September 2013 34 9 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
Top news stories from the September 2013 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.
News
Readmission fines target skilled care
Skilled nursing operators often want the same treatment as hospitals. They might get their wish soon, though not necessarily in the way they hoped.
Room charges now top $94K
The cost of a private nursing home room increased an average of more than 3% annually during the past five years, and currently averages more ...
$30 million cut from Medicare
Skilled nursing facilities will see $470 million in aggregate 2014 Medicare reimbursements, which is $30 million less than projected in a proposed rule, according to ...
Care tied to resident satisfaction in report
Nursing home residents are more satisfied when the level of care in their facility is higher, according to a new analysis of Massachusetts facilities.
6 more awards for McKnight's
The McKnight's Long-Term Care News editorial team captured four top national awards in the 25th Annual APEX competition.
Blood sugar, dementia link
Seniors without diabetes but with higher than average blood sugar levels have an 18% increased risk for dementia, a new study shows.
C. diff therapy put in doubt
Probiotics are not effective in preventing diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile, according to a large study that calls into question previous findings.
Don't consolidate quality groups to regionals: AHCA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should not waver from its long-standing support of state-based quality improvement organizations, the American Health Care Association and ...
Florida jury delivers $1.1 billion verdict
A Florida jury has awarded $1.1 billion in damages to the family of a former nursing facility resident. The amount is believed to be one ...
Family communication found important for memory care
Taking the time to learn a dementia resident's life story is an essential tool in managing behavior in a memory care unit, an expert said ...
Supplement may ease dry eye symptoms
An omega fatty acid supplement halted progress of inflammation for people with moderate to severe dry eye, results of a new study shows.
State News
State News
MASSACHUSETTS — An ongoing debate over nursing homes' use of antipsychotics flared in July during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.
Features
Taming the MDS
Providers will be greeted at the end of the month by more important tweaks and changes to multiple parts of the Minimum Data Set resident ...
Giving a lift to safety
Employers must adopt tools and embrace policies that keep caregivers as well as residents safe during the bathing process — or pay the price in ...
60 Seconds with...
60 seconds with ... FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed
Q: The federal government has sued Florida for having too many children in nursing homes. Does the claim have merit?
Ask the care expert
Ask the care expert ... about photographing wounds
I am a charge nurse on a skilled unit. We do not take photos of wounds, but I would really like to take pictures. As ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert ... about treating pressure ulcer pain
I am treating a patient with two Stage IV pressure ulcers and he is complaining of extreme pain. What do you recommend?
Wound care
Study finds that frequent debridement speeds healing
It may be a stretch to say that a clean wound is a happy wound. But a new study finds that debridement appears to at ...
Ultrasound patch treats venous ulcers
Drexel University researchers have found a new method for treating chronic wounds: an ultrasound applicator that can be worn like an adhesive bandage.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert ... about QAPI implementation
There has been a lot of talk about QAPI. What is the director of nursing's role? Where should we start?
Nursing
Employers giving too much credit when hiring: research
Employers often use correspondence bias when hiring, with potentially negative results, a study has found.
Greater use of NPs boosts primary care
States with the fewest restrictions on nurse practitioners have two-and-a-half times more patients receiving primary care, per a new analysis.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert ... about MDS staffing
We recently lost our MDS nurse and didn't know what to do, as no one else knew how to do MDSs. What should we do ...
Payment & policy
OIG finds 'observation stay' problems, calls for reform
Long-term care groups are among those hailing a federal study that raises critical questions about hospitals' apparent over-use of "observation stay" designations for patients.
More hospice info wanted
Federal regulators have added another layer of bureaucracy for hospice providers operating within skilled nursing facilities.
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert ... about winning resolution proceedings
I'm tired of losing informal dispute resolution proceedings. How can I win one?
Legal Matters
Nursing home is victorious in 'retaliation' court claim
A Texas nursing home has prevailed in a lawsuit that claimed it had retaliated against a resident after family members complained about her care.
CMS let off the hook in contempt case
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is not guilty of contempt in a case over payments to a nursing facility facing Medicare termination, a ...
Design
Renovating for rehab
A renovated facility is now in harmony with its surroundings, offering residents tranquility and motivation during their rehabilitation.
How to do it…
How to do it ... information technology
Acquiring a software package completes one process for providers, but it also initiates another: A quest to enhance staff knowledge and skills for using the ...
A day in the life
Residents find their mojo
Shuffleboard. Bingo. And juggling, plate spinning, hat tricks and tightrope walking. This might be a typical nursing home activities schedule — if more centers follow ...
Couldn't live without
I couldn't live without ... Virtual Healthcare Tours webpages
When it came time for a website redesign, leaders wanted to show that Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Toms River, NJ, is a ...
Technology
Medicare, Medicaid likely to start requiring tech tool use
As sharing of electronic health information becomes standard across all care settings, using technology may become a prerequisite for providers to participate in the Medicare ...
ITUpdate
The government will press for action on a certification program for electronic health records used by long-term care providers, the Office of the National Coordinator ...
Opinion
Sleepy? Have a waffle
My initial plan was to get up early to write this column. Refreshed and invigorated by a good night's sleep, I would leap out of ...
Company news
Skilled Healthcare Group CEO to retire as company rebuilds
Boyd Hendrickson, a transformative figure in long-term care while at the helm of Skilled Healthcare Group, will be retiring as the company restructures its balance ...
Diversicare exits Arkansas
Diversicare is terminating its lease on 11 Arkansas nursing facilities, exiting that market after more than 20 years.
Vendor news
'Co-opetition' can promote innovation, LTC leader says
Cooperative competition or "co-opetition" is largely dormant in the long-term care market, one industry leader said in July.
FDA issues recall notice on Nova strips
Providers should monitor residents with diabetes to see if they are using recalled blood glucose test trips, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised.
CompanyBriefs
COMS Interactive LLC has introduced Outcomes IQ™. This software will extend the Daylight IQ product suite, the company said. It allows for data for large ...
Business & Marketing
Reviewing RUG levels
From the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 8, we know rehabilitation skilled level of care requires the delivery of skilled therapy five distinct days a ...
The big picture
Nothing to smile about
A friend who happens to be a dentist once regularly saw nursing home residents. During these calls, he would examine patients and make arrangements for ...
Editor’s desk
Progress in the hospital 'observation stay' chaos
When you complain about bizarre government conditions or regulations, as columnists are wont to do, you usually have to assume you're just whispering into a ...
Profile
Profile: The grateful gatekeeper
Close to 50 years ago, John F. Taylor made two important decisions. First, he married his wife, Paula. Then, he left college roughly 10 credit ...
