This long-term care legal trend is liable to upset you
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 08, 2016
Liability costs are expected to rise 6% in 2017 for skilled nursing operators, according to a new report. But there’s a more disturbing stat than that to be reckoned with.
Azar toes company line, which isn’t half bad
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 06, 2018
When the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services addressed a gathering of nursing home owners and operators Tuesday in Washington, it might not have been the HHS Secretary everyone had...
Unions scowl, employers beam. Just what do employees need to know?
By
James M. Berklan
May 08, 2013
First of all, to all the pro-union and pro-management types: Thanks for reading. Too bad only one of you can be happy after Tuesday’s federal appeals court ruling that tossed a National Labor Relations...
A book for the long-term caregiver intent on improving
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 19, 2013
Frosini Rubertino is not your typical registered nurse. She has taken on the task of teaching, coaching and generally improving the care that long-term care staff members deliver. She does it earnestly...
Minimum wage battle inches closer to long-term care
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 04, 2014
I remember with a sad chuckle the way my German friend Volker felt that American news coverage during one of his visits was too narrowly focused. Where, for example, were the stories about the Iraq-Iran...
Making the case: It’s been a wild year
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 17, 2014
As the sands of the year race to their finish, there is one certainty about the long-term care news in 2014: It’s been wild and trying.
Ice buckets, fund-raising and long-term care
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 28, 2014
Whoever dreamed up the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge should be given a medal — and immediately hired to speak at the next long-term care association conference. Such creativity and that kind of Midas touch...
A good book’s unintended lesson and tears for a great friend
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 27, 2015
One of the best signs of a good book is its unplanned lessons. While its title might profess how to fix this or do better at that, a high-quality book also will lead the reader to enlightenment for reasons...
Neutrality an elusive concept in ‘site-neutral’ payment talk
By
James M. Berklan
May 19, 2016
It’s fitting we’re in the midst of Triple Crown season. That means it’s time to pick a horse as your next winner — and it could possibly be a very big winner.
The power of the MDS, and the will to rein it in
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 05, 2014
The Minimum Data Set helps determine how resident care is classified and reimbursed. Because it drives providers’ fate, virtually from start to finish, providers cling to any nugget they can glean...