The Five-Star Quality Rating System’s impact on insurance premiums — and how to address them
By
Ben Newman
Feb 27, 2023
For nearly 15 years, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Quality Rating System for long-term care facilities has been a single source of truth for multiple parties. Consumers...
A day in the life of an infection preventionist
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Jan 30, 2023
When I write or speak about our long-term care industry, I often do just that – refer to “the industry.” Whether it be challenges “the industry” faces, solutions “the industry” needs, or...
MDROs setting up residence: The role of the contaminated environment in long-term care
By
Debra A. Hagberg
Aug 18, 2022
America’s age 65 and older population is expected to nearly double in size in the coming decades, from 49 million in 2016 to 95 million in 2060. With this aging of the population comes the reality of...
Enhanced barrier precautions: A win–win–win for LTC facilities, residents, and staff
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Feb 07, 2024
In our post-COVID world, infection prevention and control (IPC) is more important than ever. This is especially true in long-term care facilities. Residents generally live in a congregate environment...
Understanding and addressing pain: Thoughts for therapists
By
Renee Kinder
Feb 01, 2024
In my continued endeavor to win Mother of the Year, I really racked up some points this week. Isaac, my youngest son, took a nice spill last Friday while skiing. He suffered what we thought...
Decrease costs and boost morale by fostering a culture that prioritizes infection prevention and control
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Aug 07, 2023
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care facilities was usually relegated to the sidelines. If it was focused on at all, IPC often fell squarely on...
Easy to implement infection prevention and control strategies during the holidays in LTC facilities
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Dec 12, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report in January of this year showing that more than 1,000 long-term care facilities in the United States had COVID-19 infection rates of 75% or...
Infection control without adding staff — it’s not just a fluke
By
Mary Cole
Jul 26, 2023
In a recent letter to leaders in Congress, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) highlighted the “astonishing lack of attention to infection prevention and control...
Insurgence of leveled contracts
By
Susie Mix
Jul 14, 2023
By now, we’re all pretty familiar with the fact that managed care is altering the post-acute care payor mix with Medicare Advantage plans. This is a byproduct of national policy, intended to offset our...
‘God chose me for a reason’ — an LTC leader’s courage in facing cancer, global pandemic
By
Jennifer Jasper
Jul 27, 2022
I have been a licensed nursing home administrator since 2004, now in two states. I moved to the great state of North Carolina in 2019 and began practicing at a Principle LTC facility, Piney Grove Nursing...