Guest Columns
We all know about the rumored, accepted and commonly used practices that relate to rehab in the skilled nursing Facility, but do we really know if they’re valid and supported by a regulation? Yes, speech therapy can be the only skilled intervention for those patients who need it. No, progress is not a criterion for…
Long-time holders of skilled nursing may be considering whether it’s time to sell.
Centers Health Care celebrates the successes at the facility level, through our relationship with local hospitals and of course through local printed articles and on social media.
Here are some suggestions to help guide facilities towards the goal of optimal psychotropic medication management so they can better manage the health of residents and position themselves for success during a facility survey.
Next year’s PDPM implementation will be as significant to MDS Coordinators as OBRA 1988 and MDS 3.0 2010!! Invest in your future by learning and supporting the RAI Process and MDS role.
In studying “managed long-term services and supports” for a law review article, I was struck by the lack of accountability and cost overruns that have accompanied placing the administration of a vital safety net, dating to 1965, into the hands of insurance companies.
The opioid epidemic is one of the most serious challenges this country faces, with far-reaching effects that ripple deep into senior care. By leveraging the expertise and experience of pharmacy partners, facilities can ensure residents receive safe, adequate and effective pain management—which ultimately is the only outcome that truly matters.
In the past, our skilled nursing world has revolved around a sun of its own, known as resource utilization groups (particularly the lucrative high-therapy ones). Now, however, according to the details of the new Medicare fee-for-service reimbursement model known as the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), it seems that we’ll soon be revolving around a different sun altogether: ICD-10 codes.
I urge my colleagues in the long-term care profession to proactively reach out to elected officials to offer them tours.
Admins with great surveys and high ratings use the State Operations Manual like a Bible.
Group discussion and interviews also revealed that beyond the educational content, the course provided much more to all participants, through the creation of strong relationships between the resident-instructors and students—which both groups wanted to maintain following the conclusion of the course.
out-of-control prescription drug pricing is most certainly hurting American seniors and the LTC pharmacies committed to ensuring access to medications and consulting services for Medicare beneficiaries under the Medicare Part D program.
The statistics are in for the first completed class of the Ohio Civil Monetary Penalty Grant Nurse Leadership Training Program presented by Tobin & Associates and partnered with Ohio Health Care Association.
“The Happiest Place On Earth” is a title self-awarded and held by Disneyland. With pictures of smiling faces of all ages circulating through ads and social media, it is not hard to see why people view it as a happy place. Venturing to the other side of the spectrum, you would be hard-pressed to find…
The Aging Services industry is excited about getting positive recognition for its great workplaces! It’s time… the work that you do is challenging yet rewarding in enriching lives and making our society better.
I was struck by today’s thought for the day: “The butterfly gets all of the glory, but it is the caterpillar that does the work.” It took me back to a conversation I once had with a master gardener. Know that I rarely have conversations with master gardeners, as I am not a gardener. But…
Our “Learning Cart” is a 15-minute educational program designed to bring valuable information and tips to the direct care team.
Over my years of working in long-term care, there has always been a challenge providing food and beverages to residents who have chewing and swallowing problems.
MassHealth’s violation of the law has resulted in many practical problems, including the adverse impact it has been having on long-term care providers and, of course, their residents.
So many times, we get questions about how to “skill” a resident. Is she skilled if she’s getting IVs? Is he skilled because he’s getting wound care? What about the resident whose trach is capped? Is she skilled? When the rehab patient reaches the almighty “plateau”, and isn’t getting better, is he still skilled?
