Why are they keeping track of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? I appreciate their concern that residents might have our lunches served late, but what about the tuna fish sandwiches? And the chicken?...
How nursing homes are filling the gap in continuity of post-acute care
By
Mohammad Fattal, M.D.
Nov 11, 2016
Dispelling a myth, changing a perception and instigating a cultural transformation is a heavy lift and takes a lot of time. But all of those things are taking place in nursing homes across the country,...
The Einstein option — a real staffing no-brainer
By
Michael Wasserman
Mar 13, 2024
In January, I wrote about the importance of adequate nursing home staffing levels. As a geriatrician who has worked in nursing homes for nearly 40 years, I can attest to the importance of the incredible...
Infection control without adding staff — it’s not just a fluke
By
Mary Cole
Jul 26, 2023
In a recent letter to leaders in Congress, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) highlighted the “astonishing lack of attention to infection prevention and control...
When understaffing becomes rationing
By
Lance Youles
Apr 22, 2016
No factor has a greater impact on the quality of a nursing home resident’s care and life than staffing levels, whether their outcomes are measured by moments in time (i.e., incidents & condition...
The hypocrisy of staffing mandates
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 19, 2023
Absorbed as you probably are in fighting through the long-term care staffing crisis while parrying a CMS mandate, I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing. But at airports across America, big planes are...
Do the new QMs have you seeing stars?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 18, 2016
Actions providers take now will make or break their Five-Star Quality Rating experience in July. That’s because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has changed quality measures in a way...
Patient and family engagement — understanding CoreQ
By
Renee Kinder
Apr 14, 2022
On April 11, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility...
Compassion fatigue – the struggle is real
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jul 27, 2021
Not getting a vaccine isn’t just affecting you. It’s why we have this variant, and it’s why we all have to keep dealing with this. And it’s why nurses are burning out and getting compassion...
Identifying, selecting and installing EHR systems
Mar 10, 2014
The successful deployment of an EHR is too hard and too important to be “part” of someone’s job. An organization must make the commitment to having full-time staff leading the implementation...