“Big Data” is a hot catch phrase nowadays because it can empower providers and organizations unlike anything else. But the term is often misused. Here’s what you ought to know about it.
Fiscal Year 2015: Can you handle it?
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 23, 2014
It’s that time of the year again! Do the shorter days have you thinking of colorful leaves, a harvest moon, ghouls and goblins on All Hallows’ Eve? Or were you a SNF provider waiting for the...
Healing practices for nurses in LTC
By
A. Lynne Wagner, EdD, MSN, RN, FACCE
Jul 29, 2015
Nurses and other healthcare providers are privileged to intimately care for their patients and patients’ families daily during patients’ most vulnerable and life-altering times of profound...
When making a call has life and death consequences – for staff
Dec 16, 2015
As long-term care administrators, we have a responsibility to inform employees about available resources, and provide them with the tools needed to identify domestic violence among co-workers.
A new approach to Alzheimer’s care
By
Charlotte Dell, L.M.S.W.
Mar 18, 2015
When I watched “50 First Dates,” I had an idea: If watching a video could help a character with memory loss, perhaps it could be applied to Alzheimer’s care. That was the beginning of...
The power of biases
By
Martie Moore
Mar 26, 2018
Establishing processes to utilize root cause analysis for quality improvement is necessary, but it takes discipline. One of the first steps is to challenge your own beliefs about safety and quality failures.
Are your Ultra High RUGs putting you at risk?
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 22, 2016
The 2016 Office of Inspector General work plan calls for increased scrutiny of the Ultra High therapy billing category because the amount of this therapy delivered has increased over time, despite resident...
What the NLRB’s new ambush election rules mean for you
By
Woodruff Imberman Ph.D.
Jan 28, 2015
Long-term care facilities, ranging from independent living communities to post-acute care and rehab centers, all will face new problems avoiding unions because of the recently issued National Labor Relations...
Alarm management in a long-term care environment
By
Connie Dills and Jeanne Venella
Feb 19, 2016
The number of non-actionable alarms blaring daily — due to a tightly set alarm parameter or a patient talking/coughing or getting out of bed — was distracting to clinical staff and disruptive to patients.
Sorting out the antipsychotic quality measures
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2013
While antipsychotic measurements can vary, providers must carefully and thoroughly examine all antipsychotic medication use in their facility.