Mobile Version SearchEldercare Subscribe Newsletters Contact Us About Us Advertise Magazine Jobs Reprints Video Ads

RSS | Login | Register

February 2012 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News

News

Cuts illustrate need for new business models, experts say

As the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and other groups seek to trim public funding for long-term care, the industry needs to mesh with new, strong ...

3 LTC groups make leadership changes

Three major long-term care organizations recently announced changes to their senior leadership.

Santorum: Let's get rid of CMS

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum says it's time to eliminate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Programs administered at least in part by CMS ...

Obama leans left in NLRB appointments

Anti-unionization proponents are wincing at the recess appointments of two new members of the National Labor Relations Board. The pair are viewed as strong union ...

Bingo may help with cognition

Using large, high-contrast bingo cards improves cognitive skills and visual perception, a study finds.

Legionnaires' dries fountains

Healthcare facilities should shut down indoor decorative fountains to avoid the spread of Legionnaires' disease, according to a new study.

RNs may need 4-year degree

A firestorm of commentary broke out last month upon news that New York lawmakers might soon again debate a bill that would require registered nurses ...

Providers trail on MDS prep

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is paying very close attention to therapy payment claims, and that's something more providers need to do, says ...

MedPAC takes an axe to provider payments

Many Washington politicians are railing against healthcare costs. Nobody can say their rhetoric isn't being heard by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

State News

Governor earmarks funds for SNFs in budget

Due partly to the average 11.1% reduction in Medicare payments to nursing homes that took effect in October, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) is ...

Features

Talking up speech language pathology

Despite low profiles, speech professionals have assumed expanded roles and are making increasingly critical contributions to rehab regimens.

No pain = all gain

When it comes to dispensing pain relief meds to residents, the old methods are no longer viewed as sufficient. Better medication management is key.

60 Seconds with...

60 Seconds with Robin Arnicar

Robin Aricar, RN, FACDONA, President, NADONA

Ask the treatment expert

Ask the treatment expert: What are the key points of caring for venous stasis wounds?

Risk factors that may contribute to development of venous stasis ulcers include history of leg swelling, varicose veins, history of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, ...

Wound care

Hidden autoimmune disease often prevents healing: study

Residents with wounds that won't heal also might have undiagnosed immune system problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, according to investigators at Georgetown University Hospital in ...

Deficits in proposed ulcer cure, FDA says

The Food & Drug Administration recently sent a "major deficiency letter" to Sanuwave. Federal regulators said the company's application for a noninvasive foot therapy to ...

Ask the nursing expert

Ask the nursing expert: What can I do to support professional growth?

Focus on commitment and ensuring a culture of support. I find that sharing your commitment to providing the best care in an atmosphere of continuous ...

Nursing

Lack of geographic mobility among nurses hurts access

Nurses' lack of mobility — the relationship between where they received training and where they ultimately end up making their living — can lead to ...

Juggling work shifts raises diabetes risk

Women who work three or more night shifts per month, in addition to day and evening working hours in that month, have a higher risk ...

Ask the payment expert

Ask the payment expert: How do I know if I need to complete a Change of Therapy OMRA?

The Change of Therapy (COT) OMRA means that each therapy resident is always in a "look back" period. When an assessment is completed, either a ...

Payment & policy

CMS warns providers not to skip resident interviews

Skilled nursing operators, apparently overwhelmed or defiant, have not been completing resident interviews as mandated by the new MDS 3.0 resident assessment tool, a top ...

Coordinated care pushed

Authors of a new report recommend creating an integrated care model for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The result would be better coordinated care, and ...

Ask the legal expert

Ask the legal expert: What legal considerations should providers ponder before joining an ACO?

Your organization can add value by integrating with acute care providers, in an ACO or otherwise, and ensuring that individuals receive efficient, high-quality care as ...

Legal Matters

Sun reaches settlement over worker vacation payments

Sun Healthcare will pay more than $60,000 in a settlement over a failure to pay vacation wages to former employees, the Massachusetts Attorney General said ...

Feds say hospice firm erred in enrollments

The federal government has joined a whistleblower complaint that alleges a major hospice company defrauded Medicare.

Pursuing excellence

Smart Money: Seeing through rates

Rates of return are often used as a benchmark for investment performance. As Joan Dixon, CFO of Morningside Ministries in San Antonio, TX, says, "performance ...

Design

All roads lead to home

One facility's new wandering garden assists caregivers by ensuring residents don't get lost while exploring the space's sights and sounds.

How to do it…

How to do it...Wound care

All long-term care nurses and aides need to consider themselves wound care "specialists." It also helps if caregivers can get residents engaged in facets of ...

A day in the life

A Day in the Life: Culture change for a younger set

If you were to visit the young adult care unit at Ecumen Bayshore Health Center, in Duluth, MN, chances are that Lady Gaga would be ...

I couldn't live without...

I couldn't live without...The Compliance Store

Prior to subscribing to The Compliance Store's comprehensive database of regulatory documents and manuals, Barbara Baxter, an administrator, used to rely on periodicals and communications ...

Technology

Meager resource allocation can sink tech efforts: CAST

High expenses and poor internal collaboration often undermine provider efforts to implement new technology initiatives, according to a report from LeadingAge's Center for Aging Services ...

Company news

Ventas acquires buildings; stockholder to sell off stake

The agreement means holders of shares of Cogdell common stock will receive $4.25 per share. This represents a premium of 8% to Cogdell's closing price ...

Henry to lead RehabCare

Kindred Healthcare Inc. announced in December that Pat Henry has replaced Chris Bird as president of the RehabCare division.

Vendor news

Marketing by hospices to be focus of federal investigation

Federal officials plan to spend more time this year examining how hospices market themselves to nursing homes, according to a 2012 work plan released by ...

GE, Microsoft to launch health data firm

Microsoft announced that it will partner with General Electric to form a new company that makes healthcare information more accessible. The partners said they hope ...

The big picture

Making a big difference

About a decade ago, Monster.com unveiled a brilliant ad campaign. The spots were black and white vignettes in which children talked about their aspirations. But ...

Editor’s desk

Online Expo the answer for cabin fever, and more

With warmer days of spring around the corner, now is the perfect time to hunker down and get your professional affairs in order. I have ...

Profile

Still a caregiver at heart

The new leader of the American Hospital Association's Governing Council for Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation has been a chief executive officer for the past 15 ...