August 2010 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
August 2010
News
Therapy rate change amounts to pay cut
Long-term care operators last month criticized a federal proposal intended to reduce Medicare Part B therapy rates.
Governors cite need for Medicaid funding
The nation's governors last month stepped up appeals to Congress to approve legislation that extends an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP).
House repeals RUG-IV delay; 'doc fix' extended to Dec. 1
Long-term care providers could be facing several regulatory changes.
State News
Kansas: New law overturns 10% Medicaid cut to facilities
Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) signed a bill that reverses a 10% Medicaid cut that took effect Jan. 1.
Features
Beyond the bedsore: recognizing different wound types in long-term care
Pressure ulcers may be one of the biggest topics in wound care. But there are other serious types of wounds that nursing home caregivers need ...
The time to sparkle: reducing surveyor-induced anxiety through preparation and consistency
Laundry and housekeeping staff should not worry about surveyor visits if they have prepared properly and operate consistently with high standards
60 Seconds with...
Ask the care expert
Ask the care expert: improving nurse reporting skills
Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA, President, NADONA
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert: signs to consider when assessing darkly pigmented skin
Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, President, Wound Care Education Institute
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert: how to win over the staff as a new DON
Anne Marie Barnett, RN, Former President, Maryland NADONA/LTC
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert: explaining the changes in the new Section Q of the MDS
Patricia Boyer, MSM, NHA, RN, President, Boyer & Associates, LLC
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert: How can I keep unions away from my facility?
John Durso, Esq. Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Pursuing excellence
Smart Money: Lessons from retirees
Having an effective finance committee helps create the environment and financial decision-making necessary to have a flourishing community for the residents.
Having my say
Mind your p's and q's: good manners in the nursing home
Of all the considerations in running a successful senior care community, generational differences between our team members and older residents rarely get the attention they ...
Design
Where the sky is the limit: atmosphere and nature-inspired design at a New York long-term care dialysis unit
A new long-term care dialysis unit offers a calm, restorative atmosphere with a nature-oriented theme and enhanced lighting
How to do it…
How to do it... Wandering
Experts offer guidance on how to convince family members, and residents themselves, that a facility's resident safety systems are up to snuff.
I couldn't live without...
I couldn't live without... Medicine-On-Time medication cards
The Medicine-On-Time system allows pharmacists to sort medications into pre-packaged bubble packs, which fit into reusable calendar cards.
The big picture
The BIG Picture: The company we keep
It's probably safe to say job demands partly explain the field's chronic staffing challenges. Simply put, long-term care is hard work.
Editor’s desk
Editor's Desk: Staffing lawsuits in the West are ominous signs
Those rumblings you might have felt recently from the West Coast had nothing to do with earthquakes. They're the stuff of potential nightmares if you're ...
Profile
Profile: Toby Edelman - A determined advocate
Toby Edelman, Senior Policy Attorney, Center for Medicare Advocacy
