July 2012 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News

July 2012

Antipsychotic add-on falls off FDA measure

The Senate failed to approve legislation meant to enhance antipsychotic regulations in nursing homes, despite passing the bill to which it was attached.

State News: Federal officials like preventative medicine approach as a cure for state's ailing Medicaid program

Lawmakers are hoping an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure for the state's ailing Medicaid program. Additionally, its plan to push seniors' ...

'On the wagon'

Skin care products have gained increasing importance in long-term care as providers search for ways to keep incontinent residents comfortable and prevent decubitus ulcers from ...

60 Seconds With...Patricia Boyer

What's the biggest area that auditors are zeroing in on?

Ask the care expert: Will our facilities face OSHA inspections?

Yes, you are correct with your "grapevine" info but inspections will be focused on more than just infections. On April 12, 2012, OSHA announced a ...

Antibiotics best probiotics for UTIs: study

When taken daily to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, antibiotics are more effective than daily doses of probiotics, or "good bacteria," a new study confirms.

Ask the treatment expert: What should I watch out for when treating darkly pigmented skin?

Caregivers must be taught how to closely examine darkly pigmented skin in order to determine tissue damage. A purplish/blue discoloration may be seen.

Multidisciplinary approach recommended for wounds

Poor treatment of infected foot wounds in people with diabetes can lead to lower extremity amputation, and about 50% of patients who have foot amputations ...

Ask the Nursing Expert: How can we integrate hospice services into our plan of care?

Hospice services can be a wonderful addition to the care we are providing. Their pain management skills are incredible

Study: Information, training can cut physical restraint use

Interventions such as group training sessions and the provision of supportive materials for staff, residents and relatives can help nursing homes reduce dependence on physical ...

Ask the payment expert: How will our new e-charting system influence our reimbursement?

We are getting a new electronic charting system. Is there anything we should be aware of with the change?

CMS extends overpayment payback window to one year

Federal regulators have relented and given state Medicaid programs a full year to collect and return overpayments made to providers.

Ask the legal expert: What can we do about new admissions who stash their assets for Medicaid eligibility?

Senior living facilities have little, if any, ability to influence an individual's decision to set up an irrevocable trust or some other type of tax ...

Closed facility continues fight with state

A nursing home closed 13 years ago opened a new chapter in May, when a trial between the state of New York and the home's ...

Thoughts on the Fed

When will the Fed raise interest rates? Probably not until we are out of the debt morass.

Spiritual leadership for management and activities

When one hears the phrase "spiritual leadership," it usually pertains to one promoting or advocating for a religious faith through a specific church or religious ...

Built to weather the storm

When a skilled nursing facility more than doubles in size — but adds only 20 beds — and switches to a brand new model of ...

How to do it... Incontinence management

It is one of the most common conditions of the elderly in nursing homes, yet one of the easiest to handle poorly. Incontinence can be ...

A Day in the Life: Geri Olympians' competitive spirit

As elite athletes from around the globe descend on London this summer, another group of Olympians will be rooting them on from their West Virginia ...

I couldn't live without...QuietCare

California-based senior services and housing operator Eskaton uses Care Innovations' QuietCare system to better monitor its residents and improve staff communication in memory care communities.

Institute of Medicine checklist offers healthcare IT guidance

Healthcare executives should have a full understanding of the benefits of healthcare information technology as a means for improving outcomes and lowering costs, new guidelines ...

Study shows sickest people most dissatisfied with care

Nursing home residents, who often have at least one or more chronic condition, are among the sickest individuals treated by the American healthcare system. This ...

Roadman new ALC president

The former head of the American Health Care Association, Charles "Chip" Roadman II, M.D., will serve as interim president and CEO of Assisted Living Concepts.

Competitive bidding program is doomed, researchers assert

Medicare's competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment was not built to last, new research asserts. The program requires skilled nursing facilities seeking DME supplies to ...

Talk about tech tools

After reading through some of the numerous applications for our first annual McKnight's Excellence In Technology Awards — Connect Our World, I'm here to tell ...

Seeing optimism where others only have doubt

Mark Parkinson makes a lot of sense when he talks about the future of long-term care. One of his key points is that providers must ...

This leader's a team player

Convincing medical students to go into geriatrics is a tough sell, which Joseph Ouslander, M.D., knows better than anyone.