Although your residents, patients and employees are top priority, we all know there is another important group that is trying to cope with the challenges of COVID-19 … the families of your residents...
Is your emergency communications plan ready?
By
Ann Pickren and Jim Satterfield
Nov 08, 2017
As McKnight’s coverage of comments by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services principal deputy administrator for operations at a recent hearing indicated, “several of the failings”...
The truth in the stars
By
Jessica Curtis
Jun 07, 2021
Can a one-star skilled nursing facility be the same as a five-star facility? It depends on your zip code. When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigns the health inspection...
Why information blocking in post-acute care really should matter to you
By
Robert Latz
Oct 07, 2022
The second phase of the information blocking rule came into play Thursday (Oct. 6), and it affects EVERY healthcare provider, including those of us in post-acute care settings. The main change between...
Strange ways to deal with long-term care’s staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Nov 15, 2013
It’s no secret that our nation’s long-term care facilities need additional caregivers. More than 43,000 direct care staff positions remain unfilled, according to figures from the American Health...
Electrostatic sprayers hit the spot for surface disinfection in long-term care
By
Katherine Velez, PhD
Oct 15, 2020
Using established technologies in innovative ways can help long-term care facilities navigate the “new normal” of clean needed to meet pandemic and post-pandemic standards. Electrostatic sprayers can...
Odds don’t favor another round of Obamacare
By
John O'Connor
Apr 23, 2012
The Supreme Court may be two months away from announcing whether President Barack Obama’s health care law is legal. But court watchers are already speculating on what will happen if the measure is...
View from a healthcare town hall meeting
By
Brett Bakshis
Sep 02, 2009
“There are certain rules we ask our students to follow during assemblies,” Dr. Nanciann Gatta, superintendent of Illinois School District 219, said before introducing Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s...
Cybersecurity scams: Don’t get caught in the net
By
Shawn Nelson
Jun 16, 2017
Email has evolved into a mission-critical business function for many senior living organizations, and for this reason, it has also become the key mechanism used by cybercriminals to gain access to protected...
Are CMS risk-based surveys enough to address the downfall of survey delays?
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 26, 2024
In April 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the testing of a risk-based survey (RBS) that streamlines the standard recertification process for high-performing nursing homes....