McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from August 2008

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from August 2008

Medicare bill survives veto.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Congress rejected President Bush's veto of legislation that restores an exceptions process for Medicare Part B therapy caps. The override, which brought legislative drama to the spotlight at press time, also blocks a...

National rankings put officials on hot seat.
August 1, 2008... Federal regulators have put themselves on the spot as a result of their new five-star rating system for nursing homes. Originally announced in mid-June, the star ratings are to be devised and posted quickly on the "Nursing Home Compare" Web...

New mandate causes alarm.
August 1, 2008... Nursing home providers applauded the government for its new sprinkler mandate, but they are asking for financial assistance so facilities can meet the requirement. "There is the concern that without financial support through grants or...

Hospice care sedation OK'd.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... Physicians may sedate hospice patients to unconsciousness as a last-resort measure to control pain, the American Medical Association determined at its recent annual meeting. The practice of palliative or terminal sedation can be perceived...

Free movie? No problem.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... A nursing home that gives a $10 restaurant card to a resident who complains will not be subject to civil monetary penalties. So determined the Inspector General in an opinion issued last month. Offering gift cards would not violate the...

It's beginning to look a lot like stopgap funding.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... July is normally a busy time in Washington. Lawmakers routinely work late into the night debating how to shape the dozen spending bills that largely dictate federal spending for the coming fiscal year. But Democrats controlling the House...

Limits on Medicaid outlays delayed.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... Nursing-home owners can rest easy for at least a little while since President Bush has signed a spending bill that delays six of seven harmful Medicaid regulations for healthcare providers. The rules that were put off until April 2009 would...

Most state Medicaid dollars for long-term care services are still primarily directed toward nursing home services, according to a new study from AARP.(At deadline)
August 1, 2008... Most state Medicaid dollars for long-term care services are still primarily directed toward nursing home services, according to a new study from AARP. Nationwide, states spend three-quarters of their long-term care funds for the disabled and...

A new Joint Commission report takes aim at workplace bullying in nursing homes and other healthcare settings.(At deadline)
August 1, 2008... A new Joint Commission report takes aim at workplace bullying in nursing homes and other healthcare settings. The study calls on providers to develop reporting systems, educate staff, encourage communication and address inappropriate behaviors....

Seniors taking four or more prescription drugs are at least twice as likely as other seniors to fall, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina.(At deadline)
August 1, 2008... Seniors taking four or more prescription drugs are at least twice as likely as other seniors to fall, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina. Some of those drugs may actually contribute to falling risks, the researchers...

60 seconds with ... John Schnelle, Ph.D.: Professor of Medicine Vanderbilt University.(NEWS)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: At a Brookings Institute hearing last month, you said the survey system probably sets unrealistic care standards. Why? A: There has been no valid resource analysis on what is necessary to meet these standards....

Corrections.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2008... A photo caption on page 1 of our July issue incorrectly identified Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA). Also, the Profile article on page 62 of our May issue called Freeman A. Hrabowski III the president of the University of Maryland. He is the...

Anxious providers fire away at new star ratings system.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... While federal regulators are rushing to get a five-star rating system for nursing homes in place by December, they also have indicated more is at stake. "I would stress that we're not just looking at factors we can build into the process...

SEIU touts recruitment totals in California.(NEWS)
August 1, 2008... The Service Employees International Union recruited a record number of nursing home employees in a short period of time, it claims. The largest union of healthcare workers in the country signed up 347 employees from five different...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a rule requiring hospice providers participating in Medicare.(Regulatory Update)
August 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a rule requiring hospice providers participating in Medicare to put a quality assessment and improvement system into place.

CMS published a final rule that expands the rights of Medicare providers and suppliers.(Regulatory Update)
August 1, 2008... CMS published a final rule that expands the rights of Medicare providers and suppliers to appeal their rejections from the federal health program to administrative law judges and beyond.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Phil English (R-PA) last month reintroduced a House companion bill to the Healthy Americans Act (S. 334).(Bill Watch)
August 1, 2008... Reps. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Phil English (R-PA) last month reintroduced a House companion bill to the Healthy Americans Act (S. 334). The bill would, in part, form a program to help treat the most serious...

