How LTC facilities can use communication technology to avoid compliance traps
By
Gary Hamilton
Frances Carroll
Apr 02, 2024
“If it is not documented, it is not done” is a fundamental rule of healthcare. For those who work in long-term care (LTC) and skilled nursing, a relevant version of this rule is, “If a staff member...
The coming cicada invasion. Can the MDS compete?
By
Joel VanEaton
Feb 20, 2024
I am constantly reminded how the complexities of nature astound me. Recently, I became aware of the impending cicada invasion that will happen this year in various regions of the United States. According...
Easy to implement infection prevention and control strategies during the holidays in LTC facilities
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Dec 12, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report in January of this year showing that more than 1,000 long-term care facilities in the United States had COVID-19 infection rates of 75% or...
How long must U.S. seniors wait for nursing homes to clean up their act? Congress must step in
By
Devin Jopp
Sep 18, 2023
For years the government has sounded the alarm about infection control lapses in nursing homes, a deficiency underscored at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic when many residents of a Kirkland, WA...
Playing politics with nursing home care
By
Brendan Williams
Apr 23, 2024
Tragicomically, CMS asserts “this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities[.]”
Thanks for the, er, help
By
John O'Connor
Mar 25, 2024
The adage about keeping friends close and enemies closer has been variously attributed. Its relevance for long-term care operators is pretty clear.
Nurse hiring bonuses: More harm than good?
By
Adam Chambers
Nov 15, 2023
Nursing jobs are three times more likely to include a signing bonus than other professions, according to Indeed. These financial incentives are designed to draw attention, make job ads stand out, and entice...
Working together to combat vaccine hesitancy
By
David Gifford, M.D.
Dec 19, 2023
We must ensure that our population has vaccines to fight off common respiratory viruses this holiday season — and beyond.
Be your own data defender
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 15, 2023
“Well, it’s clear that you’ve never set foot into a nursing home.” I know you’ve thought that while reading a memo from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or your state agency, taking...
Bad news, it’s worse than we thought
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 08, 2024
A mere couple of blogs ago, I shared my concern, based on excellent McKnight’s reportage, that seniors are becoming just as addicted to their devices as young people. That seemed shocking, given our...