What’s more frightening than the nursing shortage? What’s driving it
By
John O'Connor
Jun 12, 2015
To better appreciate this sector’s alarming nurse-staffing nightmare, it’s helpful to recall the warden’s famous line in Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is failure to...
Our elected officials: patriots or lackeys?
By
John O'Connor
Mar 26, 2012
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that our elected leaders need to quit playing political chicken. Otherwise, there are going to be some bleak days ahead for We the People.
Plan to cut funding gets strong rebuke
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2011
Long-term care officials excoriated a federal proposal to trim Medicare payments by more than 11%.
Bizarre decision shows that when it comes to 3-day stay rule, there ought to be a law
By
John O'Connor
Oct 11, 2013
There are many odd animals roaming our healthcare industrial complex. But few are more bizarre than Medicare’s three-day rule. Or more deserving of extinction.
As HUD gets its house in order, more long-term care operators are buying in
By
John O'Connor
Dec 10, 2012
It wasn’t so long ago that long-term care operators looked at HUD funding with a disdain bordering on contempt. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development has come a long way in a short...
Making a big difference
By
John O'Connor
Feb 01, 2012
About a decade ago, Monster.com unveiled a brilliant ad campaign. The spots were black and white vignettes in which children talked about their aspirations. But these kids were already jaded.
A new attitude across long-term care gets unmasked
By
John O'Connor
Feb 21, 2022
Many people who once thought masking was a reasonable response to COVID-19 have had enough. More than enough, actually.
Who stole the cheese?
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2021
Some liken relations between long-term care operators and the government to a game of cat-and-mouse.
Hospitals of the future
By
John O'Connor
May 01, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is taking center court in our professional lives lately.
The LTC payment plan
By
John O'Connor
Jul 04, 2016
There seems to be a common theme emerging at this year’s batch of trade shows. Tips for future success are the rising stars.