McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from February 2006

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from February 2006

GAO: survey system flawed.(Government Account ability Office)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... A new Government Account ability Office report says that state inspectors miss serious deficiencies in nursing homes or downplay their seriousