Code status ‘cheat sheet’ draws scrutiny, nursing home challenges neglect finding
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 12, 2014
A “cheat sheet” to track residents’ code status has become a source of controversy in the case of a Minnesota man who died without being given CPR, according to local news sources.
Many foreign-born LTC nurses report language barrier, current English proficiency test may be inadequate,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 10, 2014
About 15% of U.S. long-term care nurses say their English language proficiency or accent creates communication problems with residents, family members, other nurses and/or medical providers, according...
McKnight’s panel: A brighter future for SNFs
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 01, 2014
Long-term care providers can harness healthcare reform to become more profitable and competitive than ever, but success is not guaranteed. Proactive organizations with advanced technology tools already...
CMS updates surveyor guidance for advance directives, dementia care and other topics
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 02, 2014
Nursing home surveyors should question staff members to ensure that residents’ care is aligned with their advance directives, according to a manual update recently released by the Centers for Medicare...
Nursing homes should focus on improving communications to prevent in-room cameras, survey suggests
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 25, 2014
Most people would consider video cameras to monitor a loved one’s nursing home care but would prefer other methods, according to recently released survey results.
Medicaid rule could be an obstacle for dementia care in AL, Stateline reports
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 20, 2014
As states begin to implement a new Medicaid rule for home- and community-based care, there is a danger that assisted living facilities might face difficult requirements that could limit access to care,...
CMS clarifies 45-day deadline for additional documentation requests
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2014
Certain auditors that are doing prepayment reviews of Medicare claims must tell providers that they have 45 days to produce any additional documents requested (ADR), according to a recent Survey & Certification...
Nursing home oversight makes OIG’s top challenges list for second straight year
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2014
Ensuring nursing home quality remains one of the top 10 challenges facing the Department of Health and Human Services. That’s according to a newly issued list from HHS’ Office of Inspector...
‘Spending down’ for Medicaid is the most practical LTC financing plan for most Americans,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2014
Forgoing long-term care insurance and relying on Medicaid is the smartest financial planning decision for the majority of unmarried Americans, according to investigators at Boston College’s Center...
80% of nursing homes report misleadingly high staffing levels, Center for Public Integrity claims
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2014
More than 80% of skilled nursing facilities might have inflated registered nurse staffing levels on the Nursing Home Compare website, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a investigative journalism...