Improving the delivery of quality care in behavioral health programs has been a priority for Jessica Fear for more than a quarter of a century. Fear advocates for the use of data to inform and identify...
Meet Kurt Merkelz, MD, 2024 McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards ‘Setting the Standard’ honoree
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 09, 2024
Kurt Merkelz, MD, led the recent standardization of best practices throughout Compassus through the development of tools and procedures built into the organization’s interoperability platform. This effort...
Iowa reforms tort law, nursing home ownership rules
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 30, 2023
Operators are praising once-in-a-generation tort reform and new ownership rules designed to attract “good” nursing home operators as key wins in a bountiful legislative session for the skilled nursing...
Orah Burack diligently works out of the spotlight, keeping her head down and her mind focused on improving care and conditions throughout long-term care. Her work as a senior research associate at The...
Wendella “Wendy” Blackman carries the weight of responsibility in her heart. As the director of Reflections memory care program at senior living community The Bristal at North Woodmere, NY, the residents...
Lawmakers consider sweeping nursing home reforms, including rebased pay rates, and tuition reimbursement
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jun 21, 2023
Massachusetts nursing homes would have to report on all individuals who hold a 5% or larger ownership share, create fresh infection control plans and conduct annual training under a reform plan moving...
Esmerelda Lee emigrated from South Africa during apartheid, planning to study medicine in the United States. What she may not have expected was that her model of steadfast leadership and commitment to...
Nursing home destroyed by tornado close to reopening, will honor ‘heroic’ staff and residents
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 24, 2023
An Arkansas nursing home that was destroyed by a powerful tornado is close to reopening and says it is once again ready to provide a caring and welcoming environment for its residents and staff. ...
Nursing home eviction review added to OIG work plan
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 16, 2023
A federal watchdog will be taking a magnifying glass to the process of nursing home evictions. It will issue a report later this year on evictions, calling them a potentially “unsafe and traumatic experience”...
CMS 5-claim audits so far a ‘debacle’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 22, 2023
A new federal review process designed to lower the rate of improper government payments is sending provider staffs scurrying to justify their coding.