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

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

An anniversary issue unlike any other.
December 1, 2005... No matter how old you are, you have to agree 25 years of success at anything is impressive. If you're not absolutely sure, the special issue now in your hands should convince you. To rise to the occasion of the 25th anniversary of...

Facilities post nursing hours.(NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Following a long waiting period, skilled nursing facilities must start showing the total number of hours worked each day by direct care nursing staff. The rule, which goes into effect Dec. 27, was originally published last year in draft...

Fire safety bill on the table.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Two Congressmen have proposed a bill that would require automatic fire sprinklers in all nursing homes. The unveiling came after a series in USA Today decried what the newspaper called gross inadequacies in fire safety at long-term care...

Pullout from AHCA still 'on' group says.(NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Even though the American Health Care Association elected three leaders from a rival organization to its newly created 15-member Board of Governors, a withdrawal from the AHCA is still "on," says a spokesman for the Alliance for Quality Nursing...

Drug benefit rollout criticized.(cases on false reports)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Medicare Part D drug benefit program received a chilly reception as a major study reported widespread confusion towards the program and seniors advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the government over its treatment of dual eligible...

The House.(At deadline)
December 1, 2005... The House passed a budget plan that would cut $12 billion from Medicaid over five years. It included a measure that would tighten rules for asset transfers.

Providers were making final preparations to push long-term care concerns at the White House Conference on Aging this month.(At deadline)
December 1, 2005... Providers were making final preparations to push long-term care concerns at the White House Conference on Aging this month. As part of the long-term care agenda, about 35 researchers and vendors will sponsor a high-profile technology...

The American Health Care Association and the breakaway Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care appointed new heads.(At deadline)
December 1, 2005... The American Health Care Association and the breakaway Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care appointed new heads. Bruce Yarwood was named president and CEO of AHCA at the first meeting of the group's newly formed Board of Governors. He...

Early study findings from the Government Accountability Office.(At deadline)
December 1, 2005... Early study findings from the Government Accountability Office showed that some dual eligibles could lose prescription drug coverage when the drug benefit begins Jan. 1.

What's your best advice for dealing with that tough time of day--early evening--when the "sundowning" effect hits many residents?(Ask THE CARE EXPERT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Sundowner's syndrome--the nocturnal confusion experienced by residents with cognitive impairments--can be disruptive to the unit and distressing to the affected resident. As the typical facility has many residents who are cognitively impaired,...

Everyone has favorites. What's a good way to "steal" or "make" extra time for a favorite resident?(Ask THE CARE EXPERT)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Understandably, it would be more enjoyable to spend time with a resident who is less demanding, has a great personality, reminds you of your grandparent or showers you with compliments. But remember: The resident who is unpleasant, dull or...

LTC employment appeals to older workers: study.(NEWS / Resident Care)
December 1, 2005... Facilities might one day draw on a pool of older talent to fill their employment needs. A new study finds mature adults want to work in long-term care. Because of their experience and maturity, they are appealing to nursing homes...

In-depth report examines Alzheimer's.(NEWS / Resident Care)
December 1, 2005... A person-centered approach to Alzheimer's care, involving an understanding of the resident's abilities, life story and preferences, has direct benefits on the resident. The Gerontologist explored this premise, as well as many others in a...

Exercise is just as important as calcium in preventing osteoporosis, a new study said.(Caregiving Update)
December 1, 2005... Exercise is just as important as calcium in preventing osteoporosis, a new study said. The study, which was published by the IOF, a non-governmental organization, asserts that bones require stimulation from physical activity to renew...

Starting an exercise program can have lasting benefits in lowering the risk of falls in older people.(Caregiving Update)
December 1, 2005... Starting an exercise program can have lasting benefits in lowering the risk of falls in older people. Among 98 elderly women who took part in a six-month exercise program, the risk of falling was still cut one year after the program ended,...

People 65 and older have a higher rate of death and rehospitalization from surgery used to treat obesity, studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported.(Caregiving Update)
December 1, 2005... People 65 and older have a higher rate of death and rehospitalization from surgery used to treat obesity, studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported. One study found that the death rate one year after such a procedure...

A new series of techniques tracks beta amyloid protein in the eye.(Caregiving Update)
December 1, 2005... A new series of techniques tracks beta amyloid protein in the eye. A buildup of this protein is a signal of Alzheimer's disease. Findings related to the techniques were presented in October at the Optical Society of America's annual meeting.

What recent market development excites you the most?(Ask THE TREATMENT EXPERT)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Every day new products are introduced into the market for wound healing, but by far, negative-pressure wound therapy has made the largest impact in bringing many wounds to closure. Negative-pressure wound therapy, also known as vacuum...

