McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from August 2005

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from August 2005

LTC seats one amid dispute.(long term care)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A long-term care provider will serve on the Medicaid review panel that has been a source of controversy since May. Douglas Struyk, president and CEO of Christian Health Care Center of Wyckoff, NJ, was named one of 15 nonvoting members. He...

Improved data luring investors into sector.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... There's been no better time in recent history to buy or finance a long-term care facility, according to experts. That's good news for providers. The causes for the good fortune are varied, but there's one reason most stakeholders agree on:...

Bad reputation haunts homes.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Most Americans clearly believe nursing homes could be delivering better care. Only 35% of respondents--barely more than 1 in 3--think nursing homes are doing a "good job" serving consumers, according to the first Kaiser Family Foundation...

States to keep Medicaid cash.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Five-states do not have to give back a total of $982 million in Medicaid matching funds to the federal government, a Department of Health and Human Services appeals board has ruled. The panel said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

Injuries tied to care time.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Staffing levels and nursing injuries are linked, according to researchers. The number of workplace caregiver injuries decreased as the hours of nursing care per nursing home resident increased, according to investigators from the...

Governors object to 'clawback' provision.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The so-called "clawback" provision of the new Medicare law has met stiff resistance from governors who don't believe states should foot the bill for a federal program. Texas, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Ohio have protested the...

Bill threatens therapy windfall.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new bill would strike a blow to skilled nursing facilities' apparent good fortune in a recent federal decision over the so-called 75% Rule regarding therapy pay. The bill would suspend implementation of the 75% Rule at just the 50% level...

A bipartisan House bill was introduced that would erode criteria in the 75% Rule.(At deadline)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A bipartisan House bill was introduced that would erode criteria in the 75% Rule. It mirrors a bill unveiled earlier in the Senate. See related story below on this page.

The National Commission for Quality Long-term Care held a historic public hearing July 22 in Washington.(At deadline)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The National Commission for Quality Long-term Care held a historic public hearing July 22 in Washington, where provider, policy, industry and consumer advocates made recommendations about ways to achieve sustainable quality improvement.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(At deadline)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it had contracted to study paid feeding-assistant programs to help determine their impact on quality of care.

Countering fears voiced by governors.(At deadline)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Countering fears voiced by governors, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan said that state Medicaid programs should gain $8 billion in savings over the next five years due to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Nursing home residents were 20 times more likely to enter hospice care.(At deadline)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Nursing home residents were 20 times more likely to enter hospice care when they received straightforward information about end-of-life care, according to a study. How to reach us Editorial E-mail: Itcnews@mltcn.com Web site:...

60 seconds with Dr. Alon Y. Avidan.(NEWS)(Brief Article)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... Sleep Disorders Clinic Director Univ. of Michigan Health System Q: Your study of more than 34,000 residents' sleep habits surprised you and your colleagues. How? A: We anticipated that more patients taking hypnotics (sleeping pills)...

Pharmacy leader buying key rival and two others.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... As far as competitors go, Omnicare Inc. has ensured it will stay far ahead of the pack. The long-term care pharmacy behemoth not only has acquired one of its major rivals, NeighborCare Inc., but in recent weeks it also has gobbled up two other...

Survey: lowest room cost in Louisiana.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The least expensive private rooms in long-term care are located in Louisiana, a new analysis says. Shreveport, LA, ranks as the least expensive city ($99 per day) in the United States for long-term care services, followed by New Orleans ($107)....

A new regulation regarding catheter compliance at nursing homes went into effect June 27.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new regulation regarding catheter compliance at nursing homes went into effect June 27. Also known as F-Tag 315, it establishes clinical guidelines for catheterization. It also ensures that those with incontinence receive appropriate...

The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services plans to launch a Medicaid pay-for-performance initiative that will highlight programs in several states as benchmarks for other states.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services plans to launch a Medicaid pay-for-performance initiative that will highlight programs in several states as benchmarks for other states. About a half-dozen states have developed pay-for-performance...

Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a healthcare pay-for-performance bill.(Bill Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a healthcare pay-for-performance bill. Starting in 2009, skilled nursing facilities that report quality data would receive a full market basket update, while those that don't would...

A new Senate bill would allow federal funding of state demonstration projects to test three alternatives to the current medical liability litigation system.(Bill Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new Senate bill would allow federal funding of state demonstration projects to test three alternatives to the current medical liability litigation system. Under one model, judges with healthcare expertise, with help from independent expert...

Ask the care expert.(NEWS / Resident Care)
August 1, 2005... What's the best way to get my staff better at handling catheters so that residents complain less? Catheter insertion must be done using sterile technique. Most times, however, it isn't a break in sterile technique during insertion that...

