Court expresses concern over Omnicare drug packaging practices but dismisses False Claims suit
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 26, 2014
A whistleblower exposed disturbing drug packaging practices being used by long-term care pharmacy Omnicare Inc., but the charges don’t fall under the False Claims Act, a federal appeals court recently...
For-profit hospices serve more extended-stay patients, are more likely to exceed Medicare cap than nonprofits,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 26, 2014
For-profit hospices serve more extended-stay hospice patients than nonprofits, and are much more likely to file claims that exceed Medicare’s aggregate annual cap for the hospice benefit, according...
MN facility defended rapist on staff, legal documents charge
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 25, 2014
As part of a generally mishandled response after an aide raped a resident, a director at a Minnesota senior living facility defended the rapist and tarred the victim as a “flirt,” according...
Consistent assignment study shows need for careful culture change implementation, Eden Alternative leader...
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 25, 2014
Consistently assigning nursing home aides to particular residents could cause the aides to feel isolated and overburdened, suggests a study forthcoming in the Western Journal of Nursing Research. However,...
Multidisciplinary teams cut costs but do not improve pressure ulcer healing in nursing homes, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 25, 2014
Nursing homes could save money by utilizing multi-disciplinary teams for pressure ulcer treatment, although these teams may not improve clinical outcomes, according to recently published research.
Of Brookdale and branding: Thoughts for the small operator
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 25, 2014
Brookdale Senior Living’s acquisition of Emeritus Corp. is part of an ambitious strategy to make Brookdale the first truly national U.S. eldercare brand. So is it ominous that the Feb. 20 merger...
Having family members at meals does not improve nursing home residents’ food intake, study shows
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 24, 2014
Nursing home residents do not eat much more when their family members are present at mealtimes, even though caregivers provide more assistance, according to recently published study results.
Kindred faces $2 million verdict in nursing home assault case with no eyewitnesses
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 24, 2014
A jury recently slapped Kindred Healthcare with a $2 million verdict in a resident abuse case that turned on testimony from medical experts, attorneys announced Thursday.
Flu vaccine cuts stroke risk by nearly 25%, researchers say
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 24, 2014
People who are vaccinated against the seasonal influenza are 24% less likely to suffer a stroke during that flu season, according to recently published research out of the United Kingdom.
Blockbuster merger will bring Brookdale, Emeritus together, create largest senior living company
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 21, 2014
Brookdale Senior Living and Emeritus Senior Living will merge through a $2.8 billion deal, in a move that Brookdale CEO T. Andrew Smith said will be “transformative for the industry.” The expanded...