January 2011 V. 32 1 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
January 2011
News
Congress grants key Medicare provisions
A collective sigh of relief could be heard from providers and regulators in mid-December when Congress voted to wipe out major complications regarding a new ...
Senators want to hear more
Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, finally had to face members of Congress recently, and he left them wanting ...
Congress averted Medicare 'meltdown,' Morton asserts
It's not often that long-term care providers can claim multiple victories with one piece of legislation, at least not victories of this caliber.
Experts testify about Alzheimer's and pain
Self-reporting comes up short when attempting to uncover pain levels in seniors with Alzheimer's disease, a top U.S. healthcare expert testified before a Senate panel ...
More are using SNF hospice, sparking worries about cuts
Residents in nursing homes who have dementia are using hospice care benefits to a greater degree than ever before, according to a new analysis.
State News
Mississippi: Barbour targets Medicaid as way to balance budget
Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is looking to Medicaid to balance the state's troubled budget. Barbour's proposal includes a 4% reduction in Medicaid payments to nursing ...
Features
When will LTC get serious about IT?
Impatience grows as progress moves slower than expected in the way long-term care providers pursue and adopt new technology for medical record keeping
The design dilemma
As facilities consider whether to go hospitality or homelike, many are doing a little bit of both. The effect can be comfortable spaces with a ...
60 Seconds with...
Ask the care expert
Diabetes training for long-term care nurses
Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA, President, NADONA
Resident care
Walking may delay Alzheimer's decline
A new study finds that walking five miles per week can stall the decline of cognitive function among seniors who are already experiencing mild forms ...
Ask the treatment expert
Wound care
New wound dressing changes color when infections occur
Scientists in Germany have created new wound dressing materials that change from yellow to purple in color when an infection develops.
Clearer package info helps care delivery
Nurses using wound care dressings with educational instructions attached to the outer package are 88% more likely to apply the products correctly than nurses who ...
Ask the nursing expert
Nursing
Senator stalls DEA nominee over pain medication rules
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) has blocked from the full Senate the nomination of Michelle Leonhart as head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Report: Expand nurses' scope of practice
The healthcare industry's restrictions on scope of practice, policy and reimbursement-related limitations have undermined nurses' efforts, according to a new report.
Ask the payment expert
Billing correctly using MDS/RUGs system
Patricia Boyer, MSM, NHA, RN, President, Boyer & Associates, LLC
Ask the legal expert
Legal Matters
Provider to pay $376,000 for hiring ineligible employees
In a case that is sure to fuel the push for more extensive nursing home employee background checks, an Indiana provider has been slapped with ...
Short stay ends in $43 million settlement
A Kentucky jury handed a local nursing home operator a $43 million settlement bill in connection with a lawsuit alleging that a 92-year-old resident died ...
Pursuing excellence
Careers
A day in the life: A walk in their (corn-filled) shoes
What's it like to live as an older adult with mid-stage dementia? Try walking with dry corn kernels in your shoes, seeing through goggles that ...
Salary snapshot
Director of Therapy/Rehabilitation
Couldn't live without
Technology
EHR adoption requires more investment, council finds
The adoption and use of electronic healthcare records (EHRs) are nowhere near their potential and require more investment of time and resources—likely even more than ...
Opinion
Resident care
Music, movement exercises can reduce falls risk: study
Seniors at an increased risk for falling who take part in classes involving music and rhythmic exercise may improve their balance and walking skills. As ...
Company news
Real estate investment trust purchases HCR for $6.1 bln
HCP Inc., a real estate investment trust, has signed an agreement to purchase the assets of HCR ManorCare Inc. for $6.1 billion from The Carlyle ...
Business & Marketing
Design Decisions: It's 'a culture of caring'
Nursing home incorporates elements of Asian culture into the design of its remodeling efforts to make it feel more like home
How to do it... Finance
Asking for a loan obviously is easier when one has an unblemished record. But what about the provider that has, for one reason or another, ...
The big picture
This year I promise to...
It's very possible that as you are reading this, you have already abandoned those sincere New Year's promises you made to yourself as 2011 was ...
Editor’s desk
The path to professional advancement lies online
We're into January now so that means one of two things, if you're like me: You've either already broken your New Year's resolutions, or you're ...