Experimental therapies could slow Alzheimer's.(NEWS / Resident Care)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Several innovative therapies are showing promise in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease and improving daily functioning among patients. Evidence was presented during the first Alzheimer's Association International Conference on the...

Study: residents need better oral care.(NEWS / Resident Care)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... When it comes to residents' oral care, it appears some brushing up might be in order, a study from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine indicates. Half of executive directors of nursing homes in Ohio who responded...

Poor sleep is not a normal part of aging, say researchers from Wake Forest University.(Caregiving Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Poor sleep is not a normal part of aging, say researchers from Wake Forest University. They identified five steps to help physicians diagnose and treat insomnia. They include: patient questioning; problem elaboration; determining if a...

Intensive therapy improved the speaking ability of those who suffered a stroke years earlier, a small study found.(Caregiving Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Intensive therapy improved the speaking ability of those who suffered a stroke years earlier, a small study found. When stroke survivors received 30 hours of speech training over 10 days, their speech improved right away.

Large doses of folic acid could help the memories of older adults.(Caregiving Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Large doses of folic acid could help the memories of older adults. A Dutch study found that those who took a vitamin supplement had scores on memory tests comparable to those a few years younger.

Good friends could make a difference when it comes to living longer.(Caregiving Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Good friends could make a difference when it comes to living longer. Researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, found that a strong network of friends and confidants helped improve survival rates among more than 1,500...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS / Wound Care)
August 1, 2005... My staff members are very mindful of the need to regularly turn residents, but sores are still popping up a lot. What might be going wrong and what can be done better? "One size does not fit all." Every resident will have differences that...

Molecular 'roadblocks' may slow wound healing.(NEWS / Wound Care)(beta-catenin)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Congested roads are blamed for many commuting delays. Similarly, crowded pathways at the molecular level prevent pressure sores from healing, researchers at the New York University School of Medicine have found. Pressure ulcers are a...

Growth ahead for skin care products.(NEWS / Wound Care)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The world market for skin-ulcer products will increase by nearly 10% per year to surpass $5 billion by 2009, according to a report from Kalorama Information, a consulting and research firm. The study cites three growth drivers: an...

Novogen has announced the results of a Phase II clinical trial of its investigational wound-healing compound, Glucoprime, in venous stasis ulcers.(Treatment Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Novogen has announced the results of a Phase II clinical trial of its investigational wound-healing compound, Glucoprime, in venous stasis ulcers. Glucoprime-treated ulcers healed at a significantly faster rate (2 millimeters per day) compared...

3M Foam Adhesive Dressing-Heel Design has received a Silver 2005 Medical Design Excellence Award for design innovation.(Treatment Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... 3M Foam Adhesive Dressing--Heel Design has received a Silver 2005 Medical Design Excellence Award for design innovation. The dressing helps treat pressure ulcers on the heel and other body sites that are difficult to dress, according to the...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Schering-Plough Corporation approval to sell its once-daily antibiotic Avelox (moxifloxacin HCI).(Treatment Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration has given Schering-Plough Corporation approval to sell its once-daily antibiotic Avelox (moxifloxacin HCI). The medication is used to treat skin structure infections.

Healthpoint Ltd. announced Novation Wound Care Management Council has recognized its Accuzyme and Panafil spray delivery systems as a new medical technology.(Treatment Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Healthpoint Ltd. announced Novation Wound Care Management Council has recognized its Accuzyme and Panafil spray delivery systems as a new medical technology. Both give healthcare providers a dosage form to spray onto wounds without the use of...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS / Nursing)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... What do you think is the best way to review clinical issues that occur from one day to the next on the nursing units? In my facility, we have a morning clinical meeting at 8 a.m. with members of the interdisciplinary team. We make a list of...

National registry sought for work-related deaths.(NEWS / Nursing)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The percentage of nurses and other healthcare workers who die from work-related causes is an elusive number, but researchers Kent A. Sepkowitz and Leon Eisenberg have arrived at a rough range: between 17 and 57 fatalities for every million...

Chiron Corp., one of only two major makers of the flu vaccine for the United States, cut its 2005 output forecast due to continuing problems with its Liverpool, England, factory.(Medication Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Chiron Corp., one of only two major makers of the flu vaccine for the United States, cut its 2005 output forecast due to continuing problems with its Liverpool, England, factory. The company plans to produce 18 million to 26 million doses of...

Statins, or cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor, might not shield elderly people from Alzheimer's or dementia.(Medication Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Statins, or cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor, might not shield elderly people from Alzheimer's or dementia. Those in a study who took statins developed the diseases at the same rate as those who did not take them. Results were in the...

