McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from April 2009

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from April 2009

Bed prices drop by 18% or more.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After hitting historic highs in 2007, the average nursing home bed price dropped to $45,500 last year, according to a report from Irving Levin Associates. The 18% decrease was largely attributed to less...

Labor, business gird for card-check fight.(Employee Free Choice Act)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lawmakers in both chambers of Congress introduced union-friendly card-check bills in early March, setting off a war of words that is likely to continue during the months ahead. The "Employee Free Choice Act"...

MDS 3.0 held off until 2010.
April 1, 2009... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to delay the launch of MDS 3.0 for one year. Computer systems, programs and stakeholders will now have more time to prepare, the agency explained last month. "We are going to...

Heart failure drugs no help.(NEWS)
April 1, 2009... Commonly prescribed heart failure drugs have little or no benefit on elderly people suffering from diastolic heart failure, according to a new study. The drugs, which include statins, beta blockers, diuretics and calcium channel blockers,...

Hearing loss linked to brain.(NEWS)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hearing aids may not make a difference among some elderly people with perceived hearing problems, a new study finds. That is because their difficulty recognizing words in loud settings may be more a function of...

Anti-institution bias apparent at hearing.(NEWS)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A recent Senate hearing called on lawmakers revamping the nation's healthcare system to remember long-term care. But it seems many participants forgot that nursing homes are still a central part of the long-term care...

Record crowd for Online Expo.(NEWS)(Conference notes)
April 1, 2009... More than 1,900 long-term care professionals attended the third annual McKnight's Online Expo the final week of March. It was the second time in as many years that attendance records were broken, organizers said. The innovative conference...

The survey.(At Deadline)
April 1, 2009... The survey and certification system for nursing homes is undermined by chronic underfinding, according to a report from the General Accountability Office, Some facilities are going a decade between inspections, the report notes. Investigators...

Sens. Herb Kohl.(At Deadline)
April 1, 2009... Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced legislation to set up a nationwide employee background check system. The measure is intended to prevent people with criminal histories from working in long-term care settings. Rep....

Growth in national health spending exceeded the economy as a whole by an average 2.4 percentage points from 1970 to 2007.(At Deadline)
April 1, 2009... Growth in national health spending exceeded the economy as a whole by an average 2.4 percentage points from 1970 to 2007, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

60 seconds with ... Paul Katz, M.D. Geriatrics Division Director, Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.(NEWS)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: What is behind your recent call for the development of nursing home specialists? A: Rather than accepting a diminished presence of physicians in nursing homes and finding alternative care models, it is time to...

Providers catch big break as MDS 3.0 gets one-year delay.(NEWS)
April 1, 2009... Nursing homes have an extra year to prepare for MDS 3.0 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services disclosed it would delay implementing the program overhaul until October 2010. "(We're) making sure all of the needs of our...

Magazine uses '5-star' data for rankings.(NEWS)
April 1, 2009... U.S. News and World Report did precisely what most nursing home operators feared when they first heard about the federal government's plans to give facilities star ratings: the national news magazine further legitimized them. The magazine...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a guide for providers wanting to use paid dining assistants.(Regulatory Update)
April 1, 2009... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a guide for providers wanting to use paid dining assistants. CMS allows assistants--provided they achieve a certain level of training and have state approval.

A competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment providers is set to take effect April 19.(Regulatory Update)
April 1, 2009... A competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment providers is set to take effect April 19. It has been delayed since July 1, 2008.

Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tom Latham (R-IA) introduced a bill that would establish a federal student loan repayment program for nurses.(Bill Watch)
April 1, 2009... Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tom Latham (R-IA) introduced a bill that would establish a federal student loan repayment program for nurses who obtain a graduate nursing degree and then teach full-time at a nursing school for four years.

The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate.(Bill Watch)
April 1, 2009... The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate. It would outlaw pre-dispute arbitration agreements.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
April 1, 2009... Some of our residents have been obese and I am concerned for the staff and the residents, I have been asking our assistant DON to give our staff more education, Can you give me a few pointers to help? First of all, be sure your staff has...

