Why federal funding for nursing-care information technology would be a good investment
By
Ken Terry
Mar 02, 2011
Long-term care is the stepchild of the healthcare industry. So it’s not surprising that none of the $27 billion extended by the federal government for health information technology is available to...
CMS can do better on infection prevention and control
By
Sue Peschin
Jan 11, 2016
In addition to infections harming residents, nursing facility staff is often occupationally exposed to infectious diseases.
Go for an IPA
By
Rajeev Kumar, M.D.
Jun 28, 2019
The PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model) will be here quicker than the time it takes for a head to settle on a fresh-drawn pint of beer. But many skilled nursing facilities are still working out their orders....
A Medicaid conundrum
By
Stuart H. Shapiro, M.D.
Oct 03, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on health care reform brings to mind Apollo 13 astronaut John Swigert’s understated line: “Houston, we have a problem.”
Swearing good, drinking bad
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 23, 2023
Last time out here, I gave long-term care professionals official permission to swear, making the case, with strong scientific support, that an occasional obscenity is actually healthy. I assume for most...
The Jimmo scorecard and CMS compliance update
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 25, 2014
In some ways, 2014 has been a monumental year. But it’s not over yet, especially with regard to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services steps regarding the historic Jimmo settlement agreement signed...
CMS is doing something right: Focusing on safety
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Feb 18, 2022
On Feb. 9, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a memo to state survey agency directors, asking state departments of public health to properly survey for certification requirements....
Conducting and documenting meaningful fire drills in LTC facilities
By
Stan Szpytek
Apr 16, 2024
From some of our earliest memories in elementary school as little kids, we all recall participating in fire drills on a periodic basis. Of course, the purpose of those fire drills was to train students,...
You’re fired! Welcome to the team
By
Gary Tetz
May 09, 2012
The holy grail of long-term care hiring would have to be the ability to divine in advance who will end up becoming a personnel liability and workplace nightmare. Most providers try to do that with a combination...
Three labor management practices to improve care, compliance and cost
By
Mark Woodka
Nov 22, 2010
Controlling labor costs in long-term care increasingly is important in this environment of tight reimbursements and challenging economic conditions.