The recent Illinois legal decision to move mentally ill nursing home residents into smaller mental health settings is likely to prompt an industrywide examination of the practice of accepting mentally...
Cut the puppet strings
Jun 01, 2010
The current combination of recession, Medicare cuts, RUGs-IV, MDS 3.0, state budget crises, QIS, RAC, and the unknowable final shape of healthcare reform are reminiscent of the 1998 switch to a prospective...
Relationships are key
Mar 01, 2010
We always have the opportunity to share a “Hello” or “Good morning” or even to sit and enjoy a visit. Relationship building … The opportunity is ours each and every day.
New site has care data: LTCfocUS.org is a care resource for nursing homes
Jan 01, 2010
The current healthcare reform debate has largely ignored nursing home care. This is due, in part, to a lack of data about how and why that care is given.
Let’s get connected: the challenges of coordinating care
Sep 01, 2009
One of the greatest healthcare challenges today is coordinating care for patients treated in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings.
Nurses taking action: origins of the Nurse Executive Council
Oct 01, 2009
Almost a decade ago, a small group of long-term care nurse executives met for a day to provide support to one another, and to share “best practices” with a goal of improving quality care in...
CMS’ Medicare cuts bring pain
Oct 01, 2009
Does Congress fully understand the impact that billions of dollars of funding cuts to skilled nursing facilities will have?
Invest in frontline staff: direct-care jobs could provide real boost to the economy
Apr 01, 2009
Many long-term care stakeholders, including PHI, are pressing for new investments in eldercare.
Rule raises a red flag: long-term care facilities on guard against new law
Apr 01, 2009
On May 1, it is likely that more than half of the long-term care facilities in the United States will be in violation of a new federal rule.
Opinion: the five-star nursing home rating system is bad policy, hastily implemented
Mar 01, 2009
A good idea does not necessarily good policy make. For proof, look no further than the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services’ recently unveiled Five-Star rating system for nursing homes.