When I saw the New York Times article illuminating the clever ways devious operators could inflate their Medicare star ratings, I had mixed emotions ranging from fury to rage.
Why the New York Times’ ‘hatchet job’ shows better days are coming to long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Aug 26, 2014
A pall hangs over this sector at the moment, thanks to the New York Times.
McKnight’s 2nd Fall Online Expo offers 3 CE webcasts
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 22, 2014
The McKnight’s Fall Online Expo offers three educational webinars on Sept. 9, with each offering continuing education credit. As always, attendance and CE credits are free for attendees. The event...
Some unsolicited advice to Genesis: Good luck with the new ‘owners’
By
John O'Connor
Aug 22, 2014
This week’s blockbuster deal has private equity-backed Genesis HealthCare combining with Skilled Healthcare Group.In some ways, these sorts of marriages seem all but inevitable. After all, in the...
Taking vacations when residents can’t do the same
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 21, 2014
Like many, I’m taking some vacation time during the month of August. It got me thinking about the ways workers interact with residents when they take time off from their jobs. It’s more important...
HIPAA compliance a part of clinical communication
By
David Wortman
Aug 20, 2014
In long term and post-acute care facilities, where those with a “need to know” protected health information can include everyone from nursing and social services, to chaplains, cooks, transportation...
Also in the news for August 20, 2014 . . .
Aug 20, 2014
New cosponsors sign on to Medicare Residential Care Coordination Act … Cognitive declines do not always worsen quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients, study finds … C. diff discovery...
If you want it, YOU have to make it happen!
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Aug 19, 2014
A recent article on Medline Nursing alleged that the average registered nurse (RN) wants more sleep, authority respect and work-life balance. We can get what we want. We just have to learn to “ask”...
You won’t believe where a great source for LTC insight is waiting
By
John O'Connor
Aug 18, 2014
Leaders in this field seem to have an unquenchable thirst for new insights.
Have we lost our connection to what’s important?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 15, 2014
We sometimes use high-minded phrases to describe our work and our hopes for our patients. But have we lost our connection to important words? Do they still hold meaning they once did, and if so, how strongly?