August 2017 38 8 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
August 2017 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Where are they now?
Where are they now? Centers Health Care
In the three years since Centers Health Care in New York won honors in the McKnight's Technology Awards program for its use of NoWander, it ...
big picture
News
Reader poll: What non-textbook advice do you have for a new administrator?
When I teach my students, the first thing I tell them is there's a tremendous difference between academia and what you experience as an administrator ...
A 'super' approach to care
Recent regulatory and reimbursement changes led Symphony Post Acute Care Network to develop a "Super SNF" care model.
Medicaid pay threat dodged
Providers averted potentially billions of dollars in Medicaid funding losses in July after a Senate GOP healthcare reform bill was pulled from consideration.
Providers see survey gift in penalty delay
Penalties for the next phase of nursing home survey guidelines will be postponed a year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced June 30.
Citations, staff levels decline
The average number of nursing home deficiencies has dropped, but staffing levels are lower than expert recommendations, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report.
Workers save 2 during SNF fire
Two nursing home employees were credited in July with running into "heavy smoke conditions" to rescue two residents.
Brian Jurutka previously served as NIC's president for two years.
Brian Jurutka has succeeded Robert Kramer as president and CEO of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.
DOL drops defense of Obama overtime rule
The Department of Labor's fight to enact an overtime rule that has caused anxiety for providers won't be continued by the new administration, according to ...
McKnight's blogs named best
McKnight's editors were honored recently with an APEX Grand Award for their "Daily Editors' Notes" blog, which appears at www.mcknights.com.
Providers laud CMS decision to delay survey fines one year
Nursing home groups say they are grateful that regulators heard their concerns about new changes to survey requirements and softened the blow.
Provider's social media penalty halved
Although long-term care officials agree photos and videos of residents should not be taken or posted to social media without consent, some operators are pushing ...
State News
Features
In it for the long haul
More than just knee and hip replacements — rehab therapy gets renewed focus as effective treatment for people experiencing chronic, degenerative condition
When the house wins
Whether to bring laundry options in-house brings weighty considerations to many providers, ranging from financial and staffing needs to quality of outside services
60 Seconds with...
60 Seconds with Janet Feinstein, RD, LD, CNSC, Dietitians on Demand
Q: Which dietary-related parts of the new regulations for LTC should providers be most aware of?
Ask the care expert
Ask the Care Expert about ... wandering residents
Do you have any special recommendations for preparations pertaining to wanderers?
Resident care
INTERACT support has little impact on hospitalizations
Skilled nursing facilities that received support on implementing a quality improvement program showed little change in hospitalization rates compared to facilities that did not receive ...
Common drugs hike death risks by 31%
A class of medications commonly prescribed to seniors for conditions such as urinary incontinence might increase the risk of mortality among nursing home residents with ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the Treatment Expert about ... pressure injury protocol
Is it best practice, for consistency, to have only the wound nurse measure, stage and assess pressure injuries?
Wound care
Team-based care can deliver several benefits: investigation
An interdisciplinary team that manages wound-related supplies with the help of a pharmacist can lead to better selection and less waste, according to a study ...
Ulcer characteristics can predict healing
The features of an ulcer are more important in predicting long-term healing than a diabetic patient's other health characteristics.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the Nursing Expert about ... switching facilities
Should I stay or should I go after finally achieving success?
Nursing
Institutional procedures trail online education, study finds
As online nursing education increases in popularity, researchers are finding institutional procedures may not be keeping up.
It's official: Good help is difficult to find
High turnover rates and small selection pools make it more difficult to hire entry-level healthcare employees, according to a task force report.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the Payment Expert about ... community structure
I'm concerned with the new megarule expenses and that maybe I need to rethink my need for skilled nursing beds. What are your thoughts?
Payment & policy
CMS wants outpatient knee replacements to be covered
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has asked for coverage of knee replacement surgeries in outpatient facilities as part of a proposal concerning hospital ...
PPS comments are sought
Federal regulators have agreed to gather more comments from providers and others on the revision of new skilled nursing prospective payment system case-mix methodology.
Ask the legal expert
Ask the Legal Expert about ... background checks
We do background checks on new employees. But now there's word we'll be getting sued because a relatively new nurse aide allegedly improperly touched certain ...
Legal Matters
Malpractice award cap bill will help LTC, group claims
House lawmakers approved legislation in late June that would place limits on awards for medical malpractice cases — a move that would benefit long-term care, ...
No new OT salary target with suit pending
Federal officials' fight to enact a rule that would have made 4.2 million more workers eligible for overtime compensation won't be carried on by the ...
Design
Hitting the 'suite' spot
Heritage of Fort Wayne is a community that offers plenty of amenities for residents who want to age in place in a 'casual upscale' setting.
How to do it…
How to do it... Partial security upgrades
As tempting as they are, full-blown replacements of personal emergency response and nurse call systems are often not feasible.
A day in the life
An artistic endeavor
Lizzie Rocco showed little interest in activities after moving to Luther Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation in 2016, save for one thing: adult coloring books.
Technology
New tech seeks to calm SNF residents having dementia
Caring for individuals with dementia often involves managing residents' disruptive and sometimes dangerous behaviors, including screaming, hitting or kicking.
Opinion
New normal to grasp
Get your life back! Do what you love again! Say goodbye to pain, and hello to a vibrant, ache-free existence!
Company news
Kindred confirms Ventas deal, will fully leave SNF biz
Kindred Healthcare Inc. confirmed in July its previously announced plan to exit the skilled nursing facility industry.
Mid-Atlantic sells 8 SNFs
Timonium, MD-based Mid-Atlantic Health Care LLC has sold a portfolio of eight Pennsylvania nursing facilities.
Vendor news
MatrixCare buys Sigmacare in EHR consolidation move
MatrixCare has bought SigmaCare, reflecting further consolidation in the post-acute electronic health records market.
Regs in a Flash releases new mobile app
While skilled nursing providers have always wanted an easy way to look up regulations, the need spiked following the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' ...
Editor’s desk
Pragmatism: Surveyors put away their big sticks
One of the biggest stories of the summer easily has been the news that full enforcement of nursing homes' new survey system will be postponed ...
Profile
Profile: Linda Krueger
When Linda Krueger starts to tear up, it's not when talking about how proud she is of her son or her military service, or the ...
