September 2016 37 9 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
September 2016 edition of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Where are they now?
News
Fall Expo back for fourth year
Long-term care providers can get up to date with the latest challenges, barriers and safe practices for health information technology when McKnight's Fall Online Expo ...
Providers to receive 2.4% raise next year
While providers cheered an estimated $920 million payment increase for fiscal 2017, they also resigned themselves to preparing for four new quality measures.
Admins, DONs see pay jumps
Salaries for nursing home administrators spiked 3.8% this year, when comparing facilities taking part in the nation's biggest survey in both 2015 and 2016.
Helping others boosts health
Volunteering after age 40 provides more mental health benefits than serving when younger, according to a new analysis from British researchers.
Naps may help night nurses
Napping on the job may be beneficial for nurses working night shifts, according to a new study.
Arbitration battle heating up
More groups are urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ban pre-dispute arbitration clauses as the publication of the agency's final rule for ...
CMS to inspect SNFs' social media policies
Surveyors have begun reviewing nursing homes' policies for addressing employee abuse of residents on social media platforms.
Quality measurements are a 'game changer,' expert notes
Skilled nursing facilities failing to submit data for new quality measures will suffer a 2-percentage point reduction starting with 2018, the Centers for Medicare & ...
Settlements in four DOJ investigations to cost Genesis $52.7 million
Genesis Healthcare will pay $52.7 million under an agreement to settle four separate Department of Justice investigations, the nation's largest long-term care company said.
New watch may lead to faster response
A smartwatch app under development may allow certified nursing assistants to respond to alerts faster, Binghamton University researchers say.
State News
State News for September 2016
State officials should crack down on minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, according to a new report.
Features
One section at a time
Recurring errors in the MDS can place bottom lines and resident care at risk. Spending time to avoid potential repercussions is worth the effort, experts ...
60 Seconds with...
Ask the care expert
Ask the Care Expert about ... preparing for time off
I love going to conferences and I learn a lot, but it seems like they always put me in a hole at work, both before ...
Resident care
Study: Antibiotics may slow progression of Alzheimer's
Long-term treatment with antibiotics could help decrease levels of amyloid plaques, a telltale sign of Alzheimer's disease, according to recent study results.
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the Treatment Expert about ... eschar
When eschar is present, what are the best practices for treating pressure injuries that occur on the heel?
Wound care
Umbilical cord is shown to help chronic wounds heal
Cryopreserved umbilical cord, or cUC, allografts healed nearly 80% of chronic wounds in a retrospective review of a Texas veterans clinic.
Reprogrammed cells hold key to healing
Returning cells to their earliest embryonic state may offer a "potent" resource for healing diabetic foot ulcers, according to a team of Boston-based researchers.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the Nursing Expert about ... administrator relationships
What are ways a director of nursing can adopt to "get in good" with the boss (the administrator)?
Nursing
Degraded nurses more likely to leave for better job: study
A small study of Iranian nurses examined a troubled group: Nurses who leave because of threats or poor treatment by other staff.
Nurses with a say are more likely to stay
Maintaining a low turnover rate among nursing staff during a time of high demand for positions may relate to autonomy of the job.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the Payment Expert about ... Medicare data
It seems like Medicare always has so much information about us. How can we access that data?
Payment & policy
Study casts doubt on future of value-based purchasing
Even as some experts were predicting that value-based purchasing initiatives would be expanding in the near future, researchers from a handful of universities were casting ...
Court: Racial taunts? Tough
A patient making threats about being cared for by someone of a race he or she doesn't like is not a valid reason for a ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the Legal Expert about ... administrative law judges
A certain administrative law judge clearly screwed us on a previous decision and now it looks like we're going to get him again. Is there ...
Legal Matters
Court: A missing arbitration agreement still enforceable
An Indiana nursing home that "inexplicably" doesn't have a copy of a former resident's arbitration agreement can still compel arbitration, a state court ruled in ...
Employer consent not needed to bargain
Unions seeking to represent bargaining units with both solely and jointly employed workers will no longer have to obtain consent from both employers, the National ...
Pursuing excellence
Long-stay measures
Change is in the wind. The National Quality Forum has recommended for endorsement a new metric that measures a skilled nursing facility's ability to manage ...
Design
Design Decisions: Focus on resident privacy
Sunny Hill Nursing Home responds to calls for more privacy with solo focus: renovation that affects the entire building
How to do it…
How to do it... Streamlining bath time
Bathing can present a host of challenges, unforeseen mishaps and incidents that can easily disrupt daily routines. But choosing the right tools, creating a calming ...
A day in the life
A Day in the Life: Rehabilitation rumba
When Mary Moreland was first pitched the idea of a dance competition for rehabilitation residents, she was hesitant. Moreland, the director of rehabilitation at Twin ...
Technology
FDA won't regulate fitness trackers and wellness apps
FitBit and other fitness and sleep tracker developers are breathing a sigh of relief after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released final guidance in ...
Opinion
Reader Poll: What's the best part of your day?
"It is the unexpected parts of my day that are sometimes my favorite. I love walking through our centers and hearing residents answer the question ...
Resident care
VA facilities at least equal to others: study
The quality of care provided in healthcare facilities managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is comparable to the quality of community-based facilities, according ...
Company news
Griffin-American picks up five Boston SNFs for $65.5 million
Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III Inc. acquired five Massachusetts skilled nursing facilities in the second quarter of 2016, the company announced in July.
CA community sells for $6M
CareTrust REIT Inc. has acquired a California skilled nursing facility for $6.9 million, the company announced in early August.
Vendor news
Medical plastics viewed as the next frontier for recycling
Healthcare facilities turn out nearly 30 pounds of waste per day per staffed bed. What if that trash could be made into something beautiful?
The big picture
Editor’s desk
Another ominous sign on the LTC insurance front
In olden days, if the leader of an army went down in battle, the rest of the troops were likely to founder because they were ...
Profile
Profile: Beth Burnham Mace
As Beth Mace has moved along her path with the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, the journey has become personal.
