The Five Star overall score is comprised of three domains: Survey, Staffing and Quality Measures. This month, look a little deeper into the overall Five Star Scores.
A survey and regulatory review of 2013
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 24, 2014
It’s important to do a review that considers your region and state. Identify how complaints and care deficiencies were handled last year.
Residents with cognitive impairment don’t feel pain
By
Steven Littlehale
May 19, 2017
Please, someone tell me why we are still challenged with identifying and treating pain in the elderly, particularly those with dementia.
Do you really want to be ‘average’?
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 22, 2014
A provider client once said to me, “I don’t understand all this ‘statistical gobbledygook.’ Tell me why I should care and how I can actually use this.” It was a valid request.
Where were YOU when CMS changed the Five-Star rating system?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 20, 2015
Some things will always stay etched in our mind. Where were you on February 12, when CMS publicly announced immediate changes to the Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes?
And he did it ‘his way’ — will you and yours?
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 21, 2017
Packing for New Jersey to help Bernie (my father-in-law, whom I was honored to call “Dad”) navigate his transition from hospitalization to SNF, something told me to pack a suit.
Don’t drop the ball when the music ends: creating the right discharge plans
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 02, 2014
Providing a safe handoff during discharge from a skilled nursing facility is the operator’s responsibility. Unfortunately, it’s not happening enough. SNFs without effective discharge planning...
Agency staffing on the rise? Believe it — and plan for it
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 21, 2016
The use of contract agency staff to fill nurse aide and licensed nurse vacancies is escalating. This increase is seen across many states, not to mention across the nation as a whole. Yes, we have a well-documented...
Have you met Jimmo’s stepbrother Jimmo?
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 21, 2017
Therapy utilization will be as scrutinized as much as it ever has been, even though the “improvement standard” has once again been deemed deceased.
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...