As technologies continue to develop, our residents’ needs also change. The need for a computer lab is waning as our residents are starting to be more tech-savvy. Life enrichment teams in long-term...
5 tips for avoiding deficiencies
By
Susan LaGrange
Nov 05, 2014
Here are five quick tips to operationalize for the top five most frequently cited deficiencies nationwide. Facilities could choose one per day and revisit each week to focus on audits, discussion, education...
Leadership in LTC: The diversity challenge
By
Mary Helen McSweeney-Feld
Mar 14, 2014
Having a diverse administrative workforce requires new ideas on the process of training administrators and encouraging organizations to provide those training opportunities.
The conversation no one wants to have
By
Barbara Ivanko
Nov 22, 2013
Studies show that while people across the country are increasingly embracing hospice, many receive hospice care too late, including sometimes in the last three days of life. By accessing hospice care sooner,...
3 strategies for improved medication management communications in SNFs
By
Anne Tumlinson
Mar 17, 2014
One area where many SNFs have room to improve is medication management. Optimizing medication management services during care transitions will position SNFs as high-value partners in the preferred referral...
Onward and upward — what’s motivating your job change?
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 21, 2014
After stealthily observing long-term care professionals in the wild for the past 15 years or so, I’ve come to see you as a perplexing and elusive study in contrasts. Perhaps you haven’t noticed...
Are standardized assessment tools our future?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
May 20, 2014
With therapy documentation being put under the microscope more than ever, you would be wise to make sure standardized assessment tools are at your fingertips. Unbiased views of data and outcomes information...
F-Tag 309 on Quality of Care: Are we prepared?
By
Susan LaGrange
Mar 22, 2013
Have you reviewed end-of-life care plans with your staff? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently made changes to the surveyor guidance for End of Life in Appendix PP of the SOM. This was...
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.
What color is your discus?
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 02, 2012
Let’s be honest with each other. I made a bad career choice, and so did you. We should have been Olympic discus throwers. What were we thinking?