Wednesday, January 7, 2009

"Facing deficits, states get out sharper knives." That ominous headline appeared on the top of page 1 in Monday's New York Times. The article noted that most states "are scrambling to find ways to get through the rest of the year." That's a challenge more of us now find ourselves facing. But let's hope that budget cutters at the state level don't get too carried away. The reality is that providers are already being shortchanged by states. Medicaid alone underpays operators by more than $4 billion, according to a study commissioned by the American Health Care Association. It's no secret that these are challenging times times. But that's hardly an excuse for states to abdicate their responsibilities to our nation's elderly - or to the providers increasingly tasked with delivering the care they need.

The new 2nd edition of Developing a Quality Management System: The Foundation for Performance Excellence in Long Term Care can help any facility focused on improving quality. The manual addresses six essential quality management elements. The publication also shows how to develop a long-range plan-and more, according to its authors.

Kimberly-Clark Professional recently introduced Wypall Microfiber Cloths. The product is ideal for small clean-ups. Even after hundreds of washes, the cloths continue to fight the spread of bacteria, according to the firm.

Eldercare pros can stay on top of the top industry developments each day by visiting the McKnight's Web site. You also can opt to receive a free, three-item Daily Update each business morning. Thanks to McKnight's, staying informed about key market developments and trends has never been easier.

PointClickCare was ranked No. 348 on Deloitte's 2008 Technology Fast 500. The annual ranking lists the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth over five years, from 2003-2007. PointClickCare grew 397.46% percent during this period, according to the firm.

The American Medical Directors Association has announced a strategic programming partnership with ReachMD, The Channel for Medical Professionals. The groups aim to provide more access to key thought and practice leaders through peer-to-peer discussions in a new series to be titled, "Advances in Long Term Care Medicine." When available, the series will educate healthcare professional about the field, according to both groups.

Vigilan and Life Settlement Financial announced a collaborative effort to develop improved models for the valuation of life insurance policies. The firms plan to increase the accuracy of valuations on life insurance policies.

Five product lines of Wicanders Cork Oak Floors recently received Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certification. The honor recognizes firms for their efforts to improve indoor air quality. The Greenguard Environmental Institute oversees the program.