Campaign 2012 boosted importance, value of nursing home care in public policy dialogue
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Nov 12, 2012
Despite the customary complaints about negativity and the avalanche of TV ads, the 2012 campaign was unusually substantive from the standpoint of the entitlement reform discussion because both sides were...
Vaccination nation
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Aug 11, 2021
Last week an insurance adjuster came over to scope out some storm damage. Anyone who enters my home must be vaccinated or wear a mask (I keep clean masks at the front door. I’m nice like that). If...
Finding hope in a letter
By
Louise Merrick
Feb 03, 2019
As a licensed nursing home administrator since 1985, I have had many peaks and valleys in my career! I am happy to report that the majority of my work in the facilities I have had the privilege of overseeing...
A good first step but more to do with MDS 3.0
By
Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA
Mar 07, 2012
It was a long first day, but there was tremendous value and everyone who is here has learned what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ positions are with the April updates and some of the...
When good excuses go bad
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Dec 22, 2011
Do you ever sometimes just want to say, “I’m not buying that one” when you get some absolutely bizarre excuse from a staff member as to why she called out?
Elf solves LTC staffing crisis
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 14, 2017
November 28 is ruined for me now. Thanks, CMS. For years, I’ve been celebrating it as the fateful day in 1443 when Albanian George Kastriotis Skanderbeg and his forces liberated Kruja in Middle Albania...
Getting nurses to rethink rehospitalization
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Oct 15, 2019
Shouldn’t we avoid transferring people to the hospital if we can treat them in place? Come on, nurses, stop, take a breath, put on your nurse’s thinking cap.
Getting off a health crisis roller coaster
By
Lyn Lais, RN
Jan 23, 2015
You’ve seen it happen more times than you can count: an older adult checks into the hospital with a serious illness, recovers at a rehabilitation center and is then discharged. A month later, that...
The Jimmo scorecard and CMS compliance update
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 25, 2014
In some ways, 2014 has been a monumental year. But it’s not over yet, especially with regard to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services steps regarding the historic Jimmo settlement agreement signed...
Making sense of two approaches to the skilled nursing quality assurance privilege
By
Mario C. Giannettino
Sep 01, 2023
Skilled nursing facilities are required by law to have quality assessment and assurance committees to maintain and improve safety and quality in their facilities. The documents created and used by the...