In your opinion, what moves a nurse to the "next level" regarding wound-care knowledge and skill?(Ask THE TREATMENT EXPERT)
December 1, 2005... The key for getting ahead is education. Nurses will have to seek out educational opportunities, and the Internet is a great place to start. I would recommend the following Web sites: www.medicaledu.com, www.thewoundinstitute.com, and...

Public health initiative targets deadly bacteria.(NEWS / Wound Care)
December 1, 2005... An interdisciplinary group of public health, industry and infectious disease experts recently united to form the MRSA Leadership Initiative. The group will focus on prevention and management of the potentially deadly bacteria...

Smith & Nephew drops skin product.(NEWS / Wound Care)
December 1, 2005... Smith & Nephew announced plans to discontinue its Dermagraft skin product, following a "non-approvable" letter from the Food and Drug Administration. The company had sought additional approval for treating venous leg ulcers. The product...

Oculus Innovative Sciences Inc. announced results of a study that found super-oxidized water technology might reduce microbial load.(Treatment Update)
December 1, 2005... Oculus Innovative Sciences Inc. announced results of a study that found super-oxidized water technology might reduce microbial load. The study assessed the safety and efficacy of the product in treating diabetic foot ulcers (compared to...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently approved BlueSky Medical's wound vacuum system for Medicare reimbursement.(Treatment Update)
December 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently approved BlueSky Medical's wound vacuum system for Medicare reimbursement, under HCPCS code E2402 (for use in negative-pressure wound therapy).

Galderma Laboratories announced it has received FDA approval to market its Clobex Spray, 0.05% for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.(Treatment Update)
December 1, 2005... Galderma Laboratories announced it has received FDA approval to market its Clobex Spray, 0.05% for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The product was found to be safe and effective in two multicenter, randomized, double-blind...

CME's, CEU's, in-services, etc., can certainly be helpful, but when would you say "enough"?(Ask THE NURSING EXPERT)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Seminar topics seem to come in "waves"; i.e., "Pain Management" is a big topic in the area where I live. I have received several flyers on this subject. Remember to set professional goals for the year and incorporate several topics that you...

What do you suggest as an adequate "probationary" period for new nursing hires?(Ask THE NURSING EXPERT)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I feel that three months is an adequate "probationary" period. I do recommend that when you hire a new nursing employee. you mark on your personal planner an approximate three-month date, or that probationary time will get away from you. I...

When RNs provide care, quality is better: report.(NEWS / Nursing)
December 1, 2005... Resident outcomes improve when registered nurses deliver more direct care, according to a study appearing in the November issue of the American Journal of Nursing. "A clear link has been demonstrated between lower nurse staffing levels in...

Foreign workers quadruple in 13 years.(NEWS / Nursing)
December 1, 2005... Foreign-born workers are playing a larger role in nursing homes, according to a new report from AARP. Nationwide, the number of immigrant nurses providing long-term care has nearly quadrupled since 1990, while the total for nursing aides...

A medication that has been studied as an anticancer agent shows promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.(Medication Update)
December 1, 2005... A medication that has been studied as an anticancer agent shows promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists studying bryostatin in...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the expanded use of valsartan, a blood pressure medication to treat high-risk heart attack survivors who have a condition called left ventricular dysfunction.(Medication Update)
December 1, 2005... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the expanded use of valsartan, a blood pressure medication to treat high-risk heart attack survivors who have a condition called left ventricular dysfunction. The medication, which was...

The use of the generic drug probenecid could help double the supply of the influenza drug Tamiflu, according to a report in Nature.(Medication Update)
December 1, 2005... The use of the generic drug probenecid could help double the supply of the influenza drug Tamiflu, according to a report in Nature. In early fall, Tamiflu manufacturer Roche temporarily suspended shipments of the drug, suspecting hording...

How will the Medicare D drug benefit affect our facility financially?(Ask THE PAYMENT EXPERT)
December 1, 2005... There are several ways that Medicare D can affect your facility financially. First, depending on where you are located, your state's Medicaid system will decide whether to cover drugs not covered by the Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) in which...

Are we allowed to ask residents about their ability to pay when coming into the nursing facility?(Ask THE PAYMENT EXPERT)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Obtaining financial asset information should be an integral part of your admission process. Many facilities erroneously believe that if they are certified for Medicaid, they are not allowed to ask for that information. Even for a Medicaid...

CMS taking a 'back door' approach with flu rule.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
December 1, 2005... Providers will not be cited for non-compliance with the federal government's new flu and pneumonia vaccination mandate until June--unless other offenses are found first. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has notified its...

