Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
CMS gets it right: Individuals receiving care will benefit from RN staffing mandate
By
Nancy Haugen
Oct 16, 2023
Skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have long relied on licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVN) as the “backbone” of care to keep nursing salary costs low and increase profits,...
Fasten your seatbelts: It MIGHT be a bumpy ride
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 13, 2023
It’s been a flurry of activity leading up to the implementation of the “new MDS.” For months our industry has been doing what we do best — rising to the occasion. Countless MDS training sessions,...
The job we get to do: A glimpse into the world of skilled nursing therapists
By
Renee Kinder
Oct 12, 2023
In meetings recently I heard perspective from a colleague about the “job we get to do” as rehab professionals who are entrusted with caring for our patients — who are not just patients. They...
How do we offer hope when we can’t see beyond the next shift?
By
Julie Thorson
Oct 11, 2023
Find hidden hope and hold on to it. Hope in healthcare hides in plain sight. Hope is here. It’s unfortunate that sometimes the moments of frustration overtake our soft, but powerful, hopeful...
Quality does not equate to staffing mandates
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Oct 10, 2023
I recently returned from the AHCA/NACL national convention and expo, one of my favorite conferences of the year. One reason why it’s a favorite is the recognition of quality in our profession. There...
Armed intruder and active shooter preparedness in LTC facilities
By
Stan Szpytek
Steve Wilder
Oct 09, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires skilled nursing facilities to plan for emergencies and disasters to protect the vulnerable population they serve. The regulations cited in Appendix...
It’s me. I’m the problem.
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 05, 2023
Sadly, I didn’t get to the American Health Care Association convention this year. Actually, it’s been a full decade since I last personally attended one of these auspicious gatherings, Now, lest...
Trick or treat? MDS changes are in the bag
By
Joel VanEaton
Oct 03, 2023
When I was a kid, I loved getting dressed up for Halloween. I remember especially a clown (funny not scary) costume I got one year. I couldn’t wait to put it on and be transformed into another world....
Minimum standards or wishful thinking?
By
Irving Stackpole
John Sheridan
Oct 02, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notice of proposed rulemaking and the report on which it is based have made the foundational point that more staff in nursing homes will result in better patient...
Stay interviews in senior care: A guide for managers
By
Cara Silletto
Sep 29, 2023
Retaining and keeping dedicated staff is paramount in senior care. A key strategy for this is implementing the “stay interview,” a proactive approach to understanding employee experiences, concerns...