Latest articles from McKnight's Long Term Care News The World According to Dr. El https://directory.mcknights.com/pages/rss.aspx?sectionid=3230 Latest articles from McKnight's Long Term Care News The World According to Dr. El The World According to Dr. El The World According to Dr. El custserv@mcknights.com no How to support depressed workers and reduce absenteeism Managers who acknowledge depression and actively offer help fostered greater presenteeism and less absenteeism. https://directory.mcknights.com/how-to-support-depressed-workers-and-reduce-absenteeism/article/792634/ Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:00:00 GMT Managers who acknowledge depression and actively offer help fostered greater presenteeism and less absenteeism. https://directory.mcknights.com/how-to-support-depressed-workers-and-reduce-absenteeism/article/792634/ 9 reasons why it's better to congregate than disperse short-term rehab residents In most of my long-term care career, I've witnessed short-term rehabilitation residents housed together. But not always. I don't know the reasoning behind dispersing residents, but from my perspective, dedicated rehab units work better. https://directory.mcknights.com/9-reasons-why-its-better-to-congregate-than-disperse-short-term-rehab-residents/article/791627/ Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:00:00 GMT In most of my long-term care career, I've witnessed short-term rehabilitation residents housed together. But not always. I don't know the reasoning behind dispersing residents, but from my perspective, dedicated rehab units work better. https://directory.mcknights.com/9-reasons-why-its-better-to-congregate-than-disperse-short-term-rehab-residents/article/791627/ Dr. El's 'Quality of Life' star ratings are the way to go After writing about turnover in my last column, I wondered what might happen if high marks were also awarded to facilities for strong staff retention, which has been positively correlated with better care. From there, I began to imagine an entire rating system based on my view of long-term care. Quality of life, not necessarily care, would be rewarded. https://directory.mcknights.com/dr-els-quality-of-life-star-ratings-are-the-way-to-go/article/788480/ Tue, 14 Aug 2018 18:14:56 GMT After writing about turnover in my last column, I wondered what might happen if high marks were also awarded to facilities for strong staff retention, which has been positively correlated with better care. From there, I began to imagine an entire rating system based on my view of long-term care. Quality of life, not necessarily care, would be rewarded. https://directory.mcknights.com/dr-els-quality-of-life-star-ratings-are-the-way-to-go/article/788480/ The tumult of turnover I once rode down a crowded afternoon elevator with the CEO of a managed care company. "It must be 5:01," he commented wryly. I heard a measure of scorn for his employees' lack of dedication to the job. What I saw was a group of people fleeing from utterly uninspiring and unappreciated work. https://directory.mcknights.com/the-tumult-of-turnover/article/784762/ Tue, 31 Jul 2018 19:06:37 GMT I once rode down a crowded afternoon elevator with the CEO of a managed care company. "It must be 5:01," he commented wryly. I heard a measure of scorn for his employees' lack of dedication to the job. What I saw was a group of people fleeing from utterly uninspiring and unappreciated work. https://directory.mcknights.com/the-tumult-of-turnover/article/784762/ Dr. El's Theory of Angry Activities There's a lot of stress in our buildings. I'm not suggesting nightly "primal scream" sessions, but we could add into the rotation some activities where residents get to be "bad," or at least aren't expected to be so darn good all the time. https://directory.mcknights.com/dr-els-theory-of-angry-activities/article/781397/ Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:19:07 GMT There's a lot of stress in our buildings. I'm not suggesting nightly "primal scream" sessions, but we could add into the rotation some activities where residents get to be "bad," or at least aren't expected to be so darn good all the time. https://directory.mcknights.com/dr-els-theory-of-angry-activities/article/781397/ Vacation envy, or 'How to get your groove back' Our work is important and the attitude with which we complete our tasks matters. If your vacation break is behind you, or so far ahead that you wonder how you're going to make it, try these ideas to re-energize and add zip to your workday. https://directory.mcknights.com/vacation-envy-or-how-to-get-your-groove-back/article/778057/ Tue, 03 Jul 2018 16:00:00 GMT Our work is important and the attitude with which we complete our tasks matters. If your vacation break is behind you, or so far ahead that you wonder how you're going to make it, try these ideas to re-energize and add zip to your workday. https://directory.mcknights.com/vacation-envy-or-how-to-get-your-groove-back/article/778057/ Suicide prevention in the workplace: What employers need to know As I prepared for this article, I realized that we don't hear much in the industry news outlets about suicide among our staff members. But that doesn't mean it isn't happening. https://directory.mcknights.com/suicide-prevention-in-the-workplace-what-employers-need-to-know/article/774703/ Tue, 19 Jun 2018 19:50:50 GMT As I prepared for this article, I realized that we don't hear much in the industry news outlets about suicide among our staff members. But that doesn't mean it isn't happening. https://directory.mcknights.com/suicide-prevention-in-the-workplace-what-employers-need-to-know/article/774703/ Enhancing organizational communication improves outcomes, reduces adverse incidents There will always be adverse events in any health system, but strengthening communication between team members and between different levels within the organization can improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood of becoming front page news. https://directory.mcknights.com/enhancing-organizational-communication-improves-outcomes-reduces-adverse-incidents/article/771019/ Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:00:00 GMT There will always be adverse events in any health system, but strengthening communication between team members and between different levels within the organization can improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood of becoming front page news. https://directory.mcknights.com/enhancing-organizational-communication-improves-outcomes-reduces-adverse-incidents/article/771019/ To reduce burnout and turnover, improve family-staff relationships People who travel tend to be happier with their jobs and companies than those who don't. This is a research finding that long-term care managers and operators definitely should heed. https://directory.mcknights.com/to-reduce-burnout-and-turnover-improve-family-staff-relationships/article/767617/ Tue, 22 May 2018 16:00:00 GMT People who travel tend to be happier with their jobs and companies than those who don't. This is a research finding that long-term care managers and operators definitely should heed. https://directory.mcknights.com/to-reduce-burnout-and-turnover-improve-family-staff-relationships/article/767617/ The ticklish balancing act: Resident rights vs. care quality Balancing the rights and desires of residents with the need of the facility to avoid citation and litigation can be very tricky, but the payoff can be definitely worth it when done right. Here's how. https://directory.mcknights.com/the-ticklish-balancing-act-resident-rights-vs-care-quality/article/762760/ Tue, 08 May 2018 16:00:00 GMT Balancing the rights and desires of residents with the need of the facility to avoid citation and litigation can be very tricky, but the payoff can be definitely worth it when done right. Here's how. https://directory.mcknights.com/the-ticklish-balancing-act-resident-rights-vs-care-quality/article/762760/