Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
A better way to serve seniors
By
Michelle Norris
Feb 19, 2013
The struggle to lower healthcare costs, especially Medicare and Medicaid, affects us all – from Congress to long-term providers to the very seniors we serve.
The Smell Test
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 15, 2013
Over in South Korea, precocious robots have been sniffing the air at a few nursing home test sites and neutralizing unwelcome odors. Or at least they were, but now have probably been reassigned to nose...
Taking steps to prevent Clostridium difficile infections
By
Irena Kenneley, Ph.D.
Feb 15, 2013
The numbers are in and they are grim. There are 165,000 cases, $1.3 billion in excess costs, and 9,000 deaths from Clostridium difficile infections that are healthcare-acquired in the United States annually.
New ATRA cut to Medicare Part B Therapy Payments latest destabilizing blow to spector
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Feb 13, 2013
With $9 billion in Budget Relief Act sequester cuts to the U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) sector now just weeks away following the latest cut of at least $600 million in Medicare Part B therapy payments...
The Unknown Profession: Geriatrician
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Feb 12, 2013
OK, so I just figured out why geriatricians are the some of lowest paid physicians in the profession. It’s because no one knows who the heck they are! We have proof.
Influenza and IBD: What every inflammatory bowel disease patient should know
By
Raymond K. Cross, M.D.
Feb 11, 2013
This flu season is reported to be the worst in years, with more than 40 states reporting widespread cases. Flu season lasts from September to May with peak months typically in January and February.
How consistent CNA assignments will help residents
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 07, 2013
Consistent assignments for CNAs are discussed and implemented more frequently than they used to be. For the most part, research studies speak to the positive attributes of this model of care. From improved...
Loopholes to help you track Medicare Part B therapy billing
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 06, 2013
Every time we send our patients to the hospital for rehab-related tests, exams or services, these services are billed to Medicare Part B, and, therefore, reduce our cap allowances. Any small oversights...
LTC providers have a chance to help researchers
By
Christine Caffrey
Feb 05, 2013
There is still time to be a part of a major study of long-term care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is still in the field with...
Influenza and Adults: A Patient-Specific Approach to Universal Immunization