It is critical to have a solid system for discharge planning that begins even before the resident is admitted to the facility. Individualized, resident-centered discharge planning will provide a solid...
Close the infection loop to reduce outbreak risk
May 12, 2014
The readmission scores of nursing homes will be posted to the Nursing Home Compare website beginning in 2017, and the VBP program will begin Oct. 1, 2018. For the first time, facilities will not just face...
Additional nursing home inspection rules are not the answer
By
John O'Connor
Apr 14, 2014
Many skilled care operators struggle to keep up with a seemingly never-ending array of survey and certification regulations. If two lawmakers get their way, providers can look forward to a large heaping...
Adverse events and the culture of fear in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 04, 2014
The government report on adverse events in post-acute care that was released yesterday shines a light on issues of real concern. However, as long-term care stakeholders and regulators consider the implications...
Who’s buying your loyalty?
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 23, 2014
While the story of former Gov. McDonnell and his wife’s alleged excess may make us shake our heads, it did remind me of the slippery slope many in business or politics can fall down when it comes...
I pay dead people
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Nov 12, 2013
On Oct. 31 (an ironic coincidence?) a report from the Office of inspector General frighteningly said Medicare paid some $23 million in benefits for more than 17,000 dead people in 2011. And my husband...
Are you prepared? 5 questions you need to know the answers to
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 27, 2013
With all the recent regulatory changes that have come down the line, or are about to, we developed a simple five-question survey that each provider had to ask every therapy employee. If you can develop...
Progress in trying to undo the hospital ‘observation stay’ mess
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2013
What is this world coming to? When you complain about bizarre government conditions or regulations, you usually have to assume you’re just whispering into the wind.
OIG? OMG! One lump problem
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 23, 2013
The Office of the Inspector General’s recent report about what it calls $1.5 billion in inappropriate Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities should be yet another wake-up call to providers.
Mandatory compliance programs for nursing facilities
By
Terese Farhat
Dec 04, 2012
Regardless of whether you are big or small, nursing facility leaders need to be much more vigilant with compliance program efforts.