The BIG Picture: understanding why significant healthcare reform is unlikely to happen
By
John O'Connor
Jun 01, 2009
Despite a general dissatisfaction with Medicare and Medicaid rates, providers have mostly benefited from the way things are, at least as far as payments are concerned. Why would they want to mess with...
No wonder he left Congress
By
John O'Connor
Dec 05, 2023
If it seems like it’s silly season again in Washington, maybe that’s because it is. Congress can take a bow.
The BIG Picture: Giving you extra credit
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2010
In the months ahead, we’ll be looking to offer continuing education in new and different ways.
Shame is powerful motivator
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2007
About a decade ago, I wrote a controversial column that offended some readers. In it, I suggested the industry start policing itself by identifying and reprimanding the bad actors in this field, lest the...
No way to fix staffing
By
John O'Connor
Jan 01, 2014
It’s no secret that our nation’s long-term care facilities need additional caregivers. More than 43,000 direct care staff positions remain unfilled, according to figures from the American Health...
The BIG Picture: a sense of entitlement
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2010
We’re so accustomed to deficit spending, the mounting numbers have essentially lost most of their shock value.
Reasons to lawyer up
By
John O'Connor
Jul 06, 2015
When you provide long-term care services, lawsuits pretty much come with the territory.
An ACO success story
By
John O'Connor
Jan 04, 2016
If there’s one question sure to put a provider on edge these days, it’s this: How do I transition my facility into the world of accountable care organizations?
A new way to save face
By
John O'Connor
Mar 01, 2013
When is face-to-face contact with a resident not such a good idea? When an avatar can do better. That’s just one lesson researchers like Timothy Bickmore, Ph.D., are proving. Bickmore is an assistant...
The BIG picture: Nursing homes are not long-term care’s embarrasing relatives
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2009
When the Senate Special Committee on Aging decided to hold a hearing on future directions for long-term care, it seemed as though the nursing home industry was quickly walked down the stairs.