Palliative care meetings do not ease anxiety, depression more than regular care, study finds
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2016
Structured meetings led by palliative care specialists did not provide appreciable reductions of depression or anxiety in family members of patients with chronic critical illnesses, compared to routine...
CCRC salaries on the rise: Exec directors hit $160,000, DONs $93,000
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2016
Executive directors at continuing care retirement communities saw their national average salary rise 2.97% to $159,922 this year, while nursing home administrators experienced a more modest increase (2.2%)...
Caring for Holocaust survivors the focus of Senate hearing
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 03, 2014
Providers with Holocaust survivors will find special value in an upcoming hearing held by the Senate Special Committee on Aging. “Aging in comfort: Assessing the special needs of America’s...
HIPAA breaches bringing heavy implications, class-action lawsuit threats
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 29, 2017
Federal HIPAA penalties have lurked in the wings for years, but now accused operators have state attorneys’ general and plaintiff’s attorneys to worry about.
Medicare appeals backlog to be fixed by 2020, HHS says
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 06, 2016
Federal health officials say tweaks to the system will enable them to eradicate a massive backlog of Medicare decision appeals in 2019. They made the prediction in a court brief filed in U.S. District...
11th Online Expo rolls out the red carpet
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 05, 2017
Long-term care’s virtual trade show continues its record-setting run with another round of top-rate educational sessions, up to 5 free CE credits, vendor booths and a whole lot more
The message is perfectly clear: Too often we aren’t
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2007
The telephone call came from the doctor’s office. I wasn’t put off too much that an office worker was on the line instead of the doctor or nurse. I was anxious to get the test results.
Audit program lacking: GAO
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 05, 2015
The government’s Recovery Audit Contractor program needs to be improved, asserts a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
Court: HCR ManorCare QAPI reports must be turned over
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2015
A ruling by the West Virginia Supreme Court as to which nursing home internal documents are fair game in lawsuits has providers around the country sitting up and taking notice.
Genesis looks to restructure
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 06, 2017
Genesis HealthCare CEO George Hager said the battered nursing home chain hoped to save $54 million per year with new leases — once landlords Welltower Inc. and Sabra Health Care REIT sold their Genesis...