McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from August 2004

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from August 2004

Congress stalls on Medicaid aid.
August 12, 2004... Nursing home providers, anxiously awaiting Congress' approval of a $6 billion infusion into Medicaid, will have to wait a bit longer: Congress went on five-week recess. New, similar bills in both the House and the Senate could offset the...

African-Americans and female seniors who are deeply religious or spiritual spend less time in nursing homes than white males and others, say Duke University researchers.(Late Breaking News)
August 12, 2004... * African-Americans and female seniors who are deeply religious or spiritual spend less time in nursing homes than white males and others, say Duke University researchers. Of 811 hospital patients 50 or older who were studied, those who...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced July 27 a new rule that would begin paying new Medicare beneficiaries for preventive treatments such as comprehensive exams and activities of daily living checks.(Late Breaking News)
August 12, 2004... * The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced July 27 a new rule that would begin paying new Medicare beneficiaries for preventive treatments such as comprehensive exams and activities of daily living checks, and existing...

Pain often goes unattended in nursing homes because of a breakdown in communications between nursing staff and clinicians, according to a Yale University School of Medicine study.(Late Breaking News)
August 12, 2004... * Pain often goes unattended in nursing homes because of a break down in communications between nursing staff and clinicians, according to a Yale University School of Medicine study. Physicians were routinely notified of inadequate pain...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said July 22 it would award $25 million in grants to help nursing homes and other long-term care agencies in as many as 10 states evaluate programs on background checks.(Late Breaking News)
August 12, 2004... * The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said July 22 it would award $25 million in grants to help nursing homes and other long-term care agencies in as many as 10 states evaluate programs on background checks. All states are eligible to...

While 13% of women 65 and older were diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2003.(Late Breaking News)
August 12, 2004... * While 13% of women 65 and older were diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2003, there were far more women--about 29%--who actually had it, according to a Stanford University study in The Archives of Internal Medicine.

Databank ... common deficiencies.
August 12, 2004... If your facility was cited for any of the most common deficiencies recently, you had plenty company. Food sanitation 31.12% Highest practice care 24.06% Hazard-free environment 20.56% Professional standards 19.90%...

Grassley: surveys are 'corrupted'.
August 12, 2004... Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) is making waves again for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and nursing homes. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee sent a stern letter to CMS chief Dr. Mark McClellan, calling for stricter...

Hard data.(News)
August 12, 2004... 14 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who have congestive heart failure, though they account for 43% of Medicare spending, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 25 Percentage of Americans diagnosed with arthritic...

Tough times for tort reform send battles to the states.(Liability)
August 12, 2004... While media coverage and congressional hearings have propelled medical liability reform onto the national agenda, industry experts agree that there is little prospect for federal tort reform in an election year. As long-term care providers...

Giant building? Mariner bought by new firm.(Transactions)
August 12, 2004... Nursing home giant Mariner Health Care is being bought by National Senior Care Inc. in a $1 billion deal, barely two years after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The blockbuster includes $615 million in cash and about $385...

Nursing homes in states bordering Mexico and Canada, worried about the looming July 26 deadline for their workers to obtain a visa certificate from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, can relax.(Regulatory Update)
August 12, 2004... * Nursing hones in states bordering Mexico and Canada, worried about the looming July 26 deadline for their workers to obtain a visa certificate from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, can relax. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will remove from the Medicare manual language stating that obesity is not an illness.(Regulatory Update)
August 12, 2004... * The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will remove from the Medicare manual language stating that obesity is not an illness. Although advocates may be disappointed that obesity won't be classified separately as a disease, the...

Therapy takes new course: the methods for fielding successful therapy and rehab programs keep growing in number as providers mix approaches.(Cover Story)
August 12, 2004... It is common knowledge that some of the biggest business deals get done on the golf course. Now, some successful therapy dealing will be done on one, too. Sort of. The Rehab Resort Course is the highlight of a newly renovated therapy...

Long work hours, blood pressure, cholesterol.(Nursing News)
August 12, 2004... Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that the risk of nurses making an error increased threefold when they had to work shifts longer than 12 hours, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs. Researchers...

