Why nursing homes won’t be catching many breaks this year
By
John O'Connor
Feb 03, 2014
When you talk to experts in this field about the year ahead, an unsettling pattern soon emerges. Almost everyone seems fairly confident that regulators will be taking a much closer look at operators.
Time for long-term care to take a lesson from the NRA?
By
John O'Connor
Jan 27, 2014
It’s funny, most of the time, Congress gets along about as well as the Hatfields and the McCoys. But if there is one thought that seems to unify our elected officials, it’s this: Nursing homes...
And now, some important reminders from a 94-year-old
By
John O'Connor
Jan 24, 2014
Conventional wisdom can be a reassuring thing. Especially when it reinforces our suspicions. But it has a fatal flaw: Sometimes it can be flat-out wrong. Consider 94-year-old Olga Kotelko.
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...
Are your drivers connected, or waiting to get even?
By
John O'Connor
Dec 23, 2013
An old college friend spent one summer delivering pizzas. For reasons that will soon be obvious, I won’t reveal his name.
LTC stats book nirvana for nerds, merely required reading for the rest of us
By
John O'Connor
Dec 13, 2013
It has been said the rear view mirror offers little help when trying to navigate the road ahead. But it’s tough to know where to go if you don’t know where you’ve been — or even where...
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.
As a boss, are you providing good guidance, or ‘good’ stories?
By
John O'Connor
Nov 22, 2013
Say what you will about bad bosses: They always seem to create great stories. But not usually as intended.
It’s time frivolous lawsuit filers were held more accountable
By
John O'Connor
Nov 18, 2013
Not all the news out of Congress these days is bad. Last week, the House passed long-overdue legislation that fines plaintiffs who file frivolous lawsuits.
Mental healthcare often shifts from one dangerous institution to another
By
John O'Connor
Oct 25, 2013
President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act 50 years ago today. Half a century later, the landmark measure’s legacy is both troubled and troubling.