3 bold predictions for the coming year in long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Jan 02, 2018
There’s nothing like a budding new year to awaken that urge in scribes to warn better-informed readers what to expect. It must be some kind of occupational hazard. So in the spirit of not always...
Don’t like the new ratings system? Welcome to our world
By
John O'Connor
Jun 19, 2017
The content in the angry letter sounded all-too familiar. “Flawed methodology” and “substantive errors” in CMS’s “chosen methodology.” Another nursing home organization...
Finally, some good occupancy news
By
John O'Connor
Apr 17, 2017
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...
For long-term care operators, there’s no time for a pity party
By
John O'Connor
Mar 27, 2017
Skilled care operators have their work cut out for themselves. But I have to say I’m feeling better about the sector’s prospects after spending some time at last week’s NIC Spring Investment...
Innovative partnerships can end ‘silo’ approach, Kramer predicts
By
John O'Connor
Mar 24, 2017
New partnerships connecting operators with other supportive services may finally end the silo-based approach that has dominated eldercare services in recent decades.
Your most important staffing challenge? It’s probably not what you think
By
John O'Connor
Dec 12, 2016
If you’re focusing on the so-called worker bees in your organization, you’re ignoring a larger challenge: the importance of finding the best future leaders.
Canaries in a coal mine
By
John O'Connor
Dec 06, 2016
When it comes to measuring how well a long-term care facility is doing, we all know the usual benchmarks: revenues, profits and census levels.
A sure-fire way to make nursing homes less dangerous
By
John O'Connor
Dec 05, 2016
There is nothing nice to be said about nursing home fires. Yet nobody seems to be demanding an obvious way to ensure that fewer take place: ban smoking.
How to quickly size up the health of any facility
By
John O'Connor
Oct 24, 2016
When it comes to measuring how well a long-term care facility is doing, we all know the usual benchmarks: revenues, profits and census levels.
Skilled care occupancy rates down in second quarter: NIC
By
John O'Connor
Sep 15, 2016
Second-quarter occupancy rates in skilled care facilities fell to 82.2%, or their lowest level since figures started being tracked in 2011, according to a new National Investment Center for Seniors Housing...