Nursing organizations lobby congress for funds.(Nursing News)
August 12, 2004... A coalition of nursing and provider organizations urged Congressional appropriations committees to increase funding for Nursing Workforce Development programs by $63 million in fiscal year 2005, to $205 million. They note that HHS' Health...

Drops in blood pressure linked with Alzheimer's.(Nursing News)
August 12, 2004... A drastic drop in blood pressure may be linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to a Swedish study in Stroke. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute followed nearly 1,000 Stockholm residents aged 75 or older and found that a 15-point drop in...

AHA releases new cholesterol guidelines.(Nursing News)
August 12, 2004... People at high risk for a heart attack should lower their '"bad cholesterol," or LDLs, to 70, according to new guidelines in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. The previous guideline was 100. A panel of the education...

Study: drug might briefly delay Alzheimer's onset.(Pharmacy News)
August 12, 2004... People with a mild cognitive disorder, which often leads to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, might be able to briefly delay the onset of Alzheimer's by taking a drug currently prescribed for the disease, researchers say. The scientists...

Drug tested for role in stroke recovery.(Pharmacy News)
August 12, 2004... Boston Life Sciences, Inc. has filed an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA for the use of Axosine in aiding stroke recovery. The IND includes a Phase I study plan to be administered on 27 moderate-to-severe stroke patients after...

Wire splicing to extremes: nurses embrace fancy technology systems to communicate on a higher level.(Special Report)
August 12, 2004... Imagine nursing homes where absolutely no wires run down the walls and no dome-shaped lights shine brightly above residents' doors. Where sprightly nursing assistants, nurses and security confidently carry portable phones that get clear,...

Ohio: health department investigates leave-of-absence policy.(Midwest)
August 12, 2004... A Cleveland nursing home has been violating the rights of 144 residents by not allowing them to leave the facility without adult supervision, thus violating the law, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The leave-of-absence policy...

Illinois: nursing homes face greater fines, stricter rules.(Midwest)
August 12, 2004... Illinois nursing homes are getting fined more often and for greater amounts, according to state Department of Public Health records pulled by the Associated Press. Mostly, it's due to fines for infractions that previously did not call for them....

Michigan: house mulls imposing temperature standards.(Midwest)
August 12, 2004... Michigan House members are in the midst of deciding whether temperatures in nursing homes can exceed 81 degrees. House Bill 5537, sponsored by Rep. Gary Woronchak (R-Dearborn), would require nursing homes to maintain temperatures between 71...

Wisconsin: veterans home faces hearing on staffing levels.(Midwest)
August 12, 2004... The state's largest nursing home, Wisconsin Veterans Home, was facing a hearing as to whether it has enough nurses to care for its residents since state inspectors have found 17 federal deficiencies since last June. Inspectors also issued...

Minnesota: report claims hearings were one-sided.(Midwest)
August 12, 2004... Legislative hearings earlier this year on Minnesota's oversight of nursing homes were one-sided and sympathetic to the long-term care industry, a team of state management experts concluded in a 79-page report requested by Health Commissioner...

Pennsylvania: Medicaid improperly paid sanctioned homes.(Northeast)
August 12, 2004... The state's Medicaid agency wrongly paid more than $75,000 to 13 skilled nursing facilities that had been sanctioned for poor quality of care between 1999 and 2003, costing the federal government $40,000, according to the Department of Health...

New York: report says government slighted county home.(Northeast)
August 12, 2004... Albany County's nursing home fell victim to a federal loophole, as at least $20 million was diverted from it by the state and county between 1998 and 2001. And it happened right before the home's patient care quality deteriorated, according to...

Pennsylvania: nursing home fires 20 employees who strike.(Northeast)
August 12, 2004... About 20 union employees of a Johnstown, PA, nursing home were fired after they staged a one-day strike to protest their health insurance coverage and the home's staffing levels. Pittsburgh-based Grane Healthcare, which runs LaurelWood....

New Mexico: black mold leads facility evacuation.(Southwest)
August 12, 2004... All of the residents at the New Mexican state run Buena Vista Nursing Home in Clovis, NM, were evacuated to other facilities because the nursing home is contaminated with black mold. The state's Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Katrina Hotrum,...

