Raising children, like providing patient care, requires a plan. The older our children become, like when patients show progress, the more freedom they should be allowed. The guide book for plan of care...
Telehealth and therapy services: Let’s keep it going!
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
May 19, 2023
It’s pretty simple, really. Telehealth in physical, occupational and speech therapy allows more treatment for seniors, and better access. By reducing travel times for therapists between facilities,...
Effectively screen those residents
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 09, 2012
It’s not much of a surprise that many therapists are excellent at everything in their job — except screening.
Increasing length-of-stay
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 30, 2012
Length-of-stay — LOS — is one of those management reports that often leaves administrators and upper management bewildered. If you increase LOS, you essentially increase your census.
Breaking down the therapy changes
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Nov 08, 2021
Proposed rules almost always become final rules. On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (after threatening for four years) finalized the 15% payment reduction for outpatient...
No more Rehab Medium RUG defaults
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 08, 2013
Well, Oct. 1 has passed, and we’re all still hanging in. The biggest changes we saw to rehab were the addition of reporting co-treatment minutes on our billing logs and Section O on the MDS. And,...
How to make your nursing facility RAC-ready
By
Bryan Baird
Nov 08, 2011
As skilled nursing facilities adjust to the changes to Medicare that arrived early last month, they must be ready for Recovery Audit Contractors. RACs are independent auditors for the government that are...
Top therapy reimbursement for everyone: here’s how
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jul 18, 2011
If the Ultra High is the highest level of allowable treatment we may seek, it’s our professional obligation to clinically provide these levels of service to every patient.
Calling safe! Before you are … OUT!
By
Renee Kinder
Jul 05, 2018
In a culture that calls for more person-centered and person-directed care, we often have to caution our patients to not call themselves “safe,” before they are discharged out of our care.
Will music improve MDS 3.0 scores?
By
Dan Cohen, MSW
Jun 22, 2011
Using iPods to reconnect long-term care residents with their favorite music is a simple intervention with great upside potential and no side effects. They’re an inexpensive tool that can have a positive...