Antipsychotics in skilled care: Finding the right dose won’t be easy
By
John O'Connor
Aug 21, 2017
It happens all the time in politics: After dissatisfied voters throw the rascals out, new rascals push back way too hard. Could the same thing happen to the use of antipsychotics in skilled care?
Attention bundled payment critics: Curb your enthusiasm
By
John O'Connor
Jan 09, 2017
A recent study found that bundling Medicare payments can dramatically cut costs without sacrificing quality. But the man likely to be the next Health and Human Services secretary is no fan of this new...
The star treatment is here to stay
By
John O'Connor
Jul 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just rolled out its latest version of Nursing Home Compare. If your facility garnered five stars, you probably love it. If you received one star, you surely...
What should long-term care make of these scathing reviews?
By
John O'Connor
Apr 23, 2018
Two stories that resonated the most over the past year have been personal blogs from long-term care operators who have left the profession. That’s a very interesting fact.
The Sorting Hat and a new option
By
John O'Connor
Jan 09, 2012
If you have relatives between the ages of 10 and 20, chances are good that you are more familiar with Harry Potter than you care to admit. J.K. Rowling wrote seven novels that chronicle Harry’s good-versus-evil...
Long-term care reform on a grand scale
By
John O'Connor
Apr 10, 2022
Every now and then a study sizing up the state of long-term care comes along. The one dropped last week is very different from others.
A pro-union move that will put ‘democracy’ to the test
By
John O'Connor
May 14, 2018
A newly proposed bill could give unions quite a boost. At your expense. Called the “Workplace Democracy Act,” don’t let the name fool you. From an operator’s perspective, there’s...
Are you ready for some predictive scheduling?
By
John O'Connor
Aug 14, 2017
What do workers in the long-term care, retail, hospitality and foodservice sectors have in common? Among other things, varied work schedules.
Antipsychotics report will have severe side effects
By
John O'Connor
Jul 13, 2012
Antipsychotic drugs are often used to calm residents with dementia. This reality is common knowledge among most people who have spent more than a few minutes in a nursing facility. But it is apparently...
Thanks to the bad news, here’s some good news
By
John O'Connor
Apr 04, 2020
Some long-term care operators may have to reject imminently qualified applicants soon. Imagine that.