Ask the care expert … about gait belts and infection control
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Apr 01, 2013
We use gait belts at my building. We assign a gait belt to an aide who uses them the entire shift. Do you think with all of the infection prevention techniques we should change our policy?
Higher humidity takes toll on flu virus
By
Elizabeth Newman
Apr 01, 2013
Residents who want a room humid should be obliged because higher humidity levels can significantly reduce the infectiousness of influenza virus particles released by coughing, research shows.
Kindred will trim more SNFs from its portfolio, Diaz says
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
Kindred Healthcare will continue to offload its nursing facility operations leased from Ventas, according to President and CEO Paul J. Diaz.
Sequestration and Ryan plan seen as big fiscal challenges
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2013
Last month, the skilled sector figured out sequester cuts would cost providers more than $782 million in payments. Then Paul Ryan broke out the meat cleaver.
‘Targeted’ EHR upcoding audits on the way
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will undertake targeted audits focused on upcoding in electronic health records, according to Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
60 seconds with … Bruce Chernof, M.D.
Apr 01, 2013
Q: What are the top issues the Long-Term Care Commission needs to address?
A: We need to address the knowledge deficits that exist in the general public about long-term care needs. And we need a new set...
AHCA makes push for immigration reform
By
Elizabeth Newman
Apr 01, 2013
Saying the current permanent visa programs for immigrants are “insufficient and inadequate” to meet long-term care staffing needs, the American Health Care Association outlined in March a vision...
Hospice saves Medicare dollars
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
Increasing hospice enrollment would save the Medicare program millions of dollars annually, according to a new report.
Diabetes drugs under scrutiny
By
Elizabeth Newman
Apr 01, 2013
Diabetes medications Januvia and Byetta significantly increase the risk of pancreatic inflammation, according to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers.
Combo therapy aids nutrition
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
Memory training combined with a Montessori-based approach to daily living can improve nutrition and reduce depression among those with dementia, a study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing finds.