August 2018 39 8 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
August 2018 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
News
CCRCs adding rehab, cutting SNFs: report
Continuing care retirement communities have higher occupancy rates than other senior care segments, but they are not eager to keep their skilled nursing units, a ...
Studies reveal a greater need for infection preventionists
Outdated coverage benchmarks are leading to severe gaps in infection preventionist staffing, according to a pair of studies in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Is shift work a dementia risk?
A gene linked to job-related exhaustion in shift workers may increase the risk of Alzheimer's, according to a Finnish study published in the journal Sleep.
Aspirin tied to fewer plaques
Low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
McKnight's earns APEX honors
McKnight's Long-Term Care News has once again earned national honors in the 30th annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence competition.
CMS gives telehealth a reimbursement win
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed allowing physician reimbursement for video chats and check-ins, eliciting praise from the industry.
Staffing totals don't add up
Nursing homes were placed under a hot spotlight in mid-July after The New York Times ran a lengthy story criticizing fluctuations and apparent understaffing revealed ...
VA care issues get closer look
A Florida legislator and former veteran said "heads must roll" after caregiving challenges were uncovered at Veterans Affairs nursing homes.
CMS dishing the dirt on infection problem
Although nursing homes' new survey routine seems to be going smoothly, infection prevention problems continue to undermine quality care delivery.
Change that's overdue
Are generators expensive? You bet. You know what else can get really, really expensive? Wrongful death lawsuits.
State News
Features
60 Seconds with...
60 Seconds With ... Matt Salmon Massachusetts Senior Care Association Board Member
60 Seconds With ... Matt Salmon Massachusetts Senior Care Association Board Member
Ask the care expert
Ask the Care Expert about ... pets
We have residents who miss their pets so much, but because of allergies of some other residents, we cannot have cats or dogs on this ...
Resident care
Clinics often prescribe bad antibiotics
Residents who receive care at an outpatient clinic are nearly three times as likely to be prescribed an inappropriate antibiotic, researchers at the University of ...
Fitness trackers are helping some seniors get up and go
Reminders delivered via fitness tracker can help older people become more active, increase energy and improve mood, according to a study published in BMC Public ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the Treatment Expert about ... skin risk assessment
Is the Braden Scale a comprehensive skin risk assessment?
Wound care
Foot brace can help heal diabetic ulcers
A total offloading foot brace used early minimizes plantar pressure, helping ease diabetic foot ulcers, a new study finds.
'Smart' bandage reads data, releases drug for treatment
A new type of smart bandage is being developed that may help providers track and treat wounds more efficiently.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the Nursing Expert about ... nurse hiring decisions
Any suggestions for making the best nurse hiring decisions?
Nursing
Male nurses averaging $6K more in pay
Women may do more of the nation's nursing work, but men are still getting paid more to do the same jobs.
CNA medication assistants can reduce staff shortages
When facing a shortage of licensed nurses, certified nurse aides trained as medication assistants can serve as a viable alternative, according to a pilot detailed ...
Ask the payment expert
Payment & policy
'Persuader rule' is rejected
The Department of Labor has officially revoked a rule that requires employers to report whenever they seek assistance from consultants or lawyers to dissuade employees ...
Supreme Court ALJ decision adds to Medicare appeal jam
Medicare appeals might be getting a little more complicated for skilled care providers, thanks to a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, legal analysts ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the Legal Expert about ... sexual harassment investigation
Our executive director has been accused of sexual harassment by a mid-level manager. How should we investigate this properly?
Legal Matters
PDPM rules will curb upcoding: expert
One of the unplanned byproducts of a proposed new payment system could be a better legal image and standing of therapy and rehab providers.
Money mischief brings harsh penalties for CEO, associates
All five participants in a massive series of fraud, kickback and money-laundering schemes centering on American Senior Communities were handed lengthy sentences in July, most ...
Design
Southern comfort
Veterans in central Arkansas now have a long-term care option that provides hospitality and stunning views from the porch.
How to do it…
How to do it ... Security device maintenance
Providers spend countless hours evaluating and installing myriad resident security devices.
A day in the life
Technology
Beneficiaries allowed to use apps with glucose monitors
Medicare will support the simultaneous use of smartphone applications with continuous glucose monitors, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced this summer.
Cognitive decline tool screens from home
A home screening test for age-related cognitive decline has been discovered, according to a study in Scientific Reports.
Opinion
Reader poll: "How do you convince new employees they've chosen the right place to work?"
Reader poll: "How do you convince new employees they've chosen the right place to work?"
Company news
Three SNFs sell for $47M
Three skilled nursing facilities with a total of 512 beds will receive $47.2 million in refinancing through HUD 232/223(f) loans, Capital One announced in July.
Good Samaritan merger with clinical chain sparks growth
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and Sanford, a healthcare system with 44 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics, plan to merge by Jan. 1, leaders ...
Vendor news
Medline acquires NeuroGym Technologies
Medline has purchased Canadian-based rehabilitation equipment maker NeuroGym Technologies, the company announced in July.
Powerful dementia course is now available at no charge
Relias Learning's "A Day in the Life of Henry: A Dementia Experience" was, like most of the healthcare education company's products, created for professional caregivers.
Editor’s desk
Managed care's bully act is already wearing thin
A new study points out that decreasing lengths of stay (LOS), which are compelled largely by managed care and other group entities, are playing havoc ...
