Transparently not transparent — it has to stop
In healthcare, things are about as transparent as an iron door, and we ought to be hopping mad about it.
The Real Nurse Jackie
The Real Nurse Jackie
When life work imitates commercial
Have you seen that new commercial for insurance coverage protection from “Mayhem,” posing as a car thief? A poor guy is at a sporting event and gets notified that his car is being trashed and stolen. He’s so taken aback that all he can do is shriek “What?!” in disbelief, over and over, increasingly louder. …
I saw the signs, and you should too
Boy, take your first vacation in five years and you see some interesting signs along the way.
What we have is a failure to communicate
Recently, I saw a group email pop-up on my computer that basically states that surveyors showed up in a particular building and they may need electronic medical record access, so please stand by.
Documentation nightmares: so noted
The bane of any nurse leader’s existence is reading some of her staff’s notes and just praying a surveyor or lawyer never finds them.
Dessert or Brussels sprouts — you need both
I was watching a sermon on raising your children in today’s age and found myself completely intrigued. The pastor was talking about two different styles of patenting which kind of made me think of leadership styles.
Washington state senator doesn’t get the deal
The internet is exploding with nurses who are pretty hot under the collar due to one very uninformed (or one highly lobbied) Washington senator named Maureen Walsh.
Excessive citation?
A man was recently charged with animal cruelty after abandoning his pet fish Oscar. Yep, you read that right, a fish. Not some exotic fish in expensive tanks, but a fish in a bowl. The guy had been evicted from his home and apparently left the fish behind with the rest of most of his…
You know what you’re getting at a one-star wedding
I’m seeing stars all right, and not in a good way, after recently reviewing a webinar on the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Rating System changes.
Is long-term care a flea market?
Recently, I overheard a business office manager speaking on the phone to a managed care company, which after approving dozens of patients, kept denying payments — without giving a reason, of course. Then after multiple calls, letters, and so forth, the company attempted to renegotiate the final price. Wait, what?! I guess they figure that…
On the road again and the plight of going solo
Eating out alone can be uncomfortable. Not for me, but apparently for people around me.
Impacting quality — my way
Last week, I once again joined my colleagues at the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Examiners meeting. What a joy.
Is there an ‘I’ in team?
We’ve all heard it: “There is no ‘I’ in team.” But I challenge that.
Be a caddie, not a pro
Have you ever watched the Masters golf tournament? You know, the guys playing golf in Georgia, trying to grab the green jacket? I think you all know I love a good analogy (not as much as a good cup of coffee, but it’s close). So, if you do watch golf, you’ll notice that from novice…
Should you treat LTC work like a sprint or marathon?
I am sure you have all heard the saying, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” But in our profession, I think we find that sometimes it’s both. So, what in the heck do I mean?
The DON’s Christmas
A new twist on an old Christmas favorite, in honor of hard-working directors of nursing everywhere.
The LTC nurse’s dilemma: Hide OR seek?
Working in long-term care is hard, very hard. You can “hide” from realities and then do something reactively, or you can … do the right things first.
Ode to The Annual Survey (‘The DON Blues’)
Oh, annual survey,You stress me so,No matter how we prepare,I’ll dread you, though … Despite skills labs, process reviews,And competency checksFor some reason at survey timeI fret a big hex I’ve made my audit list,I’ve checked it twice,And, like Santa …Know which staff is naughty or nice! I keep Tums in my top drawer,Maalox in…
The kindness of strangers, and friends
I have been very touched by the outpouring of kindness from readers, both whom I know and others I don’t, since my father’s passing a couple of weeks ago.
In medicine, there cannot be favorites; my dad was mine
After battling a long illness, I lost my hero, mentor, and father, Dr. Jack Fine, a week ago today, October 23. Anyone who knows me, knows the special relationship I had with my dad.
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