October 2011 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
News
Vaccinate more workers to limit flu: study
Nursing homes with higher rates of flu vaccinations among direct caregivers have a dramatically lower number of flu outbreaks.
New wave of pro-labor rulings seen as gift for large unions
Opponents of organized labor — which include many long-term care providers — feel swamped by recent pro-union rulings from the National Labor Relations Board.
New rankings compare states
Best performers were identified in a "first of its kind" State Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard released last month by AARP, The Commonwealth Fund and ...
Ad campaign targets possible funding cut
A newly launched ad campaign hopes to offset calls for funding cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The American Health Care Association and the ...
New hope in C. diff battle
An experimental compound has been shown to effectively fight Clostridium difficile in lab mice.
Botox OK for incontinence
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Botox (botulinum toxin type A) for the treatment of urinary incontinence in patients with neurologic conditions such as ...
CLASS delayed another year
A recent Congressional Budget Office update indicates there will be a one-year delay in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act's long-term care insurance plan.
Many are irked by new stance
Several Congressional Democrats have joined long-term care leaders in expressing dismay over President Obama's apparent endorsement of Medicare and Medicaid funding cuts.
Labor board's ruling may ease unionizing
Advocacy groups for long-term care providers lashed out at a National Labor Relations Board decision that would make it easier for certified nursing assistants to ...
State News
Ombudsman's treatment was illegal, inquiry finds
FLORIDA - Federal HHS investigators accused the state's Department of Elder Affairs of violating the Older Americans Act, capping a five-month investigation over a series ...
Features
Game on for LTC
Recreational options are flourishing as new technology, from Wii bowling to movies on demand to social media, lets residents choose the content they want.
License to succeed
Finding and training compassionate, dedicated drivers is no accident. Planning, screening and rigorous training are essential components
Layered lifestyle
To accommodate the demands of their disparate resident populations, eldercare operators are increasingly adopting a security approach to meet residents' needs.
Uncertain futures
Double-whammy of regulatory burdens and reimbursement unknowns gives investors reason for pause when considering whether to spend on skilled nursing
60 Seconds with...
60 Seconds with...Nataly Rubinstein
Nataly Rubinstein, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCM, author of new caregiver book
Ask the care expert
Ask the care expert: What resources are available to develop a staff Facebook policy?
Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA, President, NADONA
Resident care
Undercover investigation finds unlikely quality of life measure
In elderly women, successful aging and positive quality of life indicators are linked to sexual satisfaction — even when physical health is declining — a ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert: What is the PUSH Tool
Susan Wickard, RN, BSN, CWCN, CWS, CLNC, Clinical Advisor, American Association for LTC Nursing
Wound care
Study advises hospitals to purchase special mattresses
Many residents arrive in nursing homes with pressure sores they obtained while hospitalized. A new study offers a solution: Hospitals should invest in pressure-reduction mattresses ...
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert: How can DONs do it all?
Anne Marie Barnett, RN, President, Maryland NADONA/LTC
Nursing
Labor board ruling paves the way for more CNA unionization
As industry officials predicted in late August, the National Labor Relations board has issued a union-friendly decision that would make it less complicated for certified ...
Uniforms harboring drug-resistant bugs
More than 60% of healthcare workers' uniforms tested positive for multidrug-resistant pathogens, according to new study findings.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert: How to maintain solvency under increased Medicare scrutiny (Part III)
Patricia Boyer, MSM, NHA, RN, President, Boyer & Associates, LLC
Payment & policy
Bundled payment initiative for providers coming: CMS
Post-acute care providers will be among those affected under a new initiative that will provide bundled Medicare payments.
CMS to cover obesity behavior therapy
Providers may be getting their load lightened a bit with help from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency has proposed covering intensive ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert: Is there an end in sight to unionization gains in SNFs?
John Durso, Esq., Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Legal Matters
Former FL ombudsman files suit against providers, state
A high-profile ousted Florida ombudsman has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Florida Health Care Association and the Florida Assisted ...
OIG: Firm can't be only supplier to SNF
A skilled nursing facility should not use a medical supply company as an exclusive supplier in order to get lower prices, according to an advisory ...
Pursuing excellence
Having my say
Having my say: Why best isn't enough
William Schaffner, M.D., President, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Design
Eldercare that blossoms
Seemingly small changes to a garden patio have a huge impact on the residents and their caregivers at one California nursing home.
How to do it…
How to do it...Rehabilitation
The buoyancy, support and resistance of water offers one of the simplest healing environments. Water therapy can provide a fun yet beneficial way of helping ...
A day in the life
A day in the life: Workers also have wishes
Typically, when a nursing home gets into the business of granting wishes, it's the resident who gets to fulfill a lifelong dream. But Carol Cummings ...
I couldn't live without...
I couldn't live without...Lintech's COMET system
Amicus Health Care Services, which operates three skilled nursing facilities in rural Texas, does not have an extensive corporate staff, so choosing a software provider ...
Technology
Larger role for e-health data key to safer care, study finds
One of the best ways to reduce medical errors in the nation's healthcare system is to expand the role of electronic health records, investigators recently ...
Resident care
Reconciliation practices can cut injuries
There are approximately 800,000 injuries per year in long-term care facilities due to medication reconciliation errors made during transitions of care, according to a new ...
Company news
Genesis-Aetna alliance may preview ACO deals to come
A partnership between Genesis HealthCare and insurance giant Aetna is expected to drive down hospital readmission rates, provide better patient care and save both companies ...
Ventas wins another one
After years of legal wrangling, HCP Inc. has agreed to pay the $102 million the courts have said it owes Ventas Inc.
Vendor news
Google forfeits $500 million for illegal drug ad practices
Google Inc. will pay a half billion dollars to the United States. The agreement follows a Department of Justice investigation that found Canadian pharmacies were ...
FDA agrees to deal that speeds reviews
The Food and Drug Administration and the biopharma industry have agreed in principle on a revamp of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, by which ...
The big picture
Here's what the jury saw
Small fortunes are spent each year trying to figure out how juries reach their verdicts in malpractice cases. Having just served on such a panel, I ...
Editor’s desk
Standing on principle or waiting for a better deal?
So this is what it comes to when No. 1 attempts to buy No. 2. This could be some lively theater by the time the ...
