Inadequate Medicaid payments appear to be taking a major toll in Wisconsin. Two more facilities announced at press time they are closing. Executives in other states are keeping a close eye on developments....
State News for May 2018
May 08, 2018
WEST VIRGINIA Governor vetoes bill widening CNAs’ medication role West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) has vetoed a bill that would have allowed certified nursing assistants with special training to...
Hidden dangers: Protocols and best practices are needed to stave off bathing-acquired infections
By
John Hall
May 08, 2018
At the risk of sounding alarmist, your facility’s bath tubs and accessories such as lifts are likely going to make your residents sick — some experts say very sick. Unless, of course, you’re...
60 Seconds With … James Marx, APIC Infection prevention specialist
May 08, 2018
James Marx, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC APIC Infection prevention specialist Q: What do you advise for providers needing an infection control specialist for the 2019 deadline? A: Consider sharing a trained infection...
Ask the Treatment Expert about … auditing skin integrity programs
May 08, 2018
What should our wound care nurse audit, and how often, to ensure our skin integrity program is on track? At least once a month, time should be set aside for the wound care nurse to audit the skin integrity...
Plants and animals inspire tissue-restoring dressings
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 08, 2018
Engineers have developed two new nano ber dressings that accelerate healing and improve tissue regeneration. Both dressings — created by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering...
Alternative wound scoring tool ‘effective’
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 08, 2018
An 18-month review of the Long Beach Wound Scores system showed it can be an intuitive and effective way to assess and categorize patients with diabetic foot ulcers. LBWS includes five assessments using...
Ask the Nursing Expert about …Medicare denial forms
By
Judi Kulus, MSN, MAT, RN, NHA, RAC-MT, DNS-CT
May 08, 2018
I’ve heard that as of April 30, 2018, we had to start using the new CMS-approved form for Medicare A denial notices. As a director of nursing services, what do I need to know? Most skilled nursing...
SNF supervisor pilot boosts culture and staff retention
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 08, 2018
Efforts to improve frontline supervision can enhance the quality of entry-level jobs in long-term care and lead to higher retention of certified nursing assistants and better patient care, according to...
CMS forms free infection control course
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 08, 2018
A new, multi-day course is being designed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help nursing homes prepare for the infection preventionist requirement included in the revised final rules of...