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
August 1, 2008... I assist with evaluations for new admissions, and I also do the assessment when a resident is admitted, What are some areas I should look at if a resident has been falling even before we admit them, as this may be the main reason for admission?...

Shallower shots may better protect against flu: report.(NEWS: Resident Care)
August 1, 2008... A shallow injection under the skin could increase seniors' protection against the flu 12% better than a traditional vaccination jab into muscle, researchers say. Inoculation under the skin using a short needle was found to increase...

Falling? Act like a skydiver, experts advise.(NEWS: Resident Care)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... If falling seniors tumble like a landing parachutist--and do it promptly--they can reduce their likelihood of a hip fracture by 70%, University of Michigan researchers say. Computer simulations showed that crouching and then leaning during...

Physicians should pay more attention to the vitamin D levels of seniors and inactive populations, Austrian researchers say.(Caregiving Update)
August 1, 2008... Physicians should pay more attention to the vitamin D levels of seniors and inactive populations, Austrian researchers say. Their study showed that subjects with vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to die as those with higher levels of...

The longer a person has type 2 diabetes, the more substantial and steeper cognitive decline later in life tends to be, a new report in the Journal of the American Geriatric Association says.(Caregiving Update)
August 1, 2008... The longer a person has type 2 diabetes, the more substantial and steeper cognitive decline later in life tends to be, a new report in the Journal of the American Geriatric Association says. Diabetes can cause damage to blood cells that travel...

Early-stage Alzheimer's patients who maintained better physical fitness also have been shown to have bigger, more fit brains, researchers announced.(Caregiving Update)
August 1, 2008... Early-stage Alzheimer's patients who maintained better physical fitness also have been shown to have bigger, more fit brains, researchers announced. While exercising could stave off brain shrinkage, investigators cautioned that results of the...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
August 1, 2008... What should wound documentation include to support appropriate care? Last month, we discussed the key components required for documentation of the clinical and physical characteristics of a wound. This second part presents the key...

New statewide program goal: improve pressure-ulcer care.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... A statewide initiative in Wisconsin hopes to better educate providers about the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. If successful, the program could be easily replicated in other states, advocates say. According to the Department...

3M will partner with Greystone Pharmaceuticals.(Treatment Update)
August 1, 2008... 3M will partner with Greystone Pharmaceuticals to expand distribution of a wound closure technology that helps residents with chronic and non-responding wounds.

Johnson & Johnson said it is considering an undisclosed buyout offer for its professional wound-care business, a part of its Ethicon division, from One Equity Partners.(Treatment Update)
August 1, 2008... Johnson & Johnson said it is considering an undisclosed buyout offer for its professional wound-care business, a part of its Ethicon division, from One Equity Partners. The deal covers a portfolio of products that includes Promogran Matrix...

VioQuest Pharmaceuticals is seeking marketing clearance for its Xyfid product.(Treatment Update)
August 1, 2008... VioQuest Pharmaceuticals is seeking marketing clearance for its Xyfid product. Xyfid is a topical skin preparation intended to relieve and manage the burning and itching associated with various dermatoses.

Specialty pharmaceutical provider ULURU has entered into an agreement.(Treatment Update)
August 1, 2008... Specialty pharmaceutical provider ULURU has entered into an agreement to purchase emergency medical product developer Bio Med Sciences Inc. for $10 million.

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
August 1, 2008... I accepted a new position recently, and no matter how many times I speak with her, my assistant's work standard is very different than mine. How should I express my expectations and get the results I want without offending her? First,...

Study tackles turnover and how to define, improve issue.(NEWS: Nursing)
August 1, 2008... Nursing staff turnover is nearly a universal problem for long-term care providers, and new ways of addressing it are needed, researchers note in a new study. The ways turnover are calculated differ widely, preventing researchers from...

Violence against nurses now in spotlight.(NEWS: Nursing)
August 1, 2008... Nurse advocates are increasingly concerned about dangerous workplace conditions, according to recent reports. Half of all non-fatal injuries resulting from workplace assaults occur in healthcare and social-service settings, according to the...

