When it comes to fixing long-term care, it’s time to start thinking outside the tank
By
John O'Connor
Apr 18, 2014
I was reminded of a cinema classic when I heard another think tank is being put together to consider improvements for our nation’s long-term care system.
Final assessment: Awards hit the spot
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 26, 2011
There might be a misperception that the folks at AANAC are just a bunch of code-interpreting keypunchers tucked into tiny offices at nursing homes. The truth is that AANAC — the American Association...
The Russ era begins
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 09, 2013
Barring a shocker that would be akin to Uncle Sam suddenly handing out a double-digit market basket increase to Medicare reimbursement rates, Len Russ will become the next board chairman of the American...
The reaction to ACOs? Ouch!
By
James M. Berklan
May 16, 2011
I haven’t heard them pronounced this way yet, but long-term care providers might want to consider it when it comes to ACOs. Instead of spelling it out, as in A-C-O, say it phonetically, as in “Ache-O.”
What’s more frightening than the nursing shortage? What’s driving it
By
John O'Connor
Jun 12, 2015
To better appreciate this sector’s alarming nurse-staffing nightmare, it’s helpful to recall the warden’s famous line in Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is failure to...
Our elected officials: patriots or lackeys?
By
John O'Connor
Mar 26, 2012
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that our elected leaders need to quit playing political chicken. Otherwise, there are going to be some bleak days ahead for We the People.
Step away from the vending machine: Real life nutrition tips for healthcare workers
By
May 02, 2017
Long-term care leaders can encourage healthy activity among their staff, starting with modeling healthy behaviors themselves. But what about the frontline healthcare workers with just a few minutes a day...
The new merry pranksters
By
Mary Gustafson
Apr 12, 2012
I was prepared for the worst — yes, I was prepared to have a strong negative reaction to the new Betty White-hosted prank show “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.”
Bizarre decision shows that when it comes to 3-day stay rule, there ought to be a law
By
John O'Connor
Oct 11, 2013
There are many odd animals roaming our healthcare industrial complex. But few are more bizarre than Medicare’s three-day rule. Or more deserving of extinction.
Farewell to long-term care
By
Ashley Carman
Sep 13, 2013
My first day as a McKnight’s intern started with my editor, Elizabeth Newman, rattling off information about CMS. I listened for a few minutes before confessing that I had no idea what CMS meant....