Key clues on how to close the research chasm in long-term care
By
Marty Stempniak
May 14, 2019
Research in long-term care is often hard to come by, but a group of experts from Colorado is attempting to better understand this phenomenon.
Understanding revisions to 5-Star
By
Thomas Martin
May 13, 2019
The best way for SNFs that have lost stars to bounce back is to identify and work on the measures where they are weakest and take more ownership of their data stories.
Nursing Home Compare revisions deserve only 2 stars
By
Steven Littlehale
May 13, 2019
Recent changes to the Nursing Home Compare website leave a lot to be desired. I give them two out of a possible four stars.
Bill would address state’s CNA shortages by lowering requirements
By
Marty Stempniak
May 13, 2019
Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to trim heavy training requirements on certified nursing assistants in an effort to help fill vacancies.
Is the juice worth the squeeze on SNF Five Star staffing?
By
Cheryl Field
May 10, 2019
CMS has updated its Five Star system to increase the emphasis on RN staffing. Providers with four or more quarterly occurrences of less than eight hours of RN coverage will automatically get one star in...
Navigating the medical marijuana maze
By
Mario C. Giannettino
May 10, 2019
It is imperative for providers who are considering medical marijuana to weigh these considerations against the potential benefits of pursuing such a program.
Nursing home turns to its community for help with courtyard makeover
By
Marty Stempniak
May 08, 2019
Peering out the window earlier this year during a staff meeting, officials at Luther Manor Retirement & Nursing Center in Hannibal, MO, noticed that their courtyard could use some TLC.
CMS user’s guide updated with little fanfare
By
Joel VanEaton
May 06, 2019
Providers would be well served to download the current version of the Five-Star User’s guide in order to have an accurate understanding of their 5-Star Rating that CMS posted to Nursing Home Compare...
CMS is not terribly interested in hearing about your staffing woes
By
John O'Connor
May 06, 2019
It’s no secret that finding and keeping nurses is one of the skilled care sector’s biggest headaches. But it would appear that the folks who regulate this field don’t want to hear it any more.
Today’s mobile LTC resident can add layers of complication to bathing safety
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 01, 2019
Given an increasingly ambulatory population, the presence of water and the kind of warm and moist environment that invites bacteria to breed, risk is inherent in skilled nursing bathing areas.