Study: post-stroke care and interventions found lacking.(NEWS: Resident Care)
April 1, 2009... Individuals who suffer a stroke often don't get enough follow-up care or take appropriate preventive steps to lower chances of another stroke, researchers say. Only 31% of study subjects had rehab services, while 57% exercised regularly....

Study: simple foot exercises cut falls risk.(NEWS: Resident Care)
April 1, 2009... Seniors who perform simple ankle and foot exercises a few times per week can noticeably improve their strength and balance, researchers say. Investigators divided 48 facility-dwelling seniors into a control group and an exercise group. The...

Researchers say that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid could help prevent age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older Americans.(Caregiving Update)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2009... Researchers say that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid could help prevent age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older Americans. A randomized, double-blind study involving more than 5,000 women showed 30% to 40%...

Pessimists live shorter, less happy lives than their more optimistic counterparts, say investigators from the University of Pittsburgh.(Caregiving Update)
April 1, 2009... Pessimists live shorter, less happy lives than their more optimistic counterparts, say investigators from the University of Pittsburgh. They studied the records of more than 10,000 women over 50 and found that overall, optimists were 14% less...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
April 1, 2009... Do you have any recommendations for addressing wound pain? First, try to determine the source of the wound pain: location, aggravating factors, intensity, duration, etc. This will help as you choose what type of interventions to try. Wound...

1 in 9 residents have pressure ulcers, new CDC report shows.(NEWS: Wound Care)
April 1, 2009... Stage II bedsores are the most common pressure ulcers seen among nursing home residents, according to a newly released statistics from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. This type of bedsore typically consists of blisters or...

Strong skin-ulcer product growth ahead.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... While the nation's overall economy may be suffering, growth continues in the skin ulcer segment of the wound care industry. A new report from Kalorama Information valued the market at $5 billion in 2008. Study authors predict an 8 % annual...

New international guidelines for performing prevalence and incidence studies on pressure ulcers.(Treatment Update)
April 1, 2009... New international guidelines for performing prevalence and incidence studies on pressure ulcers were recently unveiled at the Biennial Conference of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Derma Sciences Inc., a provider of advanced wound care products.(Treatment Update)
April 1, 2009... Derma Sciences Inc., a provider of advanced wound care products, announced that its first Bioguard Barrier Dressings have received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for marketing and distribution.

Medline Industries has received clearance from federal authorities.(Treatment Update)
April 1, 2009... Medline Industries has received clearance from federal authorities for its claim that Maxorb Extra is capable of sustained antimicrobial activity for up to 21 days.

Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound Management division recently announced the U.S. launch of its new Renasys EZ.(Treatment Update)
April 1, 2009... Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound Management division recently announced the U.S. launch of its new Renasys EZ negative pressure wound therapy system.

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
April 1, 2009... One of my nurse managers is great clinically but has an abrasive leadership style. Any ideas on how to handle this? Meet with your nurse manager and let her know ahead of time that you want to do some goal setting with her for her unit, and...

Bill improving instructor pay would help nursing schools.(NEWS: Nursing)
April 1, 2009... Nurses groups are hailing a new bill in the U.S. Senate that would create more capacity in the country's nursing schools. Long-term care providers cope with nearly 100,000 vacant nursing positions on an annual basis. Although the majority...

Broad coalition to tackle nurse shortage.(NEWS: Nursing)
April 1, 2009... Concerned that more traditional tactics haven't been successful, a diverse new coalition has launched a campaign to draw attention to the nation's nursing shortage. The Champion Nursing Coalition began with 21 founding members, including...

A class of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases may increase the risk of shingles among older people and those who are also taking steroids, according to findings from the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.(Medication Update)
April 1, 2009... A class of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases may increase the risk of shingles among older people and those who are also taking steroids, according to findings from the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the...

Medicare has expanded coverage for cancer drugs to include some treatments that haven't received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.(Medication Update)
April 1, 2009... Medicare has expanded coverage for cancer drugs to include some treatments that haven't received approval from the Food and Drug Administration. While the change could make it easier for doctors and patients to receive payment, it also could...

