Senators fret over HIPAA weakening to ease SNF communication
By
Marty Stempniak
Feb 11, 2019
Two ranking senators said moves by the Trump administration to open up communication channels between nursing homes and other providers could weaken privacy regulations.
Senator demands changes on nursing home staffing
By
Marty Stempniak
Aug 16, 2018
The ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is demanding answers on how the federal government plans to better hold nursing homes accountable for staffing decisions.
OIG looks to shame those who refuse to enter corporate integrity agreements
By
Marty Stempniak
Oct 01, 2018
Health & Human Services is looking to ratchet up public pressure on healthcare fraudsters who refuse to improve their corporate business practices after getting caught.
LTC earning seat at the table for preventing readmissions
By
Marty Stempniak
Apr 08, 2018
Skilled-nursing leaders have long desired a seat at the table to help hospitals prevent readmissions, and a new collaboration aims to make it happen. Portland, OR-based Consonus Healthcare — which provides...
Changes must be made to nursing home ratings to better depict patient safety: Study
By
Marty Stempniak
Nov 06, 2018
The standard measure for capturing quality at nursing homes does not paint an accurate picture of patient safety, and changes are needed to aid residents in their decision making.
Shift change procedures could hold key to lawsuit in insulin-related death
By
Marty Stempniak
Apr 29, 2019
A lawsuit filed against a California nursing center Wednesday serves as a warning for providers to be cautious when administering medications during a shift change.
‘We’re dying a slow death here’: City devising ‘exit strategy’ for possible closure of nursing...
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 03, 2018
The Massachusetts skilled care industry has been beset with problems and it’s been especially evident at one county-owned nursing home.
Kentucky high court strikes down medical review panels, paving way for malpractice suits against SNFs
By
Marty Stempniak
Nov 19, 2018
The Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a law last week that required medical practice lawsuits to first pass muster before a medical review panel.
Workers at one nursing home to split $85,000 state bonus for quality care
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 14, 2018
Employees at one Buffalo nursing home will share a sizable bonus received as recognition for its high-quality care. The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced Thursday that workers at its Schoellkopf...
What nursing homes can learn from a ‘troubling’ court decision on sexual consent
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 18, 2018
Navigating the nuances of nursing home resident sexual encounters has to be an extremely difficult proposition for administrators, and things just got a little thornier after a recent court ruling. The...