President Trump is no fan of regulations, and long-term care operators have more than their fair share to contend with. So it’s a welcome breeze when Trump says he wants to start eliminating some...
Here we go again: All nursing homes are bad
By
John O'Connor
Sep 17, 2017
There is no way to sugarcoat what happened last week in Hollywood Hills, FL. Eight skilled care residents died in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Our condolences go out to the victims and their families. But...
How not to learn from a nursing home tragedy
By
John O'Connor
Jul 09, 2018
Let’s be clear: A tragedy last year wasn’t a once-in-a-century outlier. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Is it any mystery why so many beds remain empty?
By
John O'Connor
Sep 15, 2014
Ask skilled care or senior living operators about their biggest operational challenge, and the answer is almost always the same: keeping the place full. A new investigation of the way many operators deal...
Medicaid hypocrisy 2.0, or the art of not giving credit where it’s due
By
John O'Connor
Feb 28, 2014
Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican governor taking more Medicaid funding.
Cameras: Families like them, lawyers love them
By
John O'Connor
Jul 10, 2015
Illinois may soon become the fifth state that lets families install cameras in nursing homes. Advocates see the move as a way to help ensure peace of mind. But for many nursing homes, the development may...
Three things that won’t happen in long-term care during 2018
By
John O'Connor
Jan 08, 2018
Last week I offered three fearless predictions for the year ahead in long-term care. So without further ado, here are three predictions every long-term care operator can count on. As in, count on NOT to...
An overtime fix that seemed to work for everyone – except the feds
By
John O'Connor
May 02, 2014
It’s a troubling staffing dynamic that regularly plays out at many long-term care facilities: Low-wage employees are practically begging for the opportunity to work extra hours. And the additional...
Uh-oh, Congress is about to ‘fix’ your hiring problems
By
John O'Connor
Jun 07, 2013
Many providers are hoping immigration reform can help ease the field’s chronic understaffing challenges. But like many problems the government sets out to solve, this one is likely to cause a few...
Plan of correction can be anything but, as this provider learns the hard way
By
John O'Connor
Apr 28, 2014
Justice has an odd way of showing itself if you’re a nursing facility that disagrees with a deficiency citation but decides to work with inspectors to clear your name. You’re not going to believe...