Nursing facilities – A medical crisis in need of a prescription
By
David Chess, MD
Seema Verma
Oct 19, 2022
Nursing facilities have evolved from rest homes to medical facilities over the last 20 years. Patients are sicker, older, have more medical comorbidities and are frailer. They require more assistance with...
CMS should bring its oversight hammer down . . . on states
By
Brendan Williams
Oct 17, 2022
CMS has an absolute hammer when it comes to accepting, or rejecting, state Medicaid rates that it finds fail to substantially comply with federal law,
If not us, then who?
By
Julie Thorson
Oct 12, 2022
I can’t remember the date. I don’t remember what was happening at the time. What regulation changed, who tested positive, what family was upset, what team member was infuriated, or what system had...
Breaking news: The pandemic was hard
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 06, 2022
That pandemic. Wow. While it was happening and people were dying and stuff, I remember thinking, “This is kind of a difficult time we’re going through. I feel a little stressed and anxious.” But...
Fire Prevention Week 2022 in a skilled nursing facility
By
Stan Szpytek
Sep 19, 2022
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) created Fire Prevention Week to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, as well as promote fire safety at home and in the workplace each year during...
Staffing challenges: A time to look inward
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 16, 2022
As the Biden administration marches toward some type of minimum staffing requirement for nursing homes, it’s easy for providers to feel like helpless, angry victims. Even as a proponent of acuity-based...
Aquatic Therapy: Understanding use and benefits
By
Renee Kinder
Sep 15, 2022
One of my grandfather’s favorite stories to tell about my stubborn childhood antics revolves around the first summer they opened their pool. Spoiler alert, I couldn’t swim. I somehow, however, managed...
The quiet
By
Julie Thorson
Sep 14, 2022
Recovering extroverts pay attention to what I’m about to say. Being quiet is OK. Speaking from experience, disciplining yourself to not speak is as important if not more important than talking. I’ve...
Inspirational yogurt and other motivation
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Sep 13, 2022
When I pulled off the yogurt lid and licked it clean (because that’s what we all do right?), I saw these words: “Try again.”
The unique role of the rural skilled nursing facility
By
Mark McKenzie
Aug 31, 2022
Aging in rural America can increase the vulnerability any senior feels from losing independence. If family has moved away or the only family caregiver also has a full-time job, seniors needing skilled...