Antidepressants increased the risk for bone fracture among older women.(Medication Update)
August 1, 2008... Antidepressants increased the risk for bone fracture among older women, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Speeding up wait times for generic drug applications will help the FDA hasten the review process, the Office of Inspector General said in a recent report.(Medication Update)
August 1, 2008... Speeding up wait times for generic drug applications will help the FDA hasten the review process, the Office of Inspector General said in a recent report. Applications for generic drug approval have outpaced the rate of review resources in...

Drugs used to build bone density in people with osteoporosis might weaken bones in some patients, according to a study whose results appeared in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.(Medication Update)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2008... Drugs used to build bone density in people with osteoporosis might weaken bones in some patients, according to a study whose results appeared in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. Long-term users of bisphosphonates have showed atypical fracture...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has broadened the indication for the once-yearly osteoporosis drug Reclast Injection.(Medication Update)
August 1, 2008... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has broadened the indication for the once-yearly osteoporosis drug Reclast Injection. Usage will include the prevention of new clinical fractures in patients who recently have had a low-trauma hip fracture....

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
August 1, 2008... Are there specific guidelines for pain management? CMS has not yet published final guidelines for pain management. However, we hear that may happen by the end of this year. The surveyor guidance for F-tag 309 is anticipated to be revised to...

Providers challenging CMS' authority to trim payments.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
August 1, 2008... Federal regulators have no legal standing to reduce Medicare reimbursement levels by 3.3%, as they have proposed for fiscal 2009, officials with the nation's largest nursing home association claimed. A "forecast error correction" is what...

Food guidelines released.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Providers were considering new revisions to surveyor guidelines concerning nutrition and sanitary conditions at press time. The new federal guidelines, which address some of the most often-cited areas of non-compliance among facilities...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 8 Roughly 8% of Americans now have diabetes, a disproportionate number of them elderly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. The total is about 24 million people, an increase of 3 million over the last two years. 45 On...

An analyst upgraded Kindred Healthcare Inc. from "Outperform" to "Market Perform" in July, based on strong performance expectations.(Business Briefs)
August 1, 2008... An analyst upgraded Kindred Healthcare Inc. from "Outperform" to "Market Perform" in July, based on strong performance expectations. James Kumpel forecasted strong results from the company's businesses in the second half of 2008, along with...

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan last month for Haven Healthcare, a troubled nursing-home chain based in Middletown, CT.(Business Briefs)
August 1, 2008... A federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan last month for Haven Healthcare, a troubled nursing-home chain based in Middletown, CT. The plan will transfer most of the facilities to new owners and place four facilities in receivership. The chain...

An auction will be held this month to sell four New York nursing homes.(Business Briefs)
August 1, 2008... An auction will be held this month to sell four New York nursing homes. The facilities, which received nearly 200 complaints from residents and families between 2005 and 2006, have attracted one buyer, Hyman Jacobs, who owns seven nursing homes...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Table)
August 1, 2008... Average occupancy at skilled nursing facilities in U.S. major metro areas. (First quarter of 2008) Leaders Rank Metro Occupancy 1. New York 95.3% 2. Minneapolis 95.2% 3. ...

Quality of seniors housing aiding resiliency: experts.(NEWS: Companies)
August 1, 2008... Performance in the private-pay seniors housing market has remained "remarkably resilient" given the crises in the real estate and credit markets, and the overall pressure on the economy, one seniors housing expert said last month. It's not...

Sunrise CEO to step down.(NEWS: Companies)
August 1, 2008... Paul Klaassen, founder and chief executive officer of Sunrise Senior Living Inc., last month said he is stepping clown from the post, effective this November. Replacing Klaassen will be Mark Ordan, who founded Fresh Fields food stores. He...

Nurse education.(Good month)
August 1, 2008... Nurse education: The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a funding measure that includes $168 million for nursing education programs.

Gifting.(Good month)
August 1, 2008... Gifting: Offering gift cards to residents whose service expectations were unmet is acceptable, according to an advisory opinion from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.

Oversight charge.(Good month)
August 1, 2008... Oversight change: Redesigning the survey system would improve quality while lowering costs for similar services, according to Mary Jane Koren of the Commonwealth Fund.

