Facilities approach 15% goal for antipsychotics reduction
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2013
For decades, many providers have viewed antipsychotic drugs as a necessary evil for treating residents with dementia. But increasingly, these medications are just being seen as evil. So it’s hardly...
Ask the legal expert … about leave-of-absence mistakes
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2013
How can we avoid some of the most common leave-of-absence mistakes administrators/owners make?
Ongoing budget battles reveal a deeper problem
By
John O'Connor
Sep 27, 2013
Many long-term care providers seem to be experiencing a case of budget battle fatigue right about now. Yes, it was earlier this year that a fiscal cliff compromise was reached. And now two more budget-related...
Not angry about the LTC Commission’s report? You should be
By
John O'Connor
Sep 20, 2013
It’s hard to comment on the Commission on Long-Term Care’s just-submitted report without getting hacked off. Really, really hacked off. To call it a fool’s errand would be to insult misdirected...
Time to invade China? That’s a question more long-term care operators are beginning to ask
By
John O'Connor
Sep 09, 2013
The United States is certainly struggling with its long-term care challenges. But compared to many parts of the world, we’re practically amateurs.
Medicare, Medicaid likely to start requiring tech tool use
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2013
As sharing of electronic health information becomes standard across all care settings, using technology may become a prerequisite for providers to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according...
At least we still have AHCA — or is that TMI?
By
John O'Connor
Aug 30, 2013
There’s an informal nickname that describes the many acronyms being used in healthcare these days: alphabet soup. We may have just experienced an Olympic record for it.
Implementing Olmstead, one decade at a time
By
John O'Connor
Aug 26, 2013
I first began attending American Health Care Association shows in the 1990s. They tended to be lively events, but not for reasons that had much to do with educational sessions, networking or the goodies...
Providers may need more than a ‘wizard’ to demystify Obamacare
By
John O'Connor
Aug 12, 2013
Did you hear the one about life’s great lies? Here’s part of the punch line: “I’m from the government and I came to help you.” Providers familiar with the joke may have experienced...
Feds unveil plan to improve tech safety via partnerships
By
John O'Connor
Aug 01, 2013
Healthcare technology can greatly help or harm the care residents receive. Recognizing this dichotomy, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has issued a health...