When I recently predicted the new healthcare law’s repeal, plenty of people disagreed. One of these unfortunates is Elizabeth Newman, a colleague and confidant here at McKnight’s, who has one...
September 11 death count, times 10
By
John O'Connor
Aug 27, 2012
Many people shudder when they think about the 9/11 tragedy, and rightfully so. The four suicide attacks carried out on September 11 of 2001 caused nearly 3,000 deaths. But imagine if there were 10 such...
The real trick-or-treating is about to begin
By
John O'Connor
Nov 01, 2021
Halloween is the one event each year where getting scared silly can be part of the fun. But you could hardly blame providers who’d prefer to skip that opportunity.
Larger role for e-health data key to safer care, study finds
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2011
One of the best ways to reduce medical errors in the nation’s healthcare system is to expand the role of electronic health records, investigators recently claimed.
Falls can cost more than an arm and a leg
By
John O'Connor
Oct 31, 2014
Long-term care operators have many good reasons to keep resident falls to an absolute minimum. Yet it’s amazing how blasé we’ve become about the damage that falls inflict.
What are the scouts saying about your long-term care organization?
By
John O'Connor
Jul 25, 2014
There is no draft in senior living, nor really a need for one. But what if its three most dominant players were to be sized up? How might the scouts rate skilled care, assisted living and home care, respectively?...
Hooray! More red tape!
By
John O'Connor
Dec 05, 2018
Remember all the noise we heard about the government’s commitment to trimming regulatory excess?
Older residents ahead?
By
John O'Connor
Apr 06, 2015
Conventional wisdom holds that the sweet spot for long-term care residents is around age 85, give or take. But what if that figure were to increase dramatically?
Feeling a bit run down? Blame the third shift
By
John O'Connor
Jan 31, 2014
Long-term care professionals must be on hand to work the dreaded third shift, given the 24/7 nature of the job. For some caregivers, that means extra difficulties getting through an overnight shift. New...
Stars aligned for shift
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2014
The Five Star rating system is about to get retooled, thanks to a scathing report in The New York Times. The only real question is how extensive the changes will be.