Kentucky: bed tax to reap $110 million for care.(Southeast)
August 12, 2004... The state's nursing homes that serve Medicaid patients are expected to get $55 million in federal funding as a result of a 4% state tax increase on nursing homes' non-medicare gross receipts. The state's Medicaid program will get another $55...

CMS inspections lacking, promised to be quintupled.(News)
August 12, 2004... Congress' investigative arm has found that nearly 60% of the country's nursing homes came up short in their most recent fire-safety inspections. The less-than-optimal fire safety standards continue to put nursing home residents in danger, warns...

Nursing homes used to boost case for tort reform.(News)
August 12, 2004... In recent years, laws to limit malpractice lawsuits and cap payouts have repeatedly passed the House before dying in the Senate. Leading Republican lawmakers are pushing hard to reverse the trend. And they are embracing a powerful new tool to...

Push to delay therapy's '75% rule' again intensifies.(News)
August 12, 2004... The House Appropriations Committee passed by voice vote a spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services that includes a one-year delay on the "75% rule." Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Zach Wamp (R-TN) wrote the amendment...

National Senior Care bought Atlanta, GA-based Mariner Health Care in a $1 billion deal, including $615 million in cash.(Mergers & Acquisitions)
August 12, 2004... * National Senior Care bought Atlanta. GA-based Mariner Health Care in a $1 billion deal, including $615 million in cash. The deal is expected to close fourth quarter 2004 after stockholders approve the transaction.

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. acquired Modesto Rehabilitation Hospital in Modesto, CA and opened Kindred Hospital-Morris County in Dover, NJ.(Mergers & Acquisitions)
August 12, 2004... * Kindred Healthcare, Inc. acquired Modesto Rehabilitation Hospital in Modesto, CA and opened Kindred Hospital-Morris County in Dover, NJ. The company also opened Kindred Pharmacy Services in Concord, NH.

Manor Care's 2004 second-quarter earnings grew 112%, to $40.1 million, compared with a net income of $18.9 million in the year-ago quarter.(Earnings)
August 12, 2004... * Manor Care's 2004 second-quarter earnings grew 112%, to $40.1 million, compared with a net income of $18.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The Toledo, OH based company attributed the growth to improved pricing and growth in Medicare patient...

Federal investigators are seeking $21.8 million from PharMerica for allegedly paying kickbacks to a Roanoke, VA, pharmacy for clients.(Legal)
August 12, 2004... * Federal investigators are seeking $21.8 million from PharMerica for allegedly paying kickbacks to a Roanoke, VA, pharmacy for clients. The government also wants to bar the company from doing business with federal healthcare programs for 10...

Doctors and healthcare facilities would be able to report medical errors without fear of being sued under a bill the Senate passed unanimously.(Worth Watching)
August 12, 2004... * Doctors and healthcare facilities would be able to report medical errors without fear of being sued under a bill the Senate passed unanimously. The confidential, voluntary system is designed to encourage providers to report errors so they can...

A pair of faculty members at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government are suggesting Medicaid be split into two programs--one supporting the indigent, the other funding long-term care for the elderly and disabled.(Worth Watching)
August 12, 2004... * A pair of faculty members at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government are suggesting Medicaid be split into two programs--one supporting the indigent, the other funding long-term care for the elderly and disabled. "If Congress fails...

Flooring getting firm footing.(Design)
August 12, 2004... When Loveland Good Samaritan Retirement Village decided to replace its worn, outdated vinyl composite tile flooring in the dining room and corridors, the Loveland, CO-based provider knew that examining all the options and selecting the best...

When it's time to get outside help for HR.(Executive Decisions)
August 12, 2004... Q Why did Somerford decide to outsource for human resources, payroll and benefits? A The shift to HR, payroll, and benefits outsourcing represented a major change for the company. The decision was directly related to our growth. The...

Consider key indicators before undergoing a 'facelift'.(P&L Journal)
August 12, 2004... What do celebrities do when the effects of aging challenge their youthful looks? Many get facelifts. But what if your facility needs to look more modern? A facelift here may also be needed. Or not. Consider what's happening at the Vista...

HUD's new liability mandates worry providers.(Finance)
August 12, 2004... Thinking about applying for a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 232 loan? You might want to be aware of impending changes. Concerned about rising liability claims in the nursing home industry, the U.S. Department of...