Seniors who reach the "doughnut hole" in the Medicare Part D plan are less likely to use prescription drugs than those with an employer-based plan.(Medication Update)
April 1, 2009... Seniors who reach the "doughnut hole" in the Medicare Part D plan are less likely to use prescription drugs than those with an employer-based plan, according to a study in the February Health Affairs.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
April 1, 2009... Recently, we had a hospice tell us we have to cover the resident under Medicare for a fractured hip. Doesn't hospice cover everything? There is a way that a facility can cover a hospice resident under Medicare A for a condition not related...

States are redirecting dollars into non-SNF options: AARP.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
April 1, 2009... A handful of states are now spending more of their Medicaid funding on home- and community-based services than on nursing home care, according to a new report from AARP. Overall, the portion of Medicaid funding going to home- and...

MedPAC wants pay freeze.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
April 1, 2009... The official advisory panel to Congress on Medicare matters has formally recommended no pay increase for nursing home operators in fiscal year 2010. The move had been expected after discussions in December and a panel vote in January. The...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
April 1, 2009... 3.2 Louisiana is by far the state with the lowest rate of five-star earners--just 3.2%--in the new federal nursing home star-ranking system. 33.3, Alaska is the state with the highest rate of five-star earners--33.3%--in the new federal...

Kindred Healthcare Inc.(Business Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Kindred Healthcare Inc.'s profits increased by 30% in the fourth quarter of 2008 as revenues expanded to more than $1 billion. Earnings rose to about $21 million, compared with $16 million last year. The company returned to the black for the...

The Securities and Exchange Commission.(Business Briefs)(Sunwest Management Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... The Securities and Exchange Commission accused Sunwest Management Inc. and Founder and CEO Jon Harder of participating in a Ponzi scheme that raised $300 million from investors who are now losing on their investments. Harder recently resigned...

Five Star Quality Care Inc.(Business Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Five Star Quality Care Inc. lost about $7 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, even as revenues increased. The company lost approximately $4.5 million for the 2008 calendar year.

Sunrise posts huge losses, might file for bankruptcy.(NEWS: Companies)(Financial report)
April 1, 2009... The largest assisted living company in the United States could be forced to file for bankruptcy. Sunrise Senior Living Inc. made this disclosure after posting staggering losses for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the calendar year ending Dec....

Sun Health's profits soar.(NEWS: Companies)(Sun Healthcare Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Sun Healthcare Inc.'s profits more than doubled in the 2008 fourth quarter as revenues increased. It is a sign, according to the company, that long-term care can prosper in desperate times. Earnings rose in the fourth quarter to about $82...

Ventas.(GOOD month)
April 1, 2009... Ventas: The Chicago-based healthcare real estate investment trust was added to the S&P 500 GICS Specialized REITs Sub-Industry index.

MDS delays.(GOOD month)
April 1, 2009... MDS delays: Providers succeeded in convincing the government to delay implementation of Minimum Data Set 3.0 for one year, to October 2010.

Stem cell research.(GOOD month)
April 1, 2009... Stem cell research: President Obama issued an executive order that lifts a ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Pre-dispute arbitration.(BAD month)
April 1, 2009... Pre-dispute arbitration: Bills introduced in the House and Senate would ban such clauses in entry documents for nursing homes.

Funding rates.(BAD month)
April 1, 2009... Funding rates: Five states now spend more on home- and community-based services than on nursing home care, a new AARP report says.

Negative stereotypes.(BAD month)
April 1, 2009... Negative stereotypes: Believing negative stereotypes about aging makes you more likely to suffer from poor health in old age, a Yale study says.

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)
April 1, 2009... Skilled nursing facility average occupancy highs and lows among the nation's 31 top metro areas (for the fourth quarter of 2008). Leaders Rank Metro NC 1 New York 94.8% 2 Philadelphia 94.3% 3...

