Returning from an early morning walk down to the harbor of this sleepy Cape Cod town, it’s hard not to feel hopeful. My geriatric pups Melvin and Theodore couldn’t get enough of the sea smells...
Cut into some apple pie instead of your MDS staffing budget
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 05, 2018
It was about an hour after the release of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for FY19, which contained the big Patient-Driven Payment Model reveal, that a wave of bold and somewhat...
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!
I was a HIMSS Virgin (#HIMSSnewbie)
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 24, 2017
Yes, this was my first time. I was nervous and did not know what to expect. Let me start with a confession: Five years ago, I didn’t even know what HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems...
What goes around comes around: Time to set up YOUR smart network
By
Steven Littlehale
May 20, 2016
The recent publication of the SNF PPS Proposed rule for FY 2017 seekd to unite post-acute providers by aligning payment incentives and overlapping value-based penalties. It might be trickier than it looks.
How will PBJ impact Five-Star staffing? Would you like one lump or two?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 30, 2018
We don’t know when, and we don’t know how, but when Payroll-Based Journal staffing data replaces the data currently being captured from CMS Form 671 for calculating Five-Star staffing, we are...
‘Love hurts’ and sometimes so do averages
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 23, 2018
Averages can help or hinder your evaluation of performance. Adding a few additional pieces of data can really support your efforts to properly see opportunity and manage risk.
Sorting out the antipsychotic quality measures
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2013
While antipsychotic measurements can vary, providers must carefully and thoroughly examine all antipsychotic medication use in their facility.
And he did it ‘his way’ — will you and yours?
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 21, 2017
Packing for New Jersey to help Bernie (my father-in-law, whom I was honored to call “Dad”) navigate his transition from hospitalization to SNF, something told me to pack a suit.
Bingo: The road to ruins or the road to riches?
By
Steven Littlehale
May 21, 2018
Grandma sure liked her bingo. She excelled at bingo and most card games. Even in games that seemed to involve no skill at all, Grandma almost always emerged the winner.