So long DAVE, hello PERM.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Providers thinking a storm totally passed by with the expiration of the federal DAVE project should not relax entirely. Regulators instituted a new reimbursement-auditing program Oct. 1 in all 50 states. Although the Payment Error Rate...

Go figure.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... 21 About 21% of Americans age 60 or older have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 36 The average registered-nurse minutes per nursing home resident day in the U.S. was down to 36 in 2004, a 25% drop from...

Beverly Enterprises Inc.(Business Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Beverly Enterprises Inc. entered into an "amended merger agreement" with a new buyer and at a lower selling price. It is now negotiating with Fillmore Strategic Investors, which fulfilled North American Senior Cafe's Nov. 18 debt obligations....

Sun Healthcare Group Inc. returned to the black in the third quarter with profits of $7 million on revenues of $216 million.(Business Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Sun Healthcare Group Inc. returned to the black in the third quarter with profits of $7 million on revenues of $216 million. Last year, it lost $11 million in the same quarter, including an $8 million loss on discontinued operations and a $3...

Extendicare Inc.'s third quarter income rose 48% to $29 million (Canadian) as revenues rose by 11% to $488 million.(Business Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Extendicare Inc.'s third quarter income rose 48% to $29 million (Canadian) as revenues rose by 11% to $488 million. During the quarter, the Ontario-based company sold six leased facilities, and entered into an agreement to buy a 126-bed nursing...

Kindred buys diverse LTC company for $125 million.(NEWS / Companies)
December 1, 2005... Provider giant Kindred Health: care Inc. is expanding its portfolio of long-term care offerings with a $125 million acquisition of Commonwealth Communities Holdings LLC and affiliates. The Louisville, KY-based provider made the announcement...

Onex to buy 70 U.S. facilities.(NEWS / Companies)
December 1, 2005... Onex Corp., one of Canada's largest companies, is planning to acquire Skilled Healthcare Group, a leading operator in the western United States, for around $640 million (U.S.). Skilled Healthcare's subsidiaries operate 70 skilled nursing...

State budgets.(Good month)
December 1, 2005... State budgets: Some of the pressure on state budgets from Medicaid has eased, largely in response to improvements in the economy, according to a report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

Anti-fraud efforts.(Good month)
December 1, 2005... Anti-fraud efforts: More than $1.5 billion was returned to the Medicare Trust Fund in fiscal year 2004 as a result of enforcement actions by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, according to HHS Office of...

Electronic prescribing.(Good month)
December 1, 2005... Electronic prescribing: CMS has issued a final rule for the electronic prescribing of drugs covered under the new Part D Medicare drug benefit.

Staffing mandates.(Bad month)
December 1, 2005... Staffing mandates: Skilled nursing facilities will soon be required to post individual shift data and the total hours worked each day by licensed and unlicensed nursing staff, under a CMS final rule.

IT funding.(Bad month)
December 1, 2005... IT funding: The fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill for HHS and the departments of Labor and Education, calls for $32.5 million less in IT funding than the $75 million requested in the White House's budget.

Medical errors.(Bad month)
December 1, 2005... Medical errors: Patients in the United States reported higher rates of medical errors and more disorganized doctor visits and out-of-pocket costs than people in Canada, Britain and three other developed countries, according to a Commonwealth...

Metro monitor.(NEWS / Companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Metro Monitor The amount of nursing home beds as a percentage of all seniors housing units (market share) by metropolitan area. Top 5 1. New York 75.6% 2. Boston 70.8% 3. St. Louis 68.7% 4. Chicago 68.6%...

The Department of Health and Human Services addressed several technology-related issues in its semi-annual regulatory agenda.(IT Update)
December 1, 2005... The Department of Health and Human Services addressed several technology-related issues in its semi-annual regulatory agenda. Among the more notable items: * A final HIPAA administrative simplification enforcement rule is expected in...

What's the technology executives say they can't live without?(IT Update)
December 1, 2005... What's the technology executives say they can't live without? It's the cell phone, according to a survey by Robert Half Management Resources. Here's how the top finishers wound up: cell phone (44%), laptop (39%), wireless handheld (8%), mini...

The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee proposed legislation that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to develop medical privacy standards in the area of information technology.(IT Update)
December 1, 2005... The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee proposed legislation that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to develop medical privacy standards in the area of information technology. The measure would require HHS to evaluate...

Erickson Retirement Communities.(IT Update)
December 1, 2005... Erickson Retirement Communities announced it began rolling out electronic medical records to all 13 of its independent living communities in November. Residents can view their medical records online for any services they receive at an Erickson...

