One timely topic that is both difficult to comprehend and discuss is drug diversion in long-term care. Long-term care leaders must have a solid system in place with policies and procedures, education,...
Old wine, new bottles: Increased scrutiny for antipsychotic drug use
By
Alan C. Horowitz, Esq., RN
Feb 22, 2013
The landmark legislation known as “OBRA ’87” (the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987) significantly limited the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drug use in long-term care facilities....
6 common problems a shrink on staff can solve (and your consultant can’t)
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 22, 2013
As a psychologist consulting in long-term care facilities, I provided a lot more than I was paid for, because it was needed. But there was much more help that I didn’t offer, not only because I wasn’t...
A five-star travesty of justice, poorly implemented
Dec 18, 2008
In rolling out its new five-star rating system for nursing homes, CMS has, once again, shown its inability to execute a good idea.
Addressing quality of death
By
Linda Elizaitis
May 05, 2014
What do you do when a resident crosses the threshold and your organization needs to address quality of death? We all know that there is a great emphasis, appropriately so, on a resident’s quality...
The cheese has moved … will Sniff find it?
By
Steven Littlehale
Aug 23, 2017
Imagine my surprise when several people came bearing the shocking news that “the MDS will not matter anymore” and that RCS-1 is “the end of the MDS.” Wait, what? Not on your life!
Cognitive Function: Getting it right under PDPM
By
Renee Kinder
Dec 13, 2018
Accurate measurement of cognitive-based functioning is an essential area within the forthcoming Patient-Driven Payment Model. Getting it right requires us to consider impacts of the environment, medical...
Top therapy reimbursement for everyone: here’s how
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jul 18, 2011
If the Ultra High is the highest level of allowable treatment we may seek, it’s our professional obligation to clinically provide these levels of service to every patient.
The LTC nurse’s dilemma: Hide OR seek?
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Dec 12, 2018
Working in long-term care is hard, very hard. You can “hide” from realities and then do something reactively, or you can … do the right things first.
Finding hope in a letter
By
Louise Merrick
Feb 03, 2019
As a licensed nursing home administrator since 1985, I have had many peaks and valleys in my career! I am happy to report that the majority of my work in the facilities I have had the privilege of overseeing...