Sadly, I didn’t get to the American Health Care Association convention this year. Actually, it’s been a full decade since I last personally attended one of these auspicious gatherings, Now, lest...
The perfect picnic takes planning — please
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jul 01, 2014
Happy Independence Day! This is such a pivotal period in everyone’s summer plans, and what a great time for weddings, family reunions and/or the perfect simple picnic. That goes for our frail seniors,...
An overtime fix that seemed to work for everyone – except the feds
By
John O'Connor
May 02, 2014
It’s a troubling staffing dynamic that regularly plays out at many long-term care facilities: Low-wage employees are practically begging for the opportunity to work extra hours. And the additional...
Making sure medical equipment is in compliance
By
George H. Landauer
Dec 16, 2013
All long-term care and other healthcare facilities should have a proper Medical Equipment Management Program in place. With budgetary issues, staff cutbacks and decreasing reimbursements, many facilities...
Therapy with a twist (of lemon)
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2013
As you read this, you might be eyeing the new RAI manual that takes effect today, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the sheer number of new pages. So it’s with great regret that I have to add...
Reviewing the top 10 errors in rehab documentation
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Apr 23, 2013
As a long-term care therapy consultant, I work on a lot of claim reviews and denials management with my clients. I’ve also read a lot of peer-review research articles related to this subject, and...
Will there be a ‘real’ CMS administrator soon? It’s looking so
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 03, 2013
If you’re a gambling person, it looks like the odds just got a whole lot better for Marilyn Tavenner becoming the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That’s...
Technology in the nursing home
By
Michael Defrancesco
Feb 13, 2013
Not too long ago, the mortar and pestle were the mechanism of choice to crush pills. Today, the average facility has to crush pills for around 30% of its residents. Now there is an easier way to crush...
Beware of hospital observation loopholes
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Dec 07, 2012
Hospitals have been undergoing more and more restrictions on re-admissions and are now facing financial penalties in some situations. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in more patients not being classified...
Peace is hell
By
John O'Connor
Feb 03, 2012
On Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered some tough-love testimony about rising healthcare costs and our shrinking Treasury. This would be very sobering news indeed — if an easy answer...