Nexera Inc.(IT Update)
December 1, 2005... Nexera Inc. announced it is now offering consulting services to the members of the Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC), an association of more than 100 not-for-profit and public long-term care organizations in the New York metropolitan...

Panel to examine IT role in improving healthcare.(NEWS: Technology)
December 1, 2005... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has established a Healthcare Information Technology Advisory Panel. The panel's goal is to direct attention on the improvement of resident safety and clinical processes as new...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
December 1, 2005... Nancy Spears thinks she got more than her money's worth when she decided to use a resident satisfaction tool to perform a survey at Pennswood Village, a continuing care retirement community in Newtown, PA. The executive director not only...

State senator to lead MHCA.(MIDWEST)(Missouri Health Care Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MISSOURI -- Sen. Jon Dolan (R) recently announced that he would vacate his state Senate seat to become the executive director of the Missouri Health Care Association. Dolan has been instrumental in state laws affecting the Missouri's...

Failure to investigate complaints.(WEST)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... CALIFORNIA -- California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform have filed a lawsuit accusing the state Department of Health Services of failing to investigate most complaints about nursing homes within a 10 day period as required by law. The...

No takers for recertification.(NORTHEAST)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- State facilities appeared to be uninterested in taking part in a plan to cut nursing homes services. Health Department officials announced in November that they were forced to extend the deadline for applications that allowing the...

Nursing home officials jailed.(NORTHEAST)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Three former nursing home officials accused of stealing more than $400,000 from a Long Beach facility by inflating the number of employees on the payroll have been sentenced to jail and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of...

Providers get hurricane relief.(SOUTHEAST)
December 1, 2005... LOUISIANA -- Leaders of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association recently went to the Louisiana Congressional delegation to request measures that could help facilities cope in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. LNHA Executive Director...

Hurricane readiness bill to help providers.(FLORIDA)
December 1, 2005... Even before Hurricane Wilma made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the state's lawmakers were considering legislation that would provide nursing homes with funds to beef up their emergency plans. Under a bill...

Tandem Health Care goes public.(SOUTHEAST)
December 1, 2005... FLORIDA -- Tandem Health Care filed an initial public offering Oct. 7, becoming the latest nursing home chain to enter the market. The last company to opt for public trading was Five Star Quality Care, which went on the market at the end of...

Man accused of naked night visit.(SOUTHEAST)
December 1, 2005... NORTH CAROLINA -- Some facilities are used to arrivals at all hours of the night. But not this kind. A man wearing only a baseball cap and a necklace broke into the Oaks Retirement Center in Elon recently, activating an entrance alarm...

Driver not charged in fatal bus fire.(SOUTHWEST)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... TEXAS -- The driver of a bus that burst into flames, leading to the deaths of 23 long-term care residents fleeing the path of Hurricane Rita, apparently will not be criminally charged. A Dallas grand jury declined to indict the driver, an...

Although there's been no blatant wrongdoing, I think my facility should think about engaging a different law firm. How should I search for a new one?(Ask THE LEGAL EXPERT)
December 1, 2005... Attorneys and their law firms work for you. You have the right to terminate your relationship with an attorney and his or her firm and engage another law firm. In searching for a new law firm, it is very common for an organization to send...

Seniors received fake flu shots, Texas firm charged.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
December 1, 2005... Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott obtained a court order freezing the assets of a home health businesses after the owner allegedly gave residents of three senior living facilities fake flu shots. Iyad Abu El Hawa, owner of Comfort & Caring...

Providers hopeful on new awards cap.(NEWS: Legal Matters)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Providers were warily waiting at press time to see if Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle would veto a tort reform measure passed recently by the state legislature. Lawmakers passed a bill imposing caps on non-economic medical liability damages of...

Building on a strong foundation.(THE BIG PICTURE)
December 1, 2005... In his introduction to Big Russ and Me, Tim Russert makes a poignant observation about fathers: "Whatever we achieve and whoever we are, we stand on their shoulders." I'm sure we can all envision ways this statement rings true in our own...

McKnight's long-term care news 25: public policy leaders have far-reaching effects on long-term care. To help mark our 25th anniversary, McKnight's invited the most influential figures in the United States to give their personal visions and thoughts on the long-term care profession.(Special contributors)
December 1, 2005... There's no quick, easy way to maintain quality care BY SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY Congratulations to you on this milestone. I want to thank McKnight's readers for doing some of society's most emotionally and physically demanding work. ...

25 years at a glance.(Through the years)
December 1, 2005... 1980 * First issue of Today's Nursing Home is published by Bill McKnight * CNN is launched 1981 * Paul Klaassen founds the company that will become Sunrise Senior Living * An OBRA '81 provision allows states to apply for...

