Natural disasters and catastrophic events by definition arise unpredictably and consequently do not remain even in the back of people’s minds on a consistent basis.
Top 5 news stories reveal varied interests among long-term care professionals
By
John O'Connor
Jan 03, 2014
What do neck abnormalities, dangerous bacteria, a murder-suicide, a defensive nursing home chain, and antipsychotic guidelines have in common? These five developments were voted the most popular news stories...
Reducing antipsychotics one resident at a time
By
John O'Connor
Dec 02, 2013
Like many bad habits, the overuse of antipsychotics is not going down without a fight. Still, there are reasons for long-term optimism.
When two midnights doesn’t equal three days
By
Carol Levine
Sep 23, 2013
Hospital observation stays have been increasing, as have Medicare auditors’ denial of claims related to short inpatient stays on the basis that they should have been counted as observation stays....
What is therapy? It’s not as simple as it might seem
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 13, 2013
“What is therapy?” sounds like a simple question, but it requires a separate and very complex answer for each discipline.
Progress, success stories on tap for national conference call on dementia care in nursing homes
Jul 03, 2013
Providers and other stakeholders are invited to a national conference call on improving dementia care by lessening the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes. The call begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern...
Looking to open eyes about ‘observations’
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2013
Bully for provider groups pulling out the stops to draw attention to the ludicrous mishandling of “observation stay” designations by many hospitals. One prong of the plan is to have providers...
Medication adherence strategies for lowering hospital readmission rates
By
Bill Shields
Nov 15, 2012
Nearly one in five Medicare patients return to the hospital within a month of discharge, costing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) an extra $17.5 billion in 2010. Multi-medication packaging...
CMS issues full Sandy waivers
By
McKnight's Staff
Nov 06, 2012
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued blanket waivers that include skilled nursing providers. That means long-term care facilities in New York and New...
Medicare defends power wheelchair pre-authorization policy
By
McKnight's Staff
Sep 20, 2012
Federal health officials defended a demonstration program that requires Medicare pre-authorization for power wheelchairs in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.