Inappropriate conduct.(Bad month)
August 1, 2008... Inappropriate conduct: Hostile behavior and language by providers can undermine care quality, according to an alert from The Joint Commission. It recommends better safeguards and training.

Pneumonia.(Bad month)
August 1, 2008... Pneumonia: Pneumonia landed more than 1.2 million Americans in the hospital during 2006, more than any other cause, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Lazard.(Bad month)
August 1, 2008... Lazard: A new union-sponsored film called "Gouging Grandma" negatively depicts Lazard and how it treats residents at its Atria subsidiary.

Providers cited numerous concerns with the government's proposed five-star rating system, during a recent "Open Door Forum" conference call.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... Providers cited numerous concerns with the government's proposed five-star rating system, during a recent "Open Door Forum" conference call. Callers were most concerned about the validity of using government survey data, which is based on...

More than three-quarters (76%) of hospitals larger than 300 beds have invested in radio frequency identification technology for tracking assets, patients or staff, according to a study from Spyglass Consulting Group, Menlo Park, CA.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... More than three-quarters (76%) of hospitals larger than 300 beds have invested in radio frequency identification technology for tracking assets, patients or staff, according to a study from Spyglass Consulting Group, Menlo Park, CA. Fully 42%...

Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) introduced legislation designed to give patients more control of their health records.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) introduced legislation designed to give patients more control of their health records. His Patient-Controlled Health IT Act would offer residents the right to receive their personal medical information in electronic...

Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft Corp. announced they will jointly pilot health data transfers between Kaiser Permanente's My Health Manager and the Microsoft HealthVault consumer health platform.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft Corp. announced they will jointly pilot health data transfers between Kaiser Permanente's My Health Manager and the Microsoft HealthVault consumer health platform. The program is expected to unveil new strategies...

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced Medicare reform legislation that would mandate e-prescribing.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced Medicare reform legislation that would mandate e-prescribing. The measure would create incentives for providers to use e-prescribing systems from 2009 through 2013....

A Congressional Budget Office report questions previous studies that predict substantial cost savings from widespread use of health information technology.(IT Update)
August 1, 2008... A Congressional Budget Office report questions previous studies that predict substantial cost savings from widespread use of health information technology, particularly electronic health records.

House committee approves bill expanding healthcare IT.(NEWS: Technology)
August 1, 2008... The U.S. House of Representatives sent to committee a measure that would further encourage the use of health information technology in all provider settings, including nursing homes. The bill, H.R. 6357, reflects a number of changes made by...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(It's Never 2 Late)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many seniors say technology just isn't for them. Nursing homes that have tried to integrate computer systems into residents' lives have encountered resistance and frustration from residents. Learning to use computers...

No pay for adverse events.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... MASSACHUSETTS -- The state no longer will reimburse healthcare providers for treatment related to 28 serious adverse events identified by the National Quality Forum. These events include patient death or serious disability associated with...

Mandatory overtime for nurses to end in '09.(NEW YORK)
August 1, 2008... Gov. David A. Paterson (D) reached an agreement with lawmakers to end mandatory overtime for nurses working in nursing homes and hospitals, beginning next summer. The purpose of the action is to encourage more people to become nurses and...

Crackdown on nonprofits.(MIDWEST)
August 1, 2008... MICHIGAN -- The state Legislature recently adopted amendments to the Nonprofit Corporation Act that are expected to increase accountability and transparency in the nonprofit sector. The bill, H.B. 5681, was awaiting a signature from Gov,...

Ranking system already a model?(SOUTHEAST)
August 1, 2008... FLORIDA -- The state's five-star rating system for nursing homes has become a model for the national system, which is set to take effect by the end of the year. The Sunshine State's system is accessible on its Agency for Health Care Web...

Drug companies guilty of fraud.(SOUTHEAST)
August 1, 2008... ALABAMA -- A state court jury last month found GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis guilty of Medicaid fraud. The pharmaceutical companies charged artificially high prices for medications, the court determined. They were ordered to pay more than $114...

Governor's budget rebuked.(WEST)
August 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- Healthcare groups are criticizing the governor's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget, which would reduce spending on the state's Medicaid program by $1.1 billion. The fiscal year began last month. Groups, including the Service...

