In the late 2010s, the long-term care industry began to take action that would reflect the growing importance of incorporating robust infection prevention practices. Facilities were required to develop...
Lots to learn with new Five-Star
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 22, 2022
On a recent flight, I sat next to an attorney whose principal focus was compliance. It turned out that we were both on our way to speak at events in the same popular Florida conference destination. She...
When the goal is to maintain
By
Renee Kinder
Mar 16, 2023
At a time of year when everyone is focusing on springing forward, it is also important to remember that some of the patients that we serve daily have a skilled need to maintain. Skilled services,...
Falling by the wayside
By
Steven Levenson
Oct 24, 2023
This month’s column invokes several previous columns, one about medications and the other about knowing if we know what we don’t know. A recent medical journal article concluded that falls in...
Telehealth and rehab with end of PHE
By
Renee Kinder
May 25, 2023
Regulation is always clear and easy to comprehend. Laughable, right? What often happens when new rules and regulations are proposed or finalized is that there is a flurry of activity following, from...
Staffing challenges: A time to look inward
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 16, 2022
As the Biden administration marches toward some type of minimum staffing requirement for nursing homes, it’s easy for providers to feel like helpless, angry victims. Even as a proponent of acuity-based...
How do we know if we know what we don’t know?
By
Steven Levenson
Sep 08, 2023
The amount of knowledge and skill involved in complying with the OBRA regulations is monumental. Every topic, from pressure injury prevention to behavior management, has many tec hnical details and clinical...
Achoo! Springtime is PEPPER season
By
Renee Kinder
Apr 27, 2023
The sound of spring is in the air and irritants abound. The sniffling, sneezing and coughing is always a telltale sign of a change in seasons. April also brings to us the release of the Program for...
Finding your PAC
By
Renee Kinder
Jul 21, 2022
Are horse people “solid people,” or are they “crazy people”? After three straight days of 5 a.m. rise-and-shines to get my daughter Emmy ready for showing, I initially said, “Girl, these people...
Impact of Section GG, ANAs and Social Risk Factors (SRFs) on PAC outcomes
By
Renee Kinder
Aug 18, 2022
Tuesday evening, I began the painful eye roll-inducing process of organizing and sorting school supplies for our official start today. Two high schoolers, two middle schoolers, and one lower schooler...