A rare opportunity to address the sector’s labor woes
By
John O'Connor
Dec 14, 2015
It’s safe to say that the long-term care field could use lots of workers happy to take entry-level jobs. If only there were a sudden supply of willing people who would salivate at the prospect. As...
Nursing shortage relief from an unexpected source
By
John O'Connor
Oct 30, 2017
When it comes to skilled-care staffing, the future outlook is bleak. If it’s possible, the situation for nurses might be even worse. But at least a partial solution could be in the offing from a...
CMS is not terribly interested in hearing about your staffing woes
By
John O'Connor
May 06, 2019
It’s no secret that finding and keeping nurses is one of the skilled care sector’s biggest headaches. But it would appear that the folks who regulate this field don’t want to hear it any more.
Dangerous work with low pay, and we wonder why they leave?
By
John O'Connor
Jan 23, 2015
Researchers have concluded that workers are leaving the field in droves. The two main culprits: poor wages and dangerous work conditions.
Don’t want to be replaced by a robot? Then you’d better read this
By
John O'Connor
Feb 09, 2015
We’re hearing more about technology’s growing role in the long-term care field. And to be sure, there are many positive things to be said about the shift. The bad news is that your job as a...
Why the New York Times’ ‘hatchet job’ shows better days are coming to long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Aug 26, 2014
A pall hangs over this sector at the moment, thanks to the New York Times.
Immigration reform won’t solve long-term care’s fundamental staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Apr 05, 2013
Long-term care operators are understandably giddy about the sudden prospect of immigration reform. But they might want to curb their enthusiasm.
For too many in nursing, the thrill is gone
By
John O'Connor
Nov 23, 2015
It’s generally understood that this sector faces a severe nursing shortage that’s likely to worsen. Money alone is not going to make this problem disappear. That’s because the real challenge...
Cost of doing business about to rise for many providers
By
John O'Connor
Apr 21, 2014
It’s not quite in the dirty-little-secret category, but here it is: The nation’s recent economic downturn was good for the bottom line at many urban long-term care facilities. Change appears...
How would you like to spend some ‘quality time’ with CMS?
By
John O'Connor
Sep 24, 2018
First it was staffing data, could Uncle Sam be after providers for quality data next? One Senator might be after just that.