Liko North America.(Company Briefs)
August 1, 2008... Liko North America recently published a free five-part series of educational articles from the Safe Lifting Portal injury prevention Web site. The articles are designed to help healthcare professionals start and manage a safe lifting program at...

SureScripts'.(Company Briefs)
August 1, 2008... SureScripts' recent merger with RxHub is expected to fuel more electronic prescribing. The merged network, called SureScriptsRxHub, combines SureScripts' electronic drugstore routing system and RxHub's insurance information database of more...

Gaymar Industries has acquired the assets of Sunshine Manufacturing.(Company Briefs)
August 1, 2008... Gaymar Industries has acquired the assets of Sunshine Manufacturing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

LTCQ.(Company Briefs)
August 1, 2008... LTCQ announced it was changing its name to PointRight. The firm provides data-driven analytics and decision support services to leading long term care providers. "The time has come for our name to better reflect what we do," commented Rodrigo...

Crest Healthcare Supply.(Company Briefs)
August 1, 2008... Crest Healthcare Supply recently released its latest product catalog. Among the featured items: nurse call components, fall management products, infection control, mobility and transfer equipment, aids to daily living and many other choices....

DM Systems.(Company Briefs)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... DM Systems has announced the launch of a new Web site that will show how its products can assist with wound care and other clinical care. In addition to company-related information, a resource center includes streaming video, testimonials, and...

Here's latest Cardinal rule: divide (units) and conquer.(NEWS: Vendors)
August 1, 2008... Cardinal Health wants to apply the less-is-more principle to the way it does business. Last month, one of healthcare's largest suppliers announced plans to consolidate its four businesses into two segments. The emergence of Healthcare...

New ethics rules trim freebies and meals.(NEWS: Vendors)
August 1, 2008... Sales representatives from drug companies can no longer hand out free pens and coffee mugs when they visit providers. And their ability to feed caregivers also will be dramatically reduced under new ethics rules passed in July by the...

How to do it ... resident security.(Business & Marketing)
August 1, 2008... Once providers decide a resident-security purchase is in order, a new challenge arises. How should they determine which protection devices or programs are appropriate for their specific residents and facility? What kind of investigation should...

A winning combination: Wisconsin nursing home transforms itself into a socially oriented facility, combining skilled care and assisted living under one roof.(Business & Marketing: Design)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The symbol of Saint Camillus de Lellis, patron saint of nurses and gamblers, is a large, red cross, and that was the former shape of St. Camillus health center near Milwaukee. The sprawling skilled nursing...

Polishing up our oral health.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
August 1, 2008... No matter one's age, oral health is extremely important. Problems that start in the mouth can negatively affect other conditions and hamper overall wellness. And in an elderly population, often there are already many major health issues to...

Making sure our stuff matters.(THE BIG PICTURE)
August 1, 2008... Whenever I talk with long-term care professionals, I like to ask why they have chosen to do this work. Let's face it, this is not a field for sissies. If you are involved in running a facility, the nagging questions just never seem to go...

Acme LTC Insurance Claims' Department.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Our accounting department is working on your claim as we speak."

Animal protection group is preying on the elderly.(Editor's DESK)
August 1, 2008... Some people, and their groups, are better at furthering the art of tactless solicitation than others. For the latest case of hoof-in-mouth disease, we only have to look to our friends at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise...

"What have you done lately to spruce up your facility?".(Reader Poll)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Recently, Keene Center undertook a nearly $1 million renovation project. With the culture-change initiative it was imperative to have the center be able to provide more personalized care. Part of the renovations...

Honor your greatest assets.(HAVING MY SAY)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Where there's a nursing home there is drama, and where there is drama, there is a nursing home. If you don't have drama, count your blessings. The bottom line is, those people who cause all the drama are the source of a long-term care...

CMS director's routine hardly just an 'act'.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While McKnight's is entitled to its opinion about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its leadership, your publication does have an obligation to get both the simple facts and the context correct. Both...

O'Connor 'right on' about CMS administrator.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I always enjoy reading John O'Connor's articles in McKnight's Long Term Care News. I did read your piece on the "Acting" Director of CMS, Kerry Weems. Your take on Mr. Weems is interesting to me because I have been reading some quotes from him...