“To reduce avoidable hospitalizations, you must have a meaningful flow of information.” These are extremely wise words we need to really think about.
Focus on preventable readmissions
By
Andrew M. Kramer, M.D.
Oct 15, 2014
Readmissions have become an increasingly urgent concern for skilled nursing facilities not only because they are traumatic for residents, but also because under the Affordable Care Act, hospitals’...
Consider transitional care to expand referral relationships
By
Ryan Sparks
Nov 12, 2017
Identifying ways to improve census is a common goal among long-term care providers. Despite a continually expanding elderly population, occupancy levels are at the lowest point in five years.
Third-party validation a necessity in Five Star system
By
MIranda Meadow
Oct 01, 2014
The attention given to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Five Star Quality Rating System over the last few weeks by the New York Times, Forbes, and elected officials serves to highlight the...
Dr. Ben Carson nicks a long-term care nerve
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 24, 2013
At the end of a long day doing skillful and important things for elderly residents, do you ever pause and mutter to yourself, “He won’t get any better. She won’t live much longer. What...
What is the grade of your referral sources?
By
Martie Moore
Nov 29, 2016
How does the performance of your referral sources impact your outcomes? Turns out … a lot. If you want to gain a better understanding of a hospital’s performance, The Leapfrog Group is a resource...
Comp time: A new day for overtime pay?
By
Russell W. Gray
Jun 30, 2017
The Trump Administration is ushering in a whirlwind of changes to employment law and how it is enforced.
3 value-based purchasing strategies to help you get ahead
By
Sally Rodriguez
May 21, 2014
Long-term care providers have a stronger hook than they probably realize regarding the toughening of penalties for hospitals with high readmission rates.
Pay for performance, medical necessity and Jimmo
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jun 04, 2014
Why would anyone mention value-based reimbursement, medical necessity and the Jimmo lawsuit in the same sentence? I feel they are all related, but it will be difficult to find the perfect balancing act...
Calming fears of floods and other catastrophes
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 29, 2017
By now it’s likely that you, your staff, the residents and their families have seen the incredibly disturbing photo of assisted living residents in Dickinson, TX, sitting in waist-high floodwaters....