Market monitor.(Business)
August 12, 2004... MARKET MONITOR Nurse-aide staffing hours per patient day * Certified Nurse Aides Total Nurse Aides in Training Aides United States 2.155 0.096 ...

Create contracts to hold families responsible.(Legal Matters)
August 12, 2004... Q We'd like to get more relatives taking responsibility for deceased residents' unpaid bills. What is effective to include in admission agreements as to having children sign on as guarantors, etc.? When can we make someone else sign on the...

Questions thrown in the path of '75% rule'.(Regulations/Compliance)
August 12, 2004... Q What has unexpectedly emerged as a mid-year sticking point or change of direction with regard to something regulatory? And how is it going to be played out? A The 75 % rule has changed. In May, CMS issued the final rule for...

Protect yourself with written agreements.(Payment Answers)
August 12, 2004... Q How does the now information published about consolidated billing affect me? A On May 21, 2004, CMS published Transmittal 183, which talks about business agreements with vendors who provide services to your Medicare Part A...

Childcare aid could have dramatic effects.(Staffing Concerns)
August 12, 2004... Q I've heard a lot about offering childcare options for staff to help retention, morale, etc. But isn't this favoritism for workers with small children or discrimination against childless workers? What can/should be done? A The...

Road to paperless records is full of potholes.(Managing Technology)
August 12, 2004... Providers are embracing information technology in areas where it can create new efficiencies, reduce costs, or generate new revenues. As a result, many operators are now using personal computers or their equivalents to monitor census claims,...

Lenders source 2004.(Corporate Profiles)
August 12, 2004... Interest remains high in providing financing for long-term care and other healthcare facilities, judging from responses in the 2004 McKnight's Long-Term Care News Lenders Source survey, the industry's oldest annual lender database. More...

Attendant[TM] Bed and Chair Alarm with nurse call.(Product Focus)
August 12, 2004... The Attendant Bed and Chair Alarm incorporates quality components at a value price. When the magnet is displaced, the alarm sounds. It includes a nurse call jack to alert you immediately when a resident needs assistance. Also comes with a...

MyCall[TM] emergency response system.(Product Focus)
August 12, 2004... The MyCall system enables residents to call for assistance from anywhere within your facility. The system traces each resident to his or her precise location so that you know exactly whom to look for and exactly where to look. To learn more,...

Antron carpet fiber.(Product Focus)
August 12, 2004... Antron carpet fiber is the first and only of its kind to receive Environmentally Preferable Product certification, assuring you of its sustainability and lower total environmental impact. The product also became the first to receive...

Butterball Turkey gift checks.(New Products)
August 12, 2004... * Redeem the gift checks for Butterball products at virtually any supermarket * Satisfy employees and clients by offering a holiday tradition: Turkey * Made by Butterball Circle 165 on reader service card [ILLUSTRATION...

Grip-n-glide razor.(New Products)
August 12, 2004... * Twin-blade and disposable * Micro-serrated Micro-Edge twin blades follow the natural contours of the skin for safer, closer shave * Extra-long, grooved handle for easy control and lubrication strip for less burn * Made by...

Worth repeating.(People & Opinions)
August 12, 2004... "Staffing is the key to everything." Charlene Harrington, professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, whose recent report showed that more than one-third of California's nursing homes do not meet minimum nurse...

Seeing Best case scenarios.(Q & A)
August 12, 2004... Although conditions aren't quite as bright for skilled nursing, the board chairman of the preeminent association for seniors housing investment sees solid reasons for optimism. In fact, skilled nursing may be more stable than a tot of people...

A tight-knit straitjacket.(Commentary)
August 12, 2004... While many legislators seemed to take the summer off, taking advantage of this year's slim legislative sessions to either campaign or work on their tans, at least one was not. Unfortunately for nursing home operators, that one was Sen. Chuck...

Beverly Enterprises.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... MARIA BERTHOUD joined Beverly Enterprises as senior vice president, government affairs, in mid-March, the company announced. She will lead the company's federal and stale lobbying efforts and officially be responsible for Beverly's government...

Chelsea Senior Living, Inc.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... ROGER BERNIER has been named president and chief operating officer of Chelsea Senior Living, Inc. in Summit, NJ. Previously the vice president of Chelsea for five years, Bernier will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company's six...