For the past quarter century, we've informed readers about events shaping the long-term care field. Here's a retrospective look at some of the major figures and developments we've covered.(25 McKnight's LONG-TERM CARE NEWS: Twenty-five years in the making)
December 1, 2005... (For an expanded version, visit www.mcknightsonline.com.) 1980 Today's Nursing Home launches "With this issue, McKnight Medical Communications Inc. begins publication of the first newsmagazine to serve the 18,000 chief executives and...

A commitment that lasts a lifetime: why do some providers stay for years or generations? To help.(25 years: LTC long-timers)
December 1, 2005... At a time when employee turnover is a constant challenge, a core group of long-term care professionals continues to give decades--and sometimes generations--to the field. Demonstrating a level of commitment that would make baseball iron-man Cal...

Following the dollars--then and now: the numbers are in: costs are up in all areas. Here's how much.(25 years: Spending)
December 1, 2005... For more than two decades, one firm has been tracking where nursing homes spend their money. Not surprisingly, outlays are up--usually by more than four times what they were in the early 1980s. Among the more notable findings from LarsonAllen:...

Technology making inroads, bit by bit: providers are learning to better harness the power of information.(24 years in Information management)
December 1, 2005... Nursing homes have changed considerably during the past quarter century. And no tool has played a bigger role in driving that change than information management. Compared to 1980, operators now have a much better understanding of their...

LTC: from main street to Wall Street: financiers playing new game after 1990s disruption.(25 years in Finance)
December 1, 2005... Over the past 25 years, the long-term care industry and its financial sponsors have grown up together. In fact, they've matured to the point where they have nearly as much perspective as the residents they both serve. As local nursing home...

Wound and resident care go high-tech: but funding, sicker patients and lawsuits still riddle the playing field.(25 years in Resident/Wound care)
December 1, 2005... Wounds and incontinence have always been among the most challenging resident care issues with which long-term care providers have had to grapple. Pressure ulcers affect as many as 20% of residents in long-term care facilities, according to the...

Baths, lifts getting a new look and feel: taking a bath is a lot more enjoyable today, thanks to technology.(25 years in Bathing & Lifts)
December 1, 2005... Picture this: It's time for a resident's bath. After wheeling him or her to the tub, a nurse then transfers the resident from the wheelchair to the lift that is pedestal-mounted to the floor. She then pumps up the lift with her foot. The...

Scrubbing laundry machines of old: push-button controls kick up efficiency and dial down supervision.(25 years in Laundry)
December 1, 2005... In 1980, most linens and clothing in nursing homes were laundered with powder cleaners, manually operated machines and scant attention to infection control. Today, highly concentrated liquid chemicals, automated machines and strict...

Residents gain control over quality: after many quiet years, consumers are speaking up about service.(25 years in Resident satisfaction)
December 1, 2005... There have been many significant developments in the evolution of the long-term care industry, but one in particular underscores the empowerment of the nursing home resident--the satisfaction survey's rise to prominence. Most industry...

Resident security simplified, not simple: restraints, locks give way to higher tech, resident-centric strategies.(25 years in Resident security)
December 1, 2005... Imagine this: A resident tumbles headfirst onto the floor while attempting to climb out of bed. In a different wing, a dementia resident with a history of wandering attempts to walk, unescorted, out the front door. In yet another area, a...

Provider vehicles 'floor it' more often: array of options helps satisfy burgeoning resident transport desires.(25 years in Vehicles)
December 1, 2005... Workhorse Custom Chassis recently demonstrated its new bus at a retirement village. After seeing the vehicle, the village's residents decided they weren't going to wait for management to find money to purchase the bus. Their solution? They...

Furniture now takes residents 'home': new attitudes from a wealthier generation translate into a new look.(25 years in Furnishing/Interiors)
December 1, 2005... Furniture has come a long way in 25 years. As proof, caregivers need only look around them. A facility couch might resemble a piece from home, the fabrics probably have varied colors and patterns and the carpeting more often than not has...

Drug delivery gets more sophisticated: pharmacy services grow far beyond just storage and labeling issues.(25 years in Medication management)
December 1, 2005... In the 1960s, Rick Berman, R.Ph., decided to study drug distribution at a Massachusetts nursing home. So, for several months, he stationed himself in this nursing home and observed medical charting procedures, drug regimens, drug ordering and...

Medicare Part D on the horizon are you ready?(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2006. This legislation carries a profound impact on the long-term care community since prescription drug coverage is shifting from State Medicaid to privatized...