Was any federal program ever more misnamed than the “Nursing Home Quality Incentive Program”? Rather than reward nursing home quality, it has effectively rewarded states that have out-of-control COVID-19...
The solution to nursing homes’ COVID-19 testing shortages
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2020
Fret no more. I’ve figured out how to get plenty of COVID-19 testing to take place at nursing homes. The federal government may have wished for more testing of residents and workers, but my plan has...
Facing ways to improve PPE long term
By
Jay Baker
Aug 11, 2020
Protecting vulnerable populations, particularly long-term care residents and staff, from viruses and infections is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the fact that not only is there a need for...
Stolen valor: Trump administration takes credit for nursing homes’ efforts during pandemic
By
Sondra Norder
Jun 10, 2020
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma penned an op-ed in Newsweek magazine titled “President Trump’s Early Action to Combat Coronavirus...
Diary of a new hire
By
Nancy Anderson, RN, MA
Aug 18, 2020
While employee retention is always a top priority, operating in a pandemic intensifies the urgency to hire and maintain competent, committed staff. Since the first three months of employment are particularly...
How to retrofit resident rooms into isolation rooms at long-term care facilities
By
Tom Kennedy
Jul 07, 2020
The latest government data counts 26,000 COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities. That’s a staggering 25% of the total COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. Facility managers are working hard to stop the...
My job in a COVID-19 hotspot didn’t give me COVID — it gave me PTSD
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 11, 2020
Even a long-term care psychologist can fall prey to the psychological and emotional terrors of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can unfortunately report to you with ironic confidence.
Focus on life safety during the management of COVID-19
By
Stan Szpytek
Mar 24, 2020
Note: This story was updated on May 12 to reflect new regulatory changes. As skilled nursing facilities around the nation rise to the challenges of managing this current infectious disease outbreak, providers...
Best practices for protecting leaders and facilities from COVID-19 lawsuits
By
Raj Shah
Jan 08, 2021
Nursing home staff, administrators and frontline caregivers have worked tirelessly to prevent and manage the pandemic. Despite their heroic efforts, over 101,000 seniors and 750 employees had died of COVID-19...