Two experts showed how technology tools are being used to improve care at a leading long-term care firm, during the recent McKnight's Online Expo.(IT Update)
April 1, 2009... Two experts showed how technology tools are being used to improve care at a leading long-term care firm, during the recent McKnight's Online Expo. Susan Coppola and Ed Tyson discussed ways that Sun Healthcare is harnessing new tools to improve...

The Health Information Trust Alliance.(IT Update)(Common Security Framework)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... The Health Information Trust Alliance, a coalition of more than 55 healthcare companies and technology vendors, has released a new framework intended to help vendors and providers implement security measures that protect electronic information....

A new report by the Institute of Medicine asserts that current implementations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.(IT Update)
April 1, 2009... A new report by the Institute of Medicine asserts that current implementations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's privacy rule don't go far enough to protect residents' personal information. They impede health research...

States should begin to set up the best possible regulatory and governance framework to support and advance health IT and health information exchange, according to a new report by the University of Massachusetts Medical School.(IT Update)
April 1, 2009... States should begin to set up the best possible regulatory and governance framework to support and advance health IT and health information exchange, according to a new report by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The study notes...

Google.(IT Update)
April 1, 2009... Google has upgraded its Google Health solution. As a result, users can share medical records and other personal health information with doctors, family members and other trusted contacts. Google Health is designed to let patients create health...

Some physicians are now insisting that patients sign contracts agreeing not to post negative reviews on doctor rating Web sites, according to recent news articles.(IT Update)
April 1, 2009... Some physicians are now insisting that patients sign contracts agreeing not to post negative reviews on doctor rating Web sites, according to recent news articles. Opponents of the move say that such agreements force patients to choose between...

Obama points to EMRs as key part of improving healthcare.(NEWS: Technology)
April 1, 2009... During a White House forum on healthcare last month, President Obama noted that information technology will need to play a key role in improving care while lowering costs. "We've made the largest investment in history in preventive care....

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Between a crumbling housing market, economic hardships and high unemployment rates, there's enough risk in the world, which makes managing risks at Jackson, MS-based HCM Inc. that much more important. Scott...

Hiring practices targeted.(MIDWEST)
April 1, 2009... INDIANA -- Lawmakers are mulling a measure that would impose one of the nation's harshest penalties against businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The bill (S.B. 580) would suspend state business licenses of employers who, on...

Measure would mandate pressure mattresses.(NEW JERSEY)
April 1, 2009... Gov. Jon Corzine (D) was expected to sign legislation that would require nursing homes in the state to use pressure redistribution mattresses to reduce the incidence of bedsores. As of press time, the Assembly had approved the bill (S....

Court: 17 citations ok.(NEW JERSEY)
April 1, 2009... INDIANA -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit found that state health department officials were not seeking retribution when they issued 17 Medicaid-participation and state licensing violations against a nursing home. Golden...

Tougher oversight sought.(SOUTHWEST)
April 1, 2009... TEXAS -- Certified nurse aides should have stricter oversight, according to a proposal by a Texas lawmaker. But nursing homes don't necessarily agree. State Sen. Jane Nelson (R) wants all CNAs placed under the regulation of the Texas Board...

Democrats pushing reform.(SOUTHWEST)
April 1, 2009... OKLAHOMA -- The state Democratic Party is playing tit for tat with the Republican party over the issue of tort reform. The Legislature, which is controlled by the GOP, has been working to pass bills that let voters decide some toe-reform...

Owners blame Medicaid.(SOUTHWEST)
April 1, 2009... TEXAS -- Low Medicaid rates are to blame for the closing of 60 nursing homes in the last three years, owners say. The daily rate of $113 is the second lowest in the nation. It would take $368 million over the next two years to ensure...

Aging to oversee LTC?(NORTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... PENNSYLVANIA -- Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) administration has a plan to shift the Department of Public Welfare's long-term care programs to the Department of Aging. Under the proposal, the department would assume responsibility for $4.4 billion...

Spending big on Medicaid.(NORTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... NEW YORK -- The state spent more on Medicaid long-term care than 18 other states it was compared against in 2006, according to a February report from The New York Health Policy Research Center. Total Medicaid long-term care spending,...

