Cracking the code to seven years of Five-Star ratings success
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 19, 2016
Since the inception of the Five-Star Quality Rating program in December 2008, there have been 113 Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) that have earned and maintained an overall 5-star score. Who are these...
Eight ways to improve quality and dignity
By
Mark Kirkpatrick
Sep 02, 2016
The following suggestions can improve a caregiver’s ability to help seniors improve their quality of life and activities of daily living
Does caring for specialty populations hurt your public profile?
By
Steven Littlehale
Jun 20, 2016
Many skilled nursing facilities are de facto specialty care centers with a disproportionately large number of certain types of residents. This scenario, unfortunately, can translate into a liability in...
Stars upon thars
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 23, 2015
It’s notoriously difficult, not to mention foolish, to try to predict the future of long-term care in America. In all of our nation’s recorded history, only one man can lay claim to true prescience...
MDS 3.0, pressure ulcers push Expo to record highs; sessions conclude today
Mar 26, 2015
There are a lot of swirling questions why certain residents develop pressure ulcers, which remain a costly and critical issue for long-term care providers, a leading wound care expert noted Wednesday.
Lowering rehospitalization rates a focus at Online Expo
By
Elizabeth Newman
Mar 02, 2015
While providers have made some progress with reducing rehospitalizations, the era of managed care organizations and better hospital partnerships means new strategies are needed. Attendees at the McKnight’s...
Officials: More additions and rebasings of nursing home ratings to come
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 23, 2015
Nearly one-third of the nation’s skilled nursing facilities lost a rating star due purely to administrative changes Friday, when regulators also emphasized that more quality measures will be added...
Why providers aren’t elated about new pay-for-quality goals
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 28, 2015
You can forgive long-term care providers if they weren’t outwardly jumping for joy at Monday’s announcement that Medicare is going to start paying for quality, and not quantity, of services.
ADL coding: The importance of being accurate
Jan 16, 2015
Section G is one of the most inaccurately coded sections of the MDS 3.0. This is primarily due to the inaccuracy of the supporting documentation for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
5 tips for avoiding deficiencies
By
Susan LaGrange
Nov 05, 2014
Here are five quick tips to operationalize for the top five most frequently cited deficiencies nationwide. Facilities could choose one per day and revisit each week to focus on audits, discussion, education...