A new sleeping pill may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease and depression.(Medication Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new sleeping pill may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease and depression. Ramelteon will be on the U.S. market this fall. Its maker, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. It., of Osaka, Japan, could start clinical development of the pill to treat the...

Prescription drug spending increases are slowing down, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Medication Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Prescription drug spending increases are slowing down, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Spending increased 10.7% in 2003, down from 14.9% in 2002. State laws to reduce Medicaid and pension costs contributed to the...

Developing a national agenda for health information technology and the electronic health record will be key goals during an upcoming summit for long-term care professionals.(IT Update)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Developing a national agenda for health information technology and the electronic health record will be key goals during an upcoming summit for long-term care professionals. The event will be held Aug. 22-23 in Chicago.

A measure that encourages healthcare providers to adopt information technology has passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.(IT Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A measure that encourages healthcare providers to adopt information technology has passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The bill would fund $275 million in grants to providers over two years and establish a quality...

The push toward health IT initially should focus on developing interoperability standards, says HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt.(IT Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The push toward health IT initially should focus on developing interoperability standards, says HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. Testifying before the Senate Budget Committee, Leavitt said providers are much less likely to invest in new technology...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will fund a demonstration of how home monitoring technology can help patients with chronic diseases.(IT Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will fund a demonstration of how home monitoring technology can help patients with chronic diseases. The project, titled the Advancing Chronic Care through E*Health Networks and Technologies, or...

Momentum Healthware Inc.(IT Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Momentum Healthware Inc., announced it has committed $10 million to a research and development initiative over the next three years to optimize its products for Microsoft. NET technologies. The company plans to transform its entire line-up of...

Congress should make sure the Food and Drug Administration establishes a reliable system to check post-market studies of medical devices.(IT Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Congress should make sure the Food and Drug Administration establishes a reliable system to check post-market studies of medical devices, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

States weighing options for better resident care.(NEWS / Technology)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In a move that may send a signal to other states and reduce provider injuries, Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently signed patient handling/movement legislation. The measure requires the state's 1,094 nursing homes to implement safe patient...

"I couldn't live without...".(NEWS / Technology)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Because of the BladderScan, the medical staff at Norwood Park Home in Norwood Park, IL, know when a resident should or shouldn't be catheterized. "It's easier for the doctor to make a decision (about) what procedure to give," said Barb Hillyer,...

Medicaid death collections best.(WEST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... OREGON -- Oregon is one of the best states for recovering Medicaid service costs from the estates of deceased beneficiaries, according to a report by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging. The report found that while...

Resident checks law.(MIDWEST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved a law requiring background checks on all nursing home residents. The mandate could cost providers thousands of dollars each year. Nursing home advocates had endorsed a version of the bill that called...

Transfer provisions violated.(WEST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... CALIFORNIA -- A California Court of Appeals has ruled that a San Marcos, CA, long-term care facility violated federal and state Medicaid transfer requirements. The facility refused to readmit a resident or to issue him a bed-hold notice...

Shift in care proposed.(MIDWEST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... INDIANA -- A proposal to overhaul the state's Medicaid program would shift care of the elderly from nursing homes to assisted living arrangements. Under a four-year road map laid out by Mitch Roob, secretary of Indiana's Family and Social...

Facility to reimburse Medicaid.(MIDWEST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... OHIO -- A court of appeals in Ohio upheld a lower trial court's decision that nursing home provider AmCare Inc. must repay $452,312 in Medicaid provider overpayments it received for 1994 and 1995. The Tenth Appellate District Court of...

Expanding community-based care.(NORTHEAST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... VERMONT -- The state has received a green light from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, allowing the Medicaid program to expand its long-term-care coverage to home health and other services besides nursing-home care. Officials...

How to do it... improving sales.(Business & Marketing)
August 1, 2005... Lack of occupancy is expensive. That's why most communities set expectations or their facility's census goals. But sometimes the reality of the sales is disappointing and falls short of the goals set. Why does this happen? What factors...

Building the business.(Business & Marketing)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Challenge: Staff education Response: Online learning Result: Greater efficiency CAROLINA MEADOWS is a few minutes drive from the University of North Carolina. The nationally accredited, nonprofit continuing care retirement community...

Design decisions: operators knocking on wood more often.(Business & Marketing)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... CARPETING TENDS to be the floor covering of choice in many facilities. But many operators are taking a new look at an old option: wood flooring. They are finding that wood and faux wood options offer a classic look that holds up to heavy use,...

