You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief when NIC released its first-quarter tally on skilled nursing occupancy levels. To be sure, the 87.2% rate is not exactly a cause for celebration. Then...
Voters give providers something to worry about
By
John O'Connor
Jun 08, 2012
GOP and Democratic strategists were watching the Wisconsin governorship recall race earlier this week as a possible harbinger of this fall’s presidential election. But that’s a shortsighted...
Your biggest expense is about to get worse
By
John O'Connor
Jan 16, 2015
There are growing signs that labor costs will soon be creeping up. That may be good news for the frontline workers and other staff who literally do the heavy lifting. But it’s not so great for those...
A SNF-hospital marriage that appears likely to last
By
John O'Connor
Jan 30, 2015
Partnerships linking skilled care operators and hospitals have been touted as all but inevitable. Yet good examples are few and far between. It turns out Dallas might be a pretty good place to look for...
An angel among us
By
John O'Connor
May 18, 2012
To suddenly realize you are in the presence of greatness is a rare and heady experience. About a thousand of us shared that feeling Wednesday at the Assisted Living Federation of America conference, when...
Mixed messages about the current state of long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Oct 15, 2018
Some American Health Care Association convention attendees might have experienced a sudden case of whiplash last week. That’s because their eyes and ears were quickly exposed to two very different realities.
If you feel like a number now, just wait
By
John O'Connor
Jun 01, 2012
Anne Tumlinson made a startling revelation about hospital discharges during a recent McKnight’s webcast.
Proving that the ACA challenge can be met
By
John O'Connor
Dec 07, 2015
If there’s one question sure to put a provider on edge these days, it’s this: How do I transition my facility into the world of accountable care organizations? For those who want to see how...
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...
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.