It’s back. Not flu season, not the dreaded survey team, not the freezing temperatures if you live far enough north.
Spring is coming… why are we adding more layers?
By
Angi Livingston
Mar 07, 2022
In addition to tracking and submitting extensive COVID-19 data to NHSN weekly and providing numerous data requests to surveyors, facilities now have to dedicate resources to populating a COVID-19 Staff...
Nursing home theme of the summer: medication
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 18, 2013
The first day of summer is not quite upon us, but it seems the season’s blockbuster movie and hit song may already have been decided. And when it comes to long-term news, I’m ready to declare...
What does mood have to do with the state of affairs? As it turns out, a lot.
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 03, 2021
Sometimes you can sleep off a bad mood. This is not one of those times in long-term care.
F-Tag revisions: Have you prepared?
By
Lisa Thomson
Feb 06, 2015
CMS updated survey guidance and interpretive guidance for 20 F-Tags that went into effect Nov. 26, 2014. Are SNF leaders paying attention?
Summer reading: The language of long-term care
By
Mary Helen McSweeney-Feld
Jul 30, 2014
A recent NPR survey of older adults had a not-too-surprising finding: No one likes being referred to as “elderly” or as a “senior.”
When the rules change, not everyone wins: Counting IC deficiencies in Five-Star
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 05, 2021
Do you remember how, as you were growing up, there was always another kid who would change the rules mid-game to ensure that he won? I do, and it would always make my blood boil. The Centers for Medicare...
It’s time to fix the skilled nursing survey process
By
Jeff Petty
Jun 10, 2008
We all know that the annual survey process for skilled nursing facilities needs to be changed. But are we willing to go the distance to do it?
Do you know your P’s and Q’s of QAPI?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 21, 2013
The Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement system from CMS is on our doorsteps. As facilities have been training and educating themselves, the new QIS (Quality Indicator Surveys) are ready to roll....
F-Tag in focus: F-431
By
Sonja Quale, Pharm.D.
Jul 25, 2016
In today’s environment, long-term care providers face growing regulatory demands designed to improve the quality of care