November 2014 35 11 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
Top news stories from the November 2014 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.
News
Obama pen ushers in post-acute changes
Long-term care leaders were on hand as President Barack Obama signed the IMPACT Act into law on Oct. 6.
Sampling can convict: judge
In an unprecedented ruling, a federal judge has declared that officials may use just a statistical sampling of Medicare claims to help prove nursing home ...
Antipsychotics goal gets reset
Long-term care providers are being asked to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications among residents by 25% by the end of 2015, and 30% by ...
CDC renews call for pneumococcal shots
Seniors should receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended.
Hackbarth rips 3-day stay rule
If outgoing MedPAC Chairman Glenn Hackbarth had his way, Medicare would pay for skilled nursing services without requiring a three-day hospital stay first.
Fatal reactions raise concerns
Reactions to medication was the leading cause of allergy-related sudden deaths in the past decade, according to a new analysis.
New strategy for antibiotics
The White House unveiled a national plan in September to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It includes an executive order to "reduce the emergence and spread" of ...
New goals for antipsychotics not unreasonable, leaders say
Providers may grumble about renewed pressure to lower the use of antipsychotics among long-term care residents with dementia, but the industry has an opportunity to ...
AHCA goes on offense, backs 5 Star audits
Following victories such as the newly signed IMPACT Act, provider advocates now will be more aggressive on Capitol Hill, leaders of the American Health Care ...
Technology award winners raise bar for third annual McKnight's Tech Awards
Compelling stories of improved resident engagement is how some winners of the third annual McKnight's Excellence in Technology Awards caught the eyes of our independent ...
State News
State news for November 2014
MISSISSIPPI — Postal inspectors allege nursing home employees here and in California may have unwittingly referred families and residents seeking help with Medicaid and veterans' ...
Features
Brain-body link
Custom technologies and activities linking physical and cognitive tasks provide new opportunities for meaningful interaction with residents who have dementia
Raising sensitive issues
Wound care gets most of the attention, but ostomy management is another critical need for long-term care residents that deserves study, improvement
60 Seconds with...
60 seconds with ... Mark Parkinson
Q: Last month was the third AHCA/NCAL annual conference with you at the helm, and the healthcare landscape has become increasingly complex. Is there something ...
Ask the care expert
Ask the care expert ... about documenting falls
If a nurse's aide is in a room when a resident begins to fall, and lowers her to the ground, we are NOT counting those ...
Resident care
Grief could weaken seniors' immune systems, study finds
The elderly are more likely than younger people to have compromised immunity and experience infections while grieving, according to a British study.
Depression tool's accuracy questioned
A familiar tool for diagnosing depression in dementia patients might not be very effective in the nursing home setting, according to recent findings in The ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert ... about linens and pads
Does placing multiple pads and linens under residents who are incontinent protect their skin?
Wound care
NPWT may boost social life for wound care patients: report
Negative pressure wound therapy may increase a patient's quality of life in the short-term, a study has found, although researchers acknowledge further investigation is needed.
Diabetes growth to drive wound market
A rise in diabetes and obesity will drive the increase in the wound care market over the next four years, a research group asserts.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert ... about overseeing immunizations
I am a new assistant director of nursing and my administrator asked me to oversee immunizations. Where do I start?
Nursing
More than 1 in 3 nurses leave first job by third year: study
Nearly 18% of new nurses leave their first job within a year, according to a study in Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice.
Flexible work, pressure ulcer rates linked
Nursing homes where staff had more control over scheduling registered lower rates of pressure ulcers among residents, according to a study published in the Journal ...
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert ... about regs vs. resident choice
We are going through culture change and wonder if surveyors will be more lenient with regulations if we do something that is resident choice?
Payment & policy
CMS should push Congress on therapy rate upgrades: AHCA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should openly urge Congress to change therapy reimbursement, the nation's largest long-term care provider association stated in recent ...
RACs snatch back $1.8M
Recovery Audit Contractors collected $1.8 million in Medicare overpayments made to skilled nursing facilities in fiscal year 2013, according to a Congressional report released in ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert ... how to avoid deadbeat families
What's the best way to prevent deadbeat families?
Legal Matters
Rehab firm's overbilling will cost provider $1 million-plus
The fallout from a recent spike in rehabilitation charges to government payers continued to make headlines in September. This time, a nursing home company was ...
Official: HIPAA audits to bring penalties
In apparent acknowledgement that HIPAA violation enforcement has been less than aggressive so far, a government adviser said that HIPAA audits would soon produce swift ...
How to do it…
How to do it ... Professional development
Dementia care is an ever-changing discipline that requires a long-term commitment to training and staff development. Approached sensibly, a strong program will pay dividends far ...
A day in the life
Unique program really takes off
You might think that long-term care residents can only dream of flying in an Air Force biplane, like Snoopy fantasizing about dogfights with the Red ...
Couldn't live without
I couldn't live without ... HCS Interactant
Around three years ago, Christian Health Care Center in New Jersey needed a way to be more efficient.
Technology
Online tool helps providers target ICD-10 preparations
As providers get back into gear for the ICD-10 changes to hit in 2015, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a ...
ITUpdate for November 2014
» Nurses are increasingly relying on mobile devices, social media and the Internet, according to a survey from Wolters Kluwer Health. Their results, released in ...
Opinion
Thanks, Mata Hari
You Mystery Shoppers have spoken: Assisted living communities do a bad job making a good first impression. If true, it's definitely a problem, and I'd ...
Company news
LTC-related deals took the lead in the second quarter
Long-term care bucked healthcare industry trends with strong merger and acquisition activity in the second quarter, according to newly released data from professional services firm ...
Prospects not well courted
Many senior living operators could do a better job of attracting potential customers, a study by students at George Mason University has found.
BusinessBriefs for November 2014
» Large nonprofit senior living groups continue to be largely the domain of faith-based operators, according to the latest LeadingAge Ziegler 100 report. Presbyterian-, Methodist- ...
The big picture
Open beds no mystery
For more than a decade, students learning about senior housing administration at George Mason University have been "mystery shopping" operators via phone calls. The latest ...
Editor’s desk
Making a quality bet on ACOs a risky proposition
If there's anything that's become clear about this ACO business lately, it's that it's not going to be as simple as A-B-C.
Profile
Profile: Mor than meets the eye
While Brown University Professor Vince Mor's accomplishments may be heralded in the long-term care profession, what may be less known is his dedicated work with ...
