“They don’t need rehab, they’re too old!” How many times have we heard or even asked this question? Did you know that Regis Philbin turned 80 on August 25? The Dancing with the...
Why so blue?
By
Feb 28, 2017
I’ve been in a fight with my computer monitor for the past couple of days. The screen was crisp and bright looking, but after a few hours I’d start getting a headache. I had been blaming that...
CMS did more than ‘just’ cut Medicare pay by 11.1%
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 19, 2011
Have you started your COT trending analysis? On Aug. 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final ruling and commentary for the new implementation of the MDS changes set to take effect...
Increasing length-of-stay
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 30, 2012
Length-of-stay — LOS — is one of those management reports that often leaves administrators and upper management bewildered. If you increase LOS, you essentially increase your census.
Hurts all over: pain in dementia
By
Renee Kinder
Mar 29, 2018
“Mommy, I hurt all over.” Day 2 of the stomach virus last week and my sweet Isaac was seeing no relief. Day 3 of the stomach virus and Isaac realized how much he missed school.
Therapy should be more than productivity
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Apr 22, 2024
“I’m too sick for therapy today.” “Come back later.” “Leave me alone.” If you’ve worked in long-term care (or hospitals or LTACHs or acute rehab hospitals), you’ve heard...
Ghosts of therapists past
By
Renee Kinder
Nov 08, 2018
Therapists experience the same impact when facing the ghosts of predecessors in their own therapy departments. And when considering the spirits of old habits needing to be shifted by significant changes...
Here’s how you can effectively schedule rehab
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Nov 14, 2011
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented its latest rounds of new and stricter regulations, the groan was heard throughout nursing homes across the country. But, I have good news:...
Should SNF therapy vendors use QAPI?
By
Tara Roberts
Nov 06, 2014
While some long-term care providers have been slower to look at QAPI processes, others are ready to implement. Therapy vendors also should be considering adopting and operationalizing QAPI.
Whose life is it anyway?
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Sep 21, 2023
My family is full of therapists, and most of us work in skilled nursing. My sister, an experienced speech language pathologist, called to commiserate about one of her patients who had difficulty swallowing. ...