July 2014 35 7 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
Top stories from the July 2014 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.
Analysis
McKnight's Roundtable: Prescription for change
When top long-term care executives and physicians meet, visions for a new future of longterm care technology, care processes and payment mechanisms soon follow
News
MedPAC urges rates blind to care setting
Skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities should receive equal payments for treating some conditions, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission proposed in its latest report ...
Report: QIOs are reducing ulcers
Nursing homes that have partnered with Quality Improvement Organizations over the last three years have delivered drastically reduced pressure ulcer rates and restraint use, according ...
QAPI on minds of leadership
A critical decision in a Quality Assurance Performance Improvement plan is not what, but whom, to include, a former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ...
Lawmakers want pay that is risk-adjusted
Calculations for Medicare readmissions penalties should be risk-adjusted so that providers do not lose money for serving the sickest, poorest seniors, a group of Congressional ...
McKnight's reaches APEX again
McKnight's Long-Term Care News Senior Editor Elizabeth Newman earned a Grand Award for blog writing, and McKnight's staff pulled in four other Awards of Excellence ...
Certain lights ease dementia
Certain lights may improve quality of life for residents with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, according to a new study.
Special juice reduces UTIs
Drinking black chokeberry juice may reduce the rate of urinary tract infections among nursing home residents, according to findings published in Nutrition Research in June.
Facility fined $16,000 after reviving resident with DNR
Authorities have fined a Florida nursing home $16,000 for reviving a resident who had a do-not-resuscitate order.
$11.6M to nurse paralyzed by flu vaccine
A former nurse has received an $11.6 million government settlement to pay for future care after a flu vaccine paralyzed her.
State News
State News July 2014
ILLINOIS — Democratic Gov. Patrick Quinn was expected to sign legislation designed to reverse decades of race-based disparities in the care provided in all types ...
Features
Wound care victories
New products and emerging technologies promise better prevention and treatment options for residents at risk of developing pressure ulcers
Acuity takes a seat
Clinical conditions and needs play a big role in furnishing choices for long-term care communities; what you choose influences who you serve — and vice ...
60 Seconds with...
60 seconds with ... Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Q: Would an SGR repeal inevitably be financed through Medicare cuts to long-term care providers?
Ask the care expert
Resident care
Tool gives providers a leg up when assessing malnutrition
The calf circumference of residents is a "good substitute" for body mass index when using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form, according to a study published ...
Study takes a closer look at falling risks
While it is clear that poor vision increases the risk of falling, improved vision might also increase this risk, a new study suggests.
Wound care
Avoid treating persistent wounds with aspirin: Study
Non-aspirin pain relievers may be a better choice for residents with chronic wounds, according to new research.
Gastro bacteria may place role in healing
Bacteria typically found in the gastrointestinal system, such as E.Coli and Bacteroides species, were found in war wounds that healed successfully, according to a recent ...
Ask the treatment expert ... about choosing a wound dressing
With so many wound care dressings and treatments available, how can you make the right decision?
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert ... about becoming a good leader
As a nurse manager, how do I lead my team to great outcomes?
Nursing
Expanded role empowering yet stifling for many nurses
Efforts at reducing rehospitalization of nursing home residents can empower nurses, but such initiatives can also put them in challenging positions, according to study results ...
Oregon tops list of best states for nurses
With a supportive work environment and plenty of opportunity, Oregon took first in a 2014 ranking of the best and worst states for nursing.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert ... about continuing RAC requests
I thought the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) were on hold. Why did we still get a request for records?
Payment & policy
Referrals funnel duals into lower quality nursing homes
Government health programs could save money and health outcomes could improve if more dual-eligible beneficiaries were to go from hospitals to well-staffed long-term and post-acute ...
Panel slams fee for service
The predominance of fee-for-service payment methods is the greatest barrier to improving efficiency in the nation's healthcare system, according to a May 29 report from ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert ... about HIPAA enforcement
HIPAA — so far seems like much ado about nothing. What's liable to trip us up when we're not looking (but otherwise running a tight ...
Legal Matters
Supervisor let resident die, covered it up, state charges
A nursing home supervisor in New York allegedly failed to administer CPR or direct staff members to do so, criminally allowing a resident to die, ...
Device thefts main source of HIPAA rifts
Nearly 15 million individuals were affected by more than 450 large-scale health data breaches in 2010 and 2011, investigators said in a recent report to ...
Design
Design Decisions: A flow of space and light
Formerly landlocked and limited in a Boston quarter, South Cove Manor grows into the suburbs with special Chinese touches
How to do it…
How to do it ... Diabetic wound management
Sound practices in diabetic wound management go a long way toward controlling and healing existing wounds — and preventing new ones. Although dressings are an ...
A day in the life
A Day in the Life: Strong connections brewing
Men gather around a table and clink mugs of frothy beer. It's a common sight in restaurants, bars, kitchens — and the dining room of ...
Couldn't live without
I couldn't live without ... IHN Suite
In 2009, Signature HealthCARE began looking for a software system that could grow with the company. That's why Mike Easley, the company's chief information officer, ...
Technology
CFOs see Internet, wireless as viable tech investments
Executives are typically allocating between 2% and 3% of their operating budgets for technology, according to a recent Ziegler survey. More assets are devoted within ...
ITUpdate July 2014
» The McKnight's Technology Awards will accept entries until July 12.
Opinion
Cynicism is contagious
Research shows cynical people die younger and are three times more likely to get dementia? Yeah, right. I'd like to see who paid for that ...
Company news
Ventas' $2.6 billion bid will create healthcare REIT titan
Real estate investment trust giant Ventas took a huge step in bolstering its private-pay assets when it announced it would acquire American Realty Capital Healthcare ...
Kindred bid more hostile?
Kindred Healthcare increased its bid for Gentiva Health Services to about $534 million, and plans to take the offer directly to shareholders.
BusinessBriefs for July 2014
» Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC acquired Keystone Commercial Capital, a commercial mortgage banking company based in Scottsdale, AZ. Keystone services more than $2 billion in ...
Vendor news
New prospecting tool helps residents overcome barriers
A company with a tool related to prospect-centered sales for senior living communities announced it has raised another $750,000. It had previously raised an initial ...
Drug for MRSA infections to hit market
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a medication for patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by bacteria that includes ...
CompanyBriefs July 2014
» HD Supply Facilities Maintenance has opened a new distribution center in Tampa, FL, making it the 44th center in the United States and Canada. ...
The big picture
Age wave's silver lining
It's hardly breaking news that we live in an aging nation. But the latest numbers may give providers even more reason to feel optimistic about ...
Editor’s desk
A 'special' feeling that no provider wants to have
As spring blends into summer, some nursing home operators are going to start feeling more heat. The federal government is moving to reclaim some form ...
Profile
Profile: Seniors' intimacy expert
When Gayle Doll began her career, she set out on a completely different path from the one she is on today.
