter soaps and body washes made for consumers. Read More »
Long-term care (LTC) companies that acquire and understand their data will be in a much stronger position as hospitals, managed care organizations and accountable care organizations look for LTC partners, experts say. Read More »
Encouraging residents to exercise may help them improve their mental and physical health as well as their fitness for and recovery from surgery, according to results of two new studies. Read More »
For more than 50 years, caregivers turned nursing home residents every two hours to prevent pressure ulcers. Do improved mattress manufacturing methods extend the time between turns? Read More »
A new study of nursing home residents in California indicates that there's much more community-acquired MRSA in LTC settings than medical professionals first thought. Read More »
Not all wounds are preventable, but a trained staff and the use of current protocols go a long way to advancing the goal of establishing a wound-free culture and an improved quality of life for residents. Read More »
Highlights of recent updates to the RAI User’s Manual relevant to Section M: Skin Conditions and how these changes help to address the prevention and care of pressure ulcers. Read More »
The “superbugs” pose a serious threat to older people, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the findings of the CDC are not all bad—the incidence of MRSA infections is declining. Read More »
Seniors seeking emergency department assistance within 30 days of common surgical procedures experience problems that can lead to readmission, creating a revolving door effect and a lowering of Medicare reimbursement to hospitals. Read More »
Elder abuse can take many forms. A network talk show recently covered the subject in an effort to educate and inform the public of the need for vigilance and oversight. Read More »
Updated 3:30 p.m. Last night’s PBS documentary on assisted living has enraged many, both because of what it revealed and what it didn’t reveal. Read More »
The RAI User's Manual received section revisions and clarifications on dental status (section L), skin conditions (section M) and other items in the May update release. Read More »
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 »
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 »
Senior Editor Pamela Tabar talks with Ruta Kadonoff, vice president of quality and regulatory affairs for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), about quality in long-term care—and why being able to measure it will be important for business. Read More »
Knowledge about the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers has come a long way, but has it come far enough to prevent and reduce the incidence of this problem in long-term care? Read More »
A new report from the Office of Inspector General accuses skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) of misusing their Medicare payments, since more than one-third of SNFs don’t fulfill—or even create—the care plans and discharge goals required for their residents. Read More »
In many LTC facilities, nurse aides and practical nurses don't always have the benefit of regular contact with physicians and registered nurses. Do your NAs and PNs have the training they need to recognize skin conditions and administer the best wound care? Read More »
One law firm has created a website to educate consumers about nursing home neglect—and to give them easy access to lawyers who specialize in eldercare neglect cases. Will other states follow suit? Read More »
Several recent studies show varying levels of success for infection-reduction programs, including efforts to curb MRSA, CLABSI and CAUTI rates. But the jury is still out on whether healthcare-associated infection (HAI) programs are making progress because of Medicare's new policies—or in spite of them. 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 »
