Facilities need better reviews of antibiotic use, expert says
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jun 01, 2013
Skilled nursing facility administrators need to do a complete review of antibiotics to better combat multi-drug resistant organisms, an infection control expert said in May.
Ask the payment expert … about quality and reimbursement correlations
By
Patricia Boyer
Jun 01, 2013
How can the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services correlate quality of care and reimbursement?
You always need to remember that Medicare is an insurance plan. As such, Medicare has rules, just like...
Case for bundled pay made
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2013
Large-scale bundling of government reimbursements is needed, say researchers who have studied the topic. Post-acute care was the fastest growing major healthcare spending category for government programs...
CMS widens audits, hones in on Part A claims, expert says
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has increased its scrutiny of Medicare Part A filings recently and as a result, has reclaimed more funds than ever from providers, a long-term care compliance...
Ask the nursing expert … about hands-on patient assessments
By
Anne Marie Barnett
Jun 01, 2013
I feel that much is missed when hands-on assessments are missed at the beginning of each nurse’s shift. What do you think? I strongly feel that patient assessments for baseline information at the...
Anticholinergics impair seniors: report
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jun 01, 2013
Cognitive impairment can result when older adults are taking or given medications with strong anticholinergic effects, a new study has found.
Gen X members seek more degrees, other credentials
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jun 01, 2013
There’s good news for long-term care facilities trying to hire staff with more education: More than 1 in 10 members of Generation X are taking classes to continue their formal education, according...
Ask the treatment expert … about identifying pressure ulcers
By
Rosalyn Jordan, RN, BSN, MSc, CWOCN, WCC
Jun 01, 2013
How do you deal with the age-old question “Is it a pressure ulcer or not?” Many healthcare professionals are frequently faced with the dilemma of how to document a reddened area on the buttocks,...
Nanoparticles in daily items pose danger
By
John O'Connor
Jun 01, 2013
Pure gold nanoparticles found in everyday items such as personal care products can slow wound healing and accelerate skin aging, according to new research results.
Overlooked genes play a role in wound care healing: study
By
John O'Connor
Jun 01, 2013
Eight genes that have been overlooked in the past appear to play a role in the healing of pressure ulcers and other wounds, according to biologists from the University of California at San Diego.