Prolonging mealtimes could lead to health complications for LTC residents, study suggests
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 20, 2015
Long-term care providers should be aware that residents’ chewing and swallowing ability might be worse at the end of a prolonged meal, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia and other conditions,...
No evidence that opioids are effective for long-term pain management, NIH panel says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 20, 2015
There is no solid research showing that long-term opioid use is an effective treatment for chronic pain, a National Institutes of Health panel has determined.
MedPAC unanimously votes to recommend site-neutral payments
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 16, 2015
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has unanimously voted to recommend site-neutral payments for certain post-acute services. Skilled nursing interests have championed the policy, but opponents also...
Quality measurement is getting out of hand, MedPAC says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 15, 2015
Providers are being overly burdened by increasing numbers of quality measures, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission stated in a recent letter to a top health official. The government should take a...
Providers charging even $1 per page for EHR access could be violating HIPAA, report warns
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
Long-term care providers that charge people to access their electronic health records might be violating federal law, according to recently released findings from the American Health Information Management...
NIC: Nursing home and assisted living occupancy remained static in 4th quarter
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 12, 2015
The occupancy rate for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities held steady in the fourth quarter of 2014, while the rate for independent living continued its surge, according to data released...
CMS-funded program to reduce hospitalizations shows promise after year one, researchers say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 09, 2015
A federally funded project to reduce avoidable hospitalizations of nursing home residents got off to a strong start in its first year, according to recently published findings.
Insulin spray leads to significant benefits for those with dementia, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 09, 2015
Taking a man-made form of insulin improved memory and cognition in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, according to recently published findings.
New antibiotic could be a silver bullet against MRSA, researchers suggest
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 08, 2015
A newly discovered type of antibiotic could be an ideal weapon against potentially fatal infections that plague long-term care facilities, according to findings published yesterday in Nature. It might...
HHS gives shooter guidance for healthcare facilities
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 01, 2015
Federal agencies have issued guidance for how healthcare providers should prepare for an active shooter emergency. The 33-page document covers threat assessment, actions to take during and after an emergency,...