Grasping, as many of us do, to find a positive healthcare story that includes the long-term care sector, it was nice to see that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Innovation Awards made...
It’s time to drop the lone wolf routine
By
John O'Connor
Jun 18, 2012
For many, it appears that finding their own answers to long-term care’s challenges and opportunities is the first and only default option. But the future means finding some dance partners.
Big challenges ahead for therapy
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jun 12, 2012
A few years ago, my consulting company had the opportunity to work with a facility to implement a bariatric unit within a skilled nursing facility. This would seem an easy task, but the facility ended...
A winning strategy for nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 06, 2012
Last week, I heard one of the most insightful, no-baloney talks I’ve heard in a while from a long-term care official.
Therapy not complete without some ‘home’ work
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
May 30, 2012
Is it worth it? I’m referring to home visits by the therapy team, the patient, and their family. These are the clinical visits with the patient to their home for a “practice run” conducted...
The calm before the antipsychotics storm
By
James M. Berklan
May 30, 2012
If you’re a Daily McKnight’s reader, it’s a good thing. Otherwise, you might have never known that a federal measure calling for closer monitoring of antipsychotic drug use in nursing...
The family secrets that hold back long-term care
By
John O'Connor
May 21, 2012
Several years ago I called some industry experts with a simple request. I asked if there was a place where I could find some basic benchmarks about industry spending. Didn’t think I was looking for...
Five-Star insights: Will those stars ever illuminate your path?
By
Steven Littlehale
May 16, 2012
I recently asked a hospital discharge planner how she chooses which nursing home to discharge to. “Five-Star” was the reply. Was I surprised? Not at all. Once again, it demonstrates just how...
In pursuit of the C-suite
By
Elizabeth Newman
May 15, 2012
Imagine an industry where an entry-level person is encouraged to be hungry and aggressive, to work long hours for little pay, lead (almost by default) an unhealthy lifestyle, and not have to dress all...
Out with the drab: Time to add personality to healthcare equipment
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
May 07, 2012
A few years ago, I broke my leg. Ouch! I was stuck in a long-leg cast for 14 weeks. Luckily, no surgery was required. It was around the holidays, so I asked to have my cast done in red and green stripes.