December 2014 35 12 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News

Top news stories from the December 2014 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.

News

MedPAC debates end of observation stays

Observation status should be eliminated as a way of categorizing hospital patients, members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission proposed at a Nov. 6 meeting.

SNF bed prices are still soaring

Big-dollar deals in the seniors housing sector continue to drive up per-bed prices, according to the latest figures from Irving Levin Associates Inc.

Coding surveys to expand soon

Additional surveys to determine Minimum Data Set coding accuracy and nursing home staffing levels will occur in 2015 and should fix common problems, the Centers ...

GOP leaders promise bills will be approved

Republicans were able to retake control of the Senate, while adding to their margin in the U.S. House. Now comes the hard part: actually governing.

OIG identifies areas of scrutiny

Government investigators plan to release five reports on nursing home practices in 2015, according to the latest annual work plan from the Health and Human ...

Providers beat goal for meds

Nursing home operators not only beat their goal of 15% reduction of long-stay residents receiving antipsychotic medications, they soared to an 18.8% cutback, according to ...

Shifts linked to memory loss

Staff on shift schedules might experience diminished memory and thinking skills, according to a new study.

Workers want better support after mistakes, survey finds

Mistakes at nursing homes are more likely to trigger blame than a corrective response, many frontline workers asserted in a comprehensive survey.

MedPAC for equal post-acute payments?

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has drawn closer to formally recommending that skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities receive equal reimbursement for more than ...

McKnight's panel: A brighter future for SNFs

Long-term care providers can harness healthcare reform to become more profitable and competitive than ever, but success is not guaranteed. Proactive organizations with advanced technology ...

State News

State News for December 2014

FLORIDA - A nursing home building boom may be on the horizon following the end of a 12-year moratorium.

Features

Out of the data silo

Interoperability, data analytics and intervention models are giving providers a new way to use healthcare information technology to prevent rehospitalization

Analysis of antiseptics

Data-driven strategies, acute-care solutions and natural ingredients will be increasingly important in the battle against HAIs and communicable diseases

60 Seconds with...

60 seconds with ... Carol Raphael

Q: You speak of how changing attitudes and demographics are creating "The New Aging." What are some trends LTC providers should note?

Ask the care expert

Ask the care expert ... about top deficiencies

We're hoping to prep our facilities for quality-improvement efforts. Is there a list of the top deficiencies?

Resident care

First COPD guide promotes shots, better management

Patients with COPD should get pneumococcal and flu vaccines to manage their disease and ward off complications, according to new guidelines issued by two of ...

Discovery could speed sepsis treatment

Nursing home residents might benefit from a new way of diagnosing and treating sepsis made possible by a discovery at the University of British Columbia.

Ask the treatment expert

Ask the treatment expert ... about skin tears

Can you give some guidance on skin tears?

Wound care

Liquid bandage heals wound by taking SMART approach

International researchers have teamed up to create a liquid bandage that maps oxygen concentrations in skin wounds.

Silver-coated catheters reduce CAUTIs

Switching from a standard urinary catheter to one that's silver-alloy and hydrogel-coated cut symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in half, according to a study ...

Ask the nursing expert

Ask the nursing expert ... about Medicare penalties

I'm hearing a lot about Medicare penalties. Should I be worried about this?

Nursing

Study cites staffing increase as injury-reduction strategy

Higher nurse-to-patient ratios result in fewer job-related injuries and illnesses, according to research that measures the effects of a 10-year-old California law.

Degreed DONs found to be more valuable

Nursing homes with highly educated, certified directors of nursing have better outcomes on some key quality measures, according to recent findings.

Ask the payment expert

Ask the payment expert ... about PEPPER reports

We never downloaded our PEPPER report. How important is it?

Payment & policy

Medicare coverage kicks in, 2 years after landmark win

Seven years after filing for Medicare benefits for diabetes complications, Glenda Jimmo of Bristol, VT, finally qualified for skilled home health maintenance coverage. The obstacle ...

States eye Medicaid hikes

In a sign that the economy continues its recovery from the devastating recession of 2008, most states are committed to raising Medicaid fees in fiscal ...

Ask the legal expert

Ask the legal expert ... about IRS crackdowns

Rumor has it that the IRS is going to be "cracking down" on providers in our area, but I don't know what that means or ...

Legal Matters

Report: Resident falls top reason for lawsuits risks

Falls accounted for a slightly lower proportion of closed professional liability claims that insurer CNA most recently studied, but they still were far and away ...

Facility settles lawsuit in food cart death

A California long-term care facility agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit after family members were awarded $135,000 in a case involving a resident hit ...

Design

Design Decisions: Tearing down walls

An Iowa facility removes an enormous entryway wall to create an open, inviting area where residents gather and enjoy natural light

How to do it…

How to do it ... lighting

Lighting is an overlooked design element in many long-term care environments. Good quality illumination will make a big difference in your residents' quality of life, ...

A day in the life

Day in the Life: After 97 years, she's a U.S. citizen

It's reasonable to expect that the pace of life slows down after moving into a skilled nursing facility. But 97-year-old Chengyi Pan has been busy ...

I couldn't live without...

I couldn't live without ... Mighty Badge system

When Chartwell Willowgrove Long Term Care decided to do a corporate rebranding earlier this year, it was time for business manager Michelle Deck and others ...

Technology

Improved voice recognition may be a boon for providers

Scientists are working to teach computers to recognize not only words but also the myriad meanings, subtleties and attitudes those words can convey.

ITUpdate for December 2014

» University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee researchers are examining the effect of the Music and Memory program on dementia patients. The team is monitoring the mental state ...

Opinion

A graceful surrender

I have theories about things. It's a perfectly risk-free pastime, since I never have to prove any of them. It's just my opinion, after all, ...

Company news

Nonprofits need to examine core services, says chairman

Nonprofit long-term care providers must work together to address alarming trends, or their market share could plummet, LeadingAge Chairman David Gehm told association members.

Occupancy passes 90%

Seniors housing stock enjoyed occupancy rates above 90% in the third quarter, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care announced. Occupancy is up ...

BusinessBriefs for December 2014

» Omega Healthcare Investors is poised to own nearly 875 skilled nursing properties across 41 states, following its merger with Aviv REIT in a $3 ...

Vendor news

LED lights can make rooms feel expansive, suppliers say

LED lighting solutions can be a good choice for long-term care facilities or others working in challenging spaces, supply-side experts have said recently.

Groups give Ebola resources for nurses

The National League of Nursing has released videos, audio and webinars to address Ebola.

CompanyBriefs for December 2014

» Bertelsmann said in October it is buying Relias Learning from its current owners, Vista Equity Partners and LLR Partners. Relias headquarters will remain in ...

Business & Marketing

Going with your gut?

Intuition fascinates us. Over and over, we hear stories of people having amazing successes following their gut instincts. We seldom hear about those who listen ...