Things were so much less complicated when I started into the nursing home business in 1973. My father, looking for a business venture, built a 19-bed nursing home on the family farm. My older brother was...
Readmission penalties could harm hospitals and SNFs
By
John O'Connor
Aug 24, 2012
Economic incentives – both good and bad – are a proven way to modify behavior. But what happens when an economic penalty is based on a dubious premise? Many hospitals may soon be forced to...
Your next resident could be a senior … in college
By
Jan 05, 2016
Where you live in college plays a huge role in the overall college experience, a fact that I’m sure isn’t lost on 21-year-old Drake University student Haley Jenkins. On Friday, she moves into...
No time to rest for long-term care operators
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 16, 2013
Even before the fall convention season started, providers could be pretty sure about what grand messages they were going to hear from the big guys: Work hard, produce good records, make better networking...
Turning a challenge into an opportunity
By
John O'Connor
Jul 27, 2012
Many nursing home administrators are not sleeping well these days. If it’s any consolation, hospital administrators are probably catching even fewer winks.
A reason for providers to smile amid so much angst
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 30, 2017
Sure, a tax overhaul bill that has a significant segment of providers quivering is picking up steam and should be on the president’s desk soon. But there’s also other legislation being considered...
Leadership through laughter
By
Julie Thorson
Mar 28, 2014
I am often reminded how lucky we are to come to work and experience something new, exciting, and fun every day. I’m sure you feel the same way. Our team laughs often, and many times we laugh quite...
Antipsychotics report will have severe side effects
By
John O'Connor
Jul 13, 2012
Antipsychotic drugs are often used to calm residents with dementia. This reality is common knowledge among most people who have spent more than a few minutes in a nursing facility. But it is apparently...
Preparing nurses to respond to disaster — including some you’ve never thought of
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jun 16, 2015
Nurses are trained in so many ways to prepare for disasters. But there are some “disasters” we haven’t planned for. Take, for instance, when the registered dietician decides to create...
The importance of a smoking policy
By
Betty Norman
Oct 25, 2012
Resident smoking polices mean much more than cleaner air at long-term care facilities. As recent incidents demonstrate, having effective policies for residents – and making sure they are followed...