Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
The Jimmo scorecard and CMS compliance update
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 25, 2014
In some ways, 2014 has been a monumental year. But it’s not over yet, especially with regard to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services steps regarding the historic Jimmo settlement agreement signed...
Biometric preening — dying is not good business
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 24, 2014
For success in long-term care, you want your employees to stay well, and especially not dead. If it isn’t already, that should probably be a primary component of your business plan. A dead staff...
Large cities show wide range in episode spending
By
Sally Rodriguez
Nov 21, 2014
Over 6,000 healthcare providers are voluntarily testing bundled payments for episodes of care, adding to the momentum around episode-based, accountable care models in Medicare. One of the key goals of...
Let’s change history to prevent pressure ulcers
By
Martie Moore
Nov 20, 2014
I can remember a conversation that I overheard between my mother and aunt when my grandmother was in her last few years of life. In essence, they were talking about open areas that my grandmother had on...
Giants of community are not forgotten
By
Dianne Timmering
Nov 19, 2014
Launched more than a decade ago, the purpose of the Signature HealthCARE Hall of Fame is to honor the contributions and lifetime achievements of nursing home residents, staff members, volunteers and other...
Another way to capture ADLs
By
Stacy Darling
Nov 18, 2014
The conventional wisdom for improving Activities for Daily Living is to educate and re-educate and then educate again.
Roadmap to person-centered care
By
Bruce Chernof, M.D.
Nov 17, 2014
It’s time for us to scrap the old model of medicine and adopt what we’re calling “person-centered care,” which focuses on the whole person, and not just the disease.
Working on how to communicate in facilities
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 14, 2014
Transitions between care settings are getting more scrutiny than ever before. So thank goodness for new guidelines designed to help smooth them out. Still, we need all the help we can when it comes to...
When is telehealth the right option?
By
Kristy Wikum
Nov 13, 2014
As providers, patients, and payers look for more cost-effective and efficient ways to provide health care, some are turning to telehealth as an option. Telehealth involves using electronic communication...
Medication management tied to hospitalizations
By
David Siegelman
Nov 12, 2014
Plans are being put into place that will also penalize the skilled nursing facility for avoidable readmissions. As such, to distinguish oneself as a desirable downstream provider, one must effectively...