Bill would fund home care.(NORTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... MAINE -- Nursing home advocates are opposing a bill that would increase funding for non-institutional long-term care in the state. They believe the bill (L.D. 400), which has a price tag of $2 million over the next two years, could severely...

Judge oversees facilities.(NORTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... DELAWARE -- Former Superior Court Judge Susan C. Del Pesco recently began working as director of the Division of Long Term Care Resident Protection. Her office oversees the licensing and certification of long-term care facilities and abuse...

State slows litigation bill.(SOUTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... TENNESSEE -- State lawmakers have delayed legislation that would curb the costs in lawsuits against nursing homes. A legislative committee extended the public comment period for the Nursing Home Protection Act until February 2010. The bill...

Doctor car bombing victim.(SOUTHEAST)
April 1, 2009... ARKANSAS -- A high-profile doctor who served as a codefendant with a nursing home chain in a wrongful death case was a victim of a car bombing in early February. Dr. Trent P. Pierce lost an eye and suffered severe burns and shrapnel...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
April 1, 2009... What's the best way to protect ourselves from possible litigation when a family refuses to heed our warnings about a family member whose mental status is declining rapidly and could become a danger to himself or others? Probably the best...

Union chief: card-check bill could pass by summer's end.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
April 1, 2009... Providers fearing passage of legislation that would make it easier for workers to unionize have good reason to be worried, says the leader of a prominent healthcare-focused union. "Real action, really soon" on healthcare reform and union...

Rule hindering lawsuits slips through.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
April 1, 2009... Consumer advocates are criticizing a health records policy that they say was quietly passed last fall and makes it harder to sue nursing homes. The effects of the rule are just starting to show as lawsuits have wound their way through the...

PointRight.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... PointRight will provide data analytics and consulting services to the more than 300 Golden Living Centers (skilled nursing facilities), as well as Golden Living's therapy, hospice and home health businesses.

Kwalu.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Kwalu recently unveiled a tamburo table. The table features a contemporary design and is ideal for use as a coffee table or side table, according to the firm.

Caregiver Management Systems.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Caregiver Management Systems is finalizing new software that will help providers comply with new QIS surveys. The firm plans to roll out this risk-management software next month.

Eloquest Healthcare.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Eloquest Healthcare is partnering with Onset Therapeutics to co-promote Optase. The gel delivery system promotes healing in the treatment of decubitus ulcers, varicose ulcers and dehiscent wounds, according to Onset.

Smith & Nephew.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound Management division recently announced the U.S. launch of its new Renasys EZ negative pressure wound therapy system.

Villa St. Joseph.(Company Briefsf)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Villa St. Joseph began piloting a voice-activated computer system called AccuNurse earlier this year. The system, which was developed by Vocollect, gives providers real-time care documentation. The improvement helps operators improve care and...

Operators seeking transportation for residents can now get online quotes from National Van Builders, at www.national vans.com/quote.(Company Briefs)
April 1, 2009... Operators seeking transportation for residents can now get online quotes from National Van Builders, at www.national vans.com/quote. The company has become the country's leading manufacturer of wheelchair vans, multi-passenger vans and...

Stimulus package may draw more IT vendors to LTC field.(NEWS: Vendors)
April 1, 2009... If you think there are a mind-boggling number of information technology-related vendors in the market now, just wait. The economic stimulus package recently signed by President Obama is laden with sweeteners that are likely to attract even...

Auto suppliers taking stock of healthcare.(NEWS: Vendors)
April 1, 2009... Some auto-parts makers have begun targeting the healthcare sector, according to recent news reports. These firms are retooling their plants to make everything from beds to wheelchairs. It's not hard to see why: Many auto-parts companies...

How to do it ... Design.(Business & Marketing)
April 1, 2009... The movement to create more ecologically friendly environments has taken hold in many areas of eldercare. "Green" initiatives in long-term care are doubly important because so many residents have limited movement and are greatly affected by...