December 2011 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
December 2011 issue
News
Further pay cuts 'untenable,' providers warning Congress
Long-term care providers issued a stern warning to lawmakers considering even deeper cuts in the wake of an average 11.1% reduction in Medicare payments that ...
GOP pushes for repeal of the CLASS Act
The CLASS Act may have gone into hibernation, but Senate Republicans want it dead.
Final ACO rule offers additional incentives
The final rule on Accountable Care Organizations provides more flexibility for eligible providers and increases the amount of possible bonuses.
Error reporting too problematic
Providers need to make it easier for nurses to disclose errors that are committed in nursing homes, according to researchers of a unique study.
Glucose testing for teary eyed
Scientists are developing a device that can test blood sugar levels of teardrops. Alternatives to hand-held meters could increase testing compliance for diabetes.
Weighty issue for flu vaccine
Obesity boosts the risk of getting the flu even after a flu vaccine is administered, a study suggests.
CMS boss: We are partners
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is focused on rooting out fraud, Administrator Donald Berwick said in a recent video interview with McKnight's Editorial ...
Assessments fueling angst
Many long-term care workers are less satisfied with their jobs these days, a new survey finds. One reason: MDS 3.0 assessments are taking longer to ...
Poll: Medicare cuts will kill 40,000 jobs
Providers expect reduced Medicare skilled nursing payment rates to eliminate 40,000 jobs, according to results of a new survey.
State News
Whopping Medicaid cuts to hit nursing facilities hard
California has managed to gain Obama administration approval to cut the state's Medicaid program funding by $1.4 billion. Providers soon will feel the sting of ...
Features
Clearing the air
Indoor air can be 1,000 times more polluted than outdoor air in some facilities. Here's what providers should know about HVAC, water infiltration and renovations.
Meeting the IT needs ahead
Whether it's electronic medical records, billing software or mobile health, LTC operators must determine which systems are best for employees and business.
McKnight's Roundtable: Taking stock of a field at the crossroads
A robust panel sizes up challenges and opportunities — and how best to meet them
60 Seconds with...
Resident care
LTC residents at a higher risk of suffering anorexia of aging
Roughly two-thirds of long-term care residents over the age of 65 experience unintended weight loss, also termed "the anorexia of aging."
Poor outcomes linked to severe weather
Long-term care residents who are displaced from their facility following a natural disaster are more susceptible to illness, injury and death, new study results show.
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert: Are there new repositioning guidelines for preventing pressure ulcers?
Susan Wickard, RN, BSN, CWCN, CWS, CLNC, Clinical Advisor, American Association for LTC Nursing
Wound care
Study illustrates why some wounds escape amputation
Three conditions must be present for a diabetic foot ulcer to heal without amputation, according to new findings of Swedish researchers.
Mechanical stress can influence healing
Mechanical forces affect the growth and remodeling of blood vessels during tissue regeneration and wound healing, a new study concludes. Such forces diminish or enhance ...
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert: How can my department cope with Medicare cuts?
Anne Marie Barnett, RN, President, Maryland NADONA/LTC
Nursing
Whistle-blowing nurses face long-term negative effects
Nurses who are involved in whistle-blowing cases — reporting wrongdoing perpetrated by their colleagues — can suffer far-reaching emotional consequences, Australian researchers say.
Nursing facility workers more injury prone
Nursing home workers are accidentally injured on the job at a higher rate than workers in other sectors, according to new U.S. Labor Department statistics.
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert: How can we fight removal of tax exempt status?
John Durso, Esq., Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Legal Matters
Use caution evaluating CCRC applicants, legal expert warns
A continuing care retirement community must make sure it is using standard, uniform questions in screening applicants, experts emphasized at the LeadingAge convention.
Agreement declared void in dementia case
A U.S. Court of Appeals has agreed that an arbitration agreement signed by a nursing home resident with dementia is void.
Having my say
Having my say: Try these new words
Every year, the Washington Post has a Mensa Invitational where they invite readers to 1) take any word from the dictionary, 2) alter it by ...
Design
Design decisions: Design as a matter of faith
A new multi-faith chapel at one Florida continuing care retirement community provides enlightenment for believers and non-believers
A day in the life
A Day in the Life: Mindful art connections
As Ashley Mask watched her grandfather struggle with Alzheimer's disease, she noticed that as the disease progressed, the more isolated he and his caregiver — ...
I couldn't live without...
I couldn't live without...VoiceFriend
Jean DeThomas, executive director at Woburn, MA-based Brightview Country Club Hills, says adopting the VoiceFriend automated communications system has given the organization a brand new ...
Technology
Computer games are helping people deal with Parkinson's
People with Parkinson's disease may have a new tool for improving their gait and balance: computer games.
Company news
REITs continue buying binge, with smaller deals on the rise
Despite the slow creep back toward traditional bank financing, real estate investment trusts (REITS) continued their buying sprees this fall.
HCP will pay Ventas $125M
The war between Ventas and HCP appears to be over.
Vendor news
FDA approved 35 new drugs during the latest fiscal year
The Food and Drug Administration green-lighted a bumper crop of new medicines in fiscal year 2011. It happened due to expedited approval authorities, flexibility in ...
Hepatitis C medication early blockbuster
Vertex's drug for treating hepatitis C virus, Incivek (telaprevir), is on course to smash the previous record for the biggest revenue-generating drug launch ever, analysts ...
Business & Marketing
How to do it...Design
A great deal of attention is paid to the clinical aspects of treating residents in the waning days of their lives. But the physical space ...
The big picture
The big picture: Committee hardly super
Members of Congress used to have a foolproof way of dealing with controversial problems: They'd appoint a commission to look into them.
Editor’s desk
Editor's desk: In a sea of issues, looking at what is most important
It was both flattering and intimidating. At the LeadingAge convention, someone asked me to state my hopes for the future of long-term care. What a ...
Profile
A founder, and a keeper
At LeadingAge's 50th anniversary celebration in October, Howard Washburn was applauded, thanked and much sought after.
