Transitions between care settings are getting more scrutiny than ever before. So thank goodness for new guidelines designed to help smooth them out. Still, we need all the help we can when it comes to...
Old wine, new bottles: Increased scrutiny for antipsychotic drug use
By
Alan C. Horowitz, Esq., RN
Feb 22, 2013
The landmark legislation known as “OBRA ’87” (the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987) significantly limited the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drug use in long-term care facilities....
6 common problems a shrink on staff can solve (and your consultant can’t)
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 22, 2013
As a psychologist consulting in long-term care facilities, I provided a lot more than I was paid for, because it was needed. But there was much more help that I didn’t offer, not only because I wasn’t...
A plan for drug diversion
By
Susan LaGrange
Oct 13, 2014
One timely topic that is both difficult to comprehend and discuss is drug diversion in long-term care. Long-term care leaders must have a solid system in place with policies and procedures, education,...
The cheese has moved … will Sniff find it?
By
Steven Littlehale
Aug 23, 2017
Imagine my surprise when several people came bearing the shocking news that “the MDS will not matter anymore” and that RCS-1 is “the end of the MDS.” Wait, what? Not on your life!
Addressing quality of death
By
Linda Elizaitis
May 05, 2014
What do you do when a resident crosses the threshold and your organization needs to address quality of death? We all know that there is a great emphasis, appropriately so, on a resident’s quality...
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...
Commanding respect from the disrespectful
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Apr 19, 2016
I started my nursing career in a very busy teaching-hospital operating room. I loved the excitement, the anticipation of the surgeon’s needs. But what I didn’t love was the utter disrespect...
I just love the news
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Sep 03, 2013
Despite the economy, the price of gas and what is going on in Syria, it’s all good news for me.
The 21st Century SNF: two paths forward
By
Anne Tumlinson
Jun 11, 2018
Many industry experts believe skilled nursing’s current marketshare challenges are temporary — that SNFs only have to hang on until demographic shifts kick in. But I worry about this strategy.