On Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be updating the Minimum Data Set with another round of changes. Most are minor but there will be two changes to the therapy section. Your case-mix...
50 shades of G-coding
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jul 02, 2013
Sorry, ladies, I didn’t mean to get your hopes up with that title. But does anyone else feel like there is a lot of ambiguity to the new G-Coding system? Well, it’s a little too early to tell...
Malnourishment: Your issue and mine
By
Martie Moore
Apr 26, 2017
I was amazed how I lost 10 pounds while being in the hospital. I made a joke with a friend of mine who is a dietician about the “hospital diet.” She became very serious and stated, “You...
Insights on family-friendly care from Dr. El — the daughter of a new resident
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 25, 2017
Due to a series of unfortunate events, both of my previously independent parents were recently injured over the course of five weeks. Here are some thoughts from someone who’s seen the long-term...
What OSHA’s new ruling means for you
By
Martie Moore
Aug 22, 2016
While we have worked hard to create safer workplaces, we still have work to do. A new federal rule on injury reporting and recording could help get us there.
The heightened requirement for data-driven discharge planning
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 20, 2016
It’s fascinating to observe the evolution of business processes regarding transitions of care.
Final rule for joint replacement: Don’t come unhinged!
By
Steven Littlehale
Jan 20, 2016
The first mandatory bundled payment program was set into motion with the publication of the Final Rule on Comprehensive Care for Lower Extremity Joint Replacement (CJR). The implementation date is now...
Leaders should always know … not!
By
Julie Thorson
Jan 07, 2016
As leaders, we are not supposed to have doubt. We are expected to have the answers, guide the way and show others the course to get there. Hogwash.
Ready Set: QAPI!
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 05, 2012
Nursing facilities must submit written QAPI plans to CMS one year after promulgation of the regulation. This regulation will be in addition to current QAA standards.
Big challenges ahead for therapy
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jun 12, 2012
A few years ago, my consulting company had the opportunity to work with a facility to implement a bariatric unit within a skilled nursing facility. This would seem an easy task, but the facility ended...