Starting a revolution.(Profile)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... PAUL KLAASSEN HAS NEVER been one to be easily dissuaded. Tell him something can't be done and he'll likely challenge that assumption with a thought-provoking discussion that ultimately begs the question, "Why not?" It's that inquisitive...

It's no secret why nurses leave.(THE BIG PICTURE)
August 1, 2005... When it comes to pithy insights about the human condition, you just can't beat Chinese fortune cookies. I recently came across the following gem: "Change happens when the status quo becomes unbearable." Not bad. One sentence that...

Truth hurts, but also can be a learning experience.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Each year, providers spend millions of dollars studying their markets and potential resident bases. That's why a recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (see p. 1) is so important. By studying consumer perceptions and...

Just like home: as baby boomers inch closer to the market, providers are stepping it up a notch, bringing a contemporary look to LTC.(Furnishings)(long term care)
August 1, 2005... The chairs are bright and welcoming, the beds simple yet stylish. The uniquely patterned carpet ties the surrounding colors together. A typical upscale hotel room? Try again. The scene could be taken from the bedroom of a typical long-term care...

Clearer vision: seniors housing may not be as data-rich as other real estate sectors. But the quality of available information is improving.(Real estate)
August 1, 2005... Tell someone his personal gesture is "transparent" and you need to watch out for a possible uppercut to the jaw. But comment about transparent information to somebody who might pump money into the long-term care sector and you're liable to...

Lenders Source 2005.(Corporate Profiles)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Results of the 2005 McKnight's, Long-Term Care News Lenders Source survey are further confirmation of just how hot the financing sector has become. For the first time in memory, 100% of respondents said they planned to either increase (88%) or...

GE Commercial Finance Healthcare Financial Services.(Corporate Profiles)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... GE Commercial Finance Healthcare Financial Services is a provider of capital, financial solutions, and related services for the global healthcare market. With more than $13 billion of capital committed to the healthcare industry, GE Commercial...

Capital Funding Group, Inc.(Corporate Profiles)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Capital Funding Group, Inc. is a full-service mortgage banking firm providing HUD-insured financing, acquisition/bridge financing, and construction financing, exclusively to the healthcare sector. The company began operations in Baltimore in...

Healthcare Business Credit Corp.(Corporate Profiles)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Healthcare Business Credit Corporation (HBCC) is a full-service healthcare finance company that is solely focused on creating and providing financing solutions to the healthcare services industry in the United States. HBCC's headquarters are...

2005 lenders source.
August 1, 2005... 2005 Lenders Source Bridge Cambridge Healthcare Reality Company * Finance Capital ...

Charge in style.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Designed specifically for nursing professionals, Visa[R] has introduced the Nursing Rewards+ credit card. The only program with choices of personal rewards such as travel and spa treatments plus professional rewards such as liability insurance....

Interior design.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Eldercare Interiors, Direct Supply's team of professional consultants and designers can plan and execute a facility renovation or new construction. Services include design assistance, kitchen and laundry design, and product consultation. ...

Medication error reduction.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Medi-Dose, Inc./EPS, Inc. have introduced 2 new SHRINKSAFE" ID Bands to help reduce medication errors involving look-alike meds. The distinctive orange and green color bands immediately call attention to themselves and alert practitioners that...

Personnel management.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... The new Staff Coverage feature for Unitime Systems' UNITIME Automated Timekeeping System[TM] helps healthcare organizations with compliance, staffing and other labor-management issues. It automatically calculates the number of personnel working...

Caregiver training modules.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... HealthComm Interactive, Inc., the exclusive distributor of programs developed by the Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc. (ORCAS), is offering Professional Caregiver series on Dementia Care, training sessions for use by nursing home and...

Mess-free birds.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... With its new indoor aviaries, Birds in Glass Houses offers an alternative that contains the mess, is easy to maintain and displays all types of beautiful birds to stimulate activity and conversation with long-term care residents. No more messy...

Gloves, and more.(Recent Arrivals)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Running low on exam gloves? Call OfficeMax! We offer a complete line of medical products, including those much-needed gloves. So put the snap back in your day with OfficeMax. FOR MORE INFO: (866) 850-2410 www.officemaxthing.com...

A day in the life.(Careers)(Brief Article)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... WHEN BRENDA MARSHALL switched from the retail industry to the nursing home field more than 11 years ago, she brought her strength in customer service and well-honed management skills with her. These abilities, more than her nursing skills,...

Salary snapshot: medical social worker.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Median salaries (all facilities) REGION SALARY ($) 1 44,179 2 37,730 3 37,303 4 34,528 5 32,344 6 32,240 7 ...