Where were YOU when CMS changed the Five-Star rating system?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 20, 2015
Some things will always stay etched in our mind. Where were you on February 12, when CMS publicly announced immediate changes to the Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes?
Three stars will be the new one star
By
Betsy Rust
Dec 07, 2016
Nursing home operators call it low occupancy. Medicare insiders call it a declining census. Economists call it excess capacity.
CMS sneaks a trick in with its treats
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 21, 2015
With so many regulatory changes kicking in on Oct. 1, it’s no wonder providers were likely too distracted to notice the latest “trick” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Agency staffing on the rise? Believe it — and plan for it
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 21, 2016
The use of contract agency staff to fill nurse aide and licensed nurse vacancies is escalating. This increase is seen across many states, not to mention across the nation as a whole. Yes, we have a well-documented...
3 ways to evolve your staffing model
By
Mike King
Jan 07, 2019
As we’ve adopted the Green House Project® model of care, we’ve noticed staff and residents have truly become like family.
When two midnights doesn’t equal three days
By
Carol Levine
Sep 23, 2013
Hospital observation stays have been increasing, as have Medicare auditors’ denial of claims related to short inpatient stays on the basis that they should have been counted as observation stays....
Advice on primary permanent nursing
By
Ellen Rychlik
Apr 08, 2015
There is several benefits to considering an Acuity Based Primary Permanent Nursing Assignment in your efforts to attract acute and managed care providers.
Understanding and responding to PTSD
By
Robert W. Figlerski, Ph.D.
Feb 17, 2017
I was recently asked to evaluate a skilled nursing resident who, in his short time at the facility, was presenting a confusing picture to staff.
Catch a falling star
By
Kim Lewis
Mar 14, 2016
It is time for all SNFs to embrace that if they are not actively moving forward with a plan to improve their stars, they will likely be find themselves falling behind.