The good news is politicians can always change their minds. The bad news is, well, politicians can always change their minds. That must be the mixed feelings that many providers — Larry Minnix and his...
A bad surveyor workplace hurts providers
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 31, 2018
As difficult as your job may be — and I know there are many long days — it’s worthwhile to remind yourself it could always be worse. You could be a nursing home surveyor in Idaho.
I know QA, but what Is QAPI?
By
Teresa Remy
Nov 08, 2017
Nobody likes change. If we all had a dollar every time we heard someone in our workplace say “but this is the way we’ve always done it” we’d all be independently wealthy.
Looming employee insurance mandate could be a lose-lose
By
John O'Connor
Sep 24, 2012
Staffing has always been a major challenge in the seniors housing and care sector. And a new health insurance requirement scheduled to take effect in less than 16 months could worsen the problem.
Enhancing organizational communication improves outcomes, reduces adverse incidents
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 05, 2018
There will always be adverse events in any health system, but strengthening communication between team members and between different levels within the organization can improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood...
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?
What makes a Five-Star nursing home?
By
Debra Larkin
Jan 25, 2017
The philosophy we’ve followed at Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg in order to achieve our Five-Star rating has always been to constantly evolve and strive for innovative and creative ways to...
A reason to hide
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 17, 2011
Given recent flaps about hospice care in nursing homes, one has to wonder if long-term care providers are always going to be subjected to the “one step forward, one step back” syndrome.
Spending time and money on employees pays off
By
Kristy Wikum
Mar 07, 2016
While I have talked about a few of the items we implemented to keep our therapists excited about working with us, I always go back to the concept of having to spend money to make money.
Policing and preventing pneumonia outbreaks
By
Elizabeth Cerceo, M.D., FACP
Dec 11, 2015
Anyone involved in the care of the chronically ill and those in long-term care facilities is always vigilant in monitoring for the beginnings of pneumonia in this vulnerable population, many of whom have...