I continue to be struck by how deep Five-Star has worked its way into the countless nooks and crannies of our industry. It’s far beyond what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services intended...
How will PBJ impact Five-Star staffing? Would you like one lump or two?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 30, 2018
We don’t know when, and we don’t know how, but when Payroll-Based Journal staffing data replaces the data currently being captured from CMS Form 671 for calculating Five-Star staffing, we are...
Sorting out the antipsychotic quality measures
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2013
While antipsychotic measurements can vary, providers must carefully and thoroughly examine all antipsychotic medication use in their facility.
Data integrity critical for MDS quality
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 16, 2012
As most long-term care operators can attest, MDS 3.0 has spurred both opportunities and obstacles. On one hand, the new resident assessment tool is pushing resident care and satisfaction to the forefront...
A concept worth exploring: using clinical data to develop a marketing campaign
By
Steven Littlehale
Jun 24, 2009
Information is readily available, so why not use it to your advantage? Developing a marketing strategy based on clinical evidence from your skilled nursing facility could prove invaluable in attracting...
Nursing Home Compare revisions deserve only 2 stars
By
Steven Littlehale
May 13, 2019
Recent changes to the Nursing Home Compare website leave a lot to be desired. I give them two out of a possible four stars.
PointRight develops new Medicaid case mix management tool with Zimmet
By
Steven Littlehale
Aug 03, 2011
PointRight Inc. announced the development of CMI Now. This comprehensive Medicaid Case Mix Index management tool helps post-acute providers in New York and New Jersey better monitor and manage their Medicaid...
Five-Star insights: Will those stars ever illuminate your path?
By
Steven Littlehale
May 16, 2012
I recently asked a hospital discharge planner how she chooses which nursing home to discharge to. “Five-Star” was the reply. Was I surprised? Not at all. Once again, it demonstrates just how...
Don’t mess with my Uber rating!
By
Steven Littlehale
Jun 21, 2017
My most recent trip to Washington, D.C., was wrapping up like most others. I was heading to Reagan Airport by way of Uber, but what happened next was not typical — and drove me to write this piece.
The importance of data accuracy
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 10, 2013
Has a day gone by when you haven’t heard about a new healthcare reform requirement coming of age? This month skilled nursing facilities were supposed to have started having an operational compliance...