A note from SNFs to hospitals: Stay away from Misfit Island
By
John O'Connor
Jul 25, 2016
Hospitals need to toughen up. Their impending new five-star rating system isn’t going to be the end of the world (at least, not for most of them). But if the experience of skilled nursing homes is...
Rare long-term care double win
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 29, 2015
So much for the dog days of summer getting close. Long-term care advocates were already at full woof on Tuesday — and that’s a good thing.
AHCA’s changing of the guard
By
Liza Berger
Oct 12, 2010
It was an emotional general session at the American Health Care Association conference in Long Beach, CA, Monday. Bruce Yarwood, the mighty and well-loved president and CEO handed the reins of the group...
The star treatment is here to stay
By
John O'Connor
Jul 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just rolled out its latest version of Nursing Home Compare. If your facility garnered five stars, you probably love it. If you received one star, you surely...
A no-brainer plan for Medicare and Medicaid
By
John O'Connor
Dec 11, 2017
But for those of you who think outrageous political trickery is dead, please let me point you in the direction of Capitol Hill. For we appear to be in the midst of one of the better con jobs to come along...
What to expect with the therapy caps repealed
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 16, 2018
Don’t ever let Congress plan your next party. That’s my sincere recommendation.
Combatting UTIs with juice and good labs
Jun 19, 2014
Here’s the good news: A juice may reduce the incidences of urinary tract infections in nursing home residents by up to 50%. That has huge implications for a problem that plagues seniors, not to mention...
CLASS Act on the move
By
Liza Berger
Nov 12, 2009
The House’s passage of the CLASS Act clearly has offered momentum for the disability insurance program. Leaders of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging are convinced there...
The practical elements of HIE
By
Elizabeth Newman
Oct 19, 2018
While long-term care has long discussed the importance of health data exchanges, it’s rare to be able to give concrete examples of how it makes a patient — or provider’s — life better.
LTC’s ‘diamond in the rough’ elevated to center stage
By
James M. Berklan
May 24, 2017
Eye-rollers might be inclined to snort at the thought of “just another” research center popping up. But they might want to have another think after Tuesday’s big long-term care announcement.