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January 2012 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News

News

No breaks for facilities when readmissions frequent: group

Skilled nursing facilities with above-average rehospitalization rates should be subject to the same penalties hospitals face under the Affordable Care Act, a provider group says.

Criticize labor board for 'microwave' rule

The National Labor Relations Board drew criticism for its "microwave" rule vote in November. Opponents say the provision doesn't allow employers enough time to discuss ...

Bill's bad-debt proviso has leaders seeing red

Fearing a New Year's economic hangover of epic proportions, provider advocates launched a multipronged blitz at press time to fight bad-debt provisions of a new ...

McKnight's Online Expo is back

The sixth annual McKnight's Online Expo will be held March 21-22. This online trade show has quickly become the field's premier digital event. One reason: ...

Cleaning choice may take flight

Infection control experts have developed a disinfection method that could revolutionize the way healthcare facilities prevent healthcare-acquired infections.

Drug-free care for dementia?

A non-drug dementia treatment tested in German nursing homes proved as effective as medications in halting progression of disease, a new study reveals.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should penalize physicians and nursing homes that continue to inappropriately prescribe and administer anti-psychotic medications to dementia residents, ...

CMS nominee gains support

Industry groups showed strong initial support for the appointment of Marilyn Tavenner to replace Donald Berwick, M.D., as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & ...

Providers are warned of more cuts to come

Long-term care providers were confronted with the cold, stark facts: Federal payments had been cut by billions of dollars and much worse still might be ...

State News

Study shows pay cuts expected to cost jobs

OHIO — The state's skilled nursing facilities have shed or plan to shed 2,800 jobs in the wake of recent Medicare and Medicaid cuts, new ...

Features

Designing transition

Contemporary design elements are getting the go ahead by more providers, who are still also focused on the durability and performance of furnishings and décor.

Quality care at hand

From tablets to smartphones, mobile technology is now an affordable way to spend more time with a resident while boosting efficiency for the caregiver.

60 Seconds with...

Sixty Seconds With...Ruta Kadanoff

Ruta Kadonoff, VP for Quality and Regulatory Affairs, AHCA

Ask the care expert

Ask the care expert: If the flu shot is the same for two consecutive years, does it still need to be given to residents?

Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA, President, NADONA

Resident care

Oral, swallowing care key to lower infection rates: study

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are on the rise in Pennsylvania nursing homes. But multipronged approaches to treatment and prevention can ...

Ask the treatment expert

Ask the treatment expert: What are the most important things to know about lower-extremity ulcers?

Susan Wickard, RN, BSN, CWCN, CWS, CLNC, Clinical Advisor, American Association for LTC Nursing

Wound care

Worms may reveal insights into wound healing response

California researchers may have found an unlikely key to unlocking the secrets of wound healing in humans: the roundworm.

Smartphone app will aid in wound care

An app for wound care? Yes, one is coming soon. The National Science Foundation recently awarded $1.2 million to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute to develop ...

Ask the nursing expert

Ask the nursing expert: Is goal-setting realistic for nursing departments?

Anne Marie Barnett, RN, President, Maryland NADONA/LTC

Nursing

Over-reliance on gloves leads to poor worker hand hygiene

Healthcare workers who wear gloves when treating patients are less likely to wash their hands between patients, a British study finds.

Ask the payment expert

Ask the payment expert...Should we add more MDS staff to meet new regulations?

Patricia Boyer, MSM, NHA, RN, President, Boyer & Associates, LLC

Payment & policy

Medicaid underfunding care by $6.3 billion, report finds

It's no wonder long-term care providers prefer residents whose care is reimbursed by something other than Medicaid: The federal-state program was expected to underfund care ...

More using HCBS transfers

Medicaid beneficiaries are definitely taking notice — and making use — of federal funding intended to help move individuals from nursing homes to community residences. ...

Ask the legal expert

Ask the legal expert: What's the best way to respond to alleged deficiencies?

John Durso, Esq., Ungaretti & Harris LLP

Legal Matters

Florida's highest court rejects use of arbitration agreements

Nursing home arbitration agreements received another blow when the Florida Supreme Court ruled them invalid in two separate cases in November.

Nurses' union wins bargaining agreement

A federal appeals court agreed that an agreement between union nurses and a hospital should have been honored by new owners.

Pursuing excellence

Smart Money: Value propositions

William C. Fisher, President Investment Advisory Group LLC

Having my say

A place to look for help

Robert C. Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Optimus EMR Inc.

Design

Design Decisions: Head to the hills for rehab

Care that is provided 'with a servant's heart' makes Westover Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare special for inpatients and outpatients.

How to do it…

How to do it...Finance

Lenders are used to dealing with a provider's numbers to determine who gets a loan and who doesn't. But they also want to know there ...

A day in the life

A Day in the Life: Still helping them find the mark

A retired air traffic controller for the Air Force, Tom Gray, 60, currently has a role that is certainly less stressful, and even more gratifying: ...

I couldn't live without...

I couldn't live without...PointClick Care Collection Module

By using the PointClickCare Collection module, Jennifer Hubbard, the director of financial consultants at Gulf Coast Health Care, was able to make collections more efficient ...

Technology

Pharmacy integration also a technology consideration

While many providers are still wrapping their heads around electronic health records and web-based care plans, there's another hurdle many are preparing to overcome: integration ...

Resident care

Loss of smell hazardous, researchers say

Age-related changes to sense of smell can put elderly individuals at a higher risk for accidental interactions with dangerous chemicals and poor nutrition, according to ...

Company news

Better chain ratings fueling upsurge in their stock prices

Six nursing home companies were removed from Standard & Poor's Rating Service downgrade watch last month. The firm ranked Kindred Healthcare at B+ , and Skilled ...

New sponsor comes to G & E

The board of real estate investment trust Grubb & Ellis Healthcare Trust voted in November to replace Grubb & Ellis with American Healthcare Investors and ...

Vendor news

IOM insists that feds more carefully oversee IT vendors

The Department of Health and Human Services should impose more oversight of healthcare information technology vendors, a new report recommends.

Omnicare extends PharMerica buy offer

Pharmacy giant Omnicare announced that it was extending to Jan. 20 its offer to purchase all outstanding shares of rival PharMerica for $15 per share. ...