What do you call a 77-year-old who has worked with — indeed BEEN one of — the most powerful people in the world, traveled the globe extensively, served his country with honor for decades and then charms,...
The power of attorney and five wishes
By
Kerry Peck
Oct 06, 2014
The most important documents to put into place when dealing with individuals with Alzheimer’s are durable powers of attorney for financial matters and healthcare decisions.
Providers must see clearly before they CHOW down
By
Richard Cheng
Sep 29, 2014
When a skilled nursing facility changes ownership, the change is known in healthcare vernacular as a change of ownership or “CHOW.” Because this could wind up endangering a Medicare provider...
The Five Star Report, once again, in the SNF spotlight
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 24, 2014
The Five Star Quality Rating System takes the spotlight on the front page of the New York Times and the top of the news cycle, kicking off other publicity and political pressure. Regardless of any of the...
Altering hip fractures
By
D. Stephen Robins, M.D.
Sep 24, 2014
Why the increasing attention to hip fractures? Is it that they are major traumatic events? Or that they are the most frequent fracture resulting from falls in long-term care settings? Or that around 350,000...
Stakeholders need to prepare for the loss of long-term care’s exemption to e-prescribing
By
Cynthia Morton
Sep 15, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is set to lift long-term care’s exemption from its e-prescribing rule as of Nov. 1. This is bigger news than most realize right now, and there has been...
The end of fee for service
By
Mark Fish
Sep 12, 2014
The seeds that have flowered into the burgeoning of ACOs – groups of providers accepting the responsibility, and risk, for caring for the health of a designated patient population according to defined...
Linen loss: the $840 million elephant in your rooms
By
David Stern
Sep 10, 2014
Linen loss is widespread and expensive, costing the healthcare industry $840 million a year. Linen loss is a part of business for many, but it doesn’t have to be.
Latest therapy-billing showdown could be ominous sign for long-term care providers
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 10, 2014
Don’t let anyone tell you that long-term care operators don’t know how to read between the lines. They might not have known to fear a McKnight’s Monday news item before it broke, but...
Control issues: helping patients and staff members after a setback
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 09, 2014
If you’re a leader at a long-term care facility, you’re constantly trying to promote persistence in the face of obstacles. Maybe you’re trying to motivate a patient to progress with therapy...