If there’s one thing long-time political observers can tell you with certainty, it is this: You can make friends when you pass laws, but you rarely do when you propose a budget.
Operators need to start asking a fundamental question: How they gonna pay?
By
John O'Connor
Feb 02, 2015
Conventional wisdom tells us that many existing options will not cut it as more discriminating customers arrive in long-term care. But maybe it’s also time for operators to start giving more thought...
A SNF-hospital marriage that appears likely to last
By
John O'Connor
Jan 30, 2015
Partnerships linking skilled care operators and hospitals have been touted as all but inevitable. Yet good examples are few and far between. It turns out Dallas might be a pretty good place to look for...
Long-term care has better commenters
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 29, 2015
Part of the job for anyone who writes is the potential for receiving nasty comments. In some cases, this can lead to big problems.
Why providers aren’t elated about new pay-for-quality goals
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 28, 2015
You can forgive long-term care providers if they weren’t outwardly jumping for joy at Monday’s announcement that Medicare is going to start paying for quality, and not quantity, of services.
Three strikes is good for baseball but bad for nursing homes
By
John O'Connor
Jan 26, 2015
Even if you are not a baseball fan, you are probably familiar with the concept of three-strikes-and-you’re-out. There’s a certain elegance to the phrase, but it doesn’t belong in the...
Dangerous work with low pay, and we wonder why they leave?
By
John O'Connor
Jan 23, 2015
Researchers have concluded that workers are leaving the field in droves. The two main culprits: poor wages and dangerous work conditions.
Not time to pull the plug on hospital readmissions program … yet
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 21, 2015
It’s hard to sit on one’s hands when caregiving issues are in play. Yet, that’s exactly what I’d recommend with regard to at least one initiative aimed at lowering hospital readmissions.
‘Ghost Boy’: A terrifying story to inspire LTC caregivers
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 20, 2015
Anyone who doubts the enormous power wielded by frontline caregivers should listen to the premiere episode of “Invisibilia,” a new radio show and podcast.
Your biggest expense is about to get worse
By
John O'Connor
Jan 16, 2015
There are growing signs that labor costs will soon be creeping up. That may be good news for the frontline workers and other staff who literally do the heavy lifting. But it’s not so great for those...