Lexington Health Care Group.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... ERIC HAIDER was appointed Chief Change Officer for Lexington Health Care Group's 10 skilled nursing facilities. Haider joins the Lombard, Ill-based group after serving as chief executive officer of Crestview Nursing Home in Bethany, MO. Besides...

Resources for Senior Living.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... JEFFERY PALMER has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing for Resources for Senior Living in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining the company, he held executive positions with Brookdale Senior Living, Beverly Enterprises and...

Martha Schram was appointed president of Aegis Therapies and senior vice president of Beverly Enterprises in June.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... MARTHA SCHRAM was appointed president of Aegis Therapies and senior vice president of Beverly Enterprises in June. Schram previously served as vice president of Aegis. Prior to her work with Beverly, she served as area vice president of...

Berlin Health and Rehab.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... DARLENE SCHAEFER recently became the director of nursing for Berlin Health and Rehab in Barre, VT. She was previously at Brookside Nursing Home.

Copley Manor.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... WENDY SICARD is the new director of nursing at Copley Manor in Morrisville, VT.

Classic Residence.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... ROSS ALAN DICKMAN has been appointed executive director of Classic Residence by Hyatt's retirement center in Aventura, FL.

Sturgis Community Health Care Center.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... VAN HYDE is the new CEO/administrator at Sturgis Community Health Care Center in Sturgis, SD. Hyde most recently served as administrator of Radiology Associates in Rapid City, SD, and previously also was the administrative director of the...

Aegis of South San Francisco.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... CONNIE LARKIN has been named executive director of Aegis of South San Francisco. She was formerly the executive director of Merrill Gardens at Mill Creek in Mill Creek,WA.

Wartburg Adult Care Community.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... PAULETTE LOPEZ-WATSON was appointed the new Director of Nursing at the Wartburg Adult Care Community in Mt. Vernon, NY. Before earning this position, Lopez-Watson served as Assistant Director of Nursing Services at the Jewish Home and Hospital...

Boulevard Healthcare.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... JOSEPH E. DONCHATZ was named chief executive officer of Boulevard Healthcare, a Skokie, IL-based corporation that manages six long-term care and Rehabilitation facilities in the Chicago area, Wisconsin and Ohio. Most recently, he was chief...

Glen View Assisted Living.(Milestones)
August 12, 2004... CONNIE HAWLEY is the healthcare administrator for Glen View Assisted Living in Carlsbad, CA. She has managed communities offering care to residents with dementia-related disorders previously in her 20-year career.

Who was your most memorable resident?(Reader Poll)
August 12, 2004... LAWANA PARKS Administrator, St. Anne's Convalescent Center, Detroit, MI My most memorable resident was Eva Port. She was in her late 90s when arrived at my former facility in 1993. She read a novel a week and was speedy on her walker. Eva...

Already prescribed.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 12, 2004... I read with interest the article about "full-time clinician in homes" in your March 22, 2004, issue ("Study examines full-time clinicians in homes," p. 3). However. I was somewhat surprised that this is being studied as a "new concept" and...

'Leeches' are the problem.(Readers' Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 12, 2004... Your article ("Forget tort reform. Just let the loser pay," July 12, 2004, p. 46) articulates my sentiments exactly. I have been a nursing home administrator for eight years, and during that time the lawsuits have significantly escalated, as...

McKnight's ADLs.
August 12, 2004... Nursing Home Administrator Seeks Alternate Funding. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Spiritual awakening: Yomenco instructor Bruce Van Horn gets nursing home residents moving, breathing and feeling sexy.(LTCN profile)
August 12, 2004... More than seven years ago, Bruce Van Horn had an epiphany as he gently held his father's fragile, wrinkled hands. His father, confined in a straitjacket in a nursing home in New York, was dying from Alzheimer's disease, and he couldn't...

Connecting softball and quality time: summer coaching reveals an insight about barriers--and doing the impossible.(Parting Shots)
August 12, 2004... What do playing softball, quality nursing home care and impossible thinking have in common? More than you might imagine. On the softball front, I had a chance to coach my daughter Abby's first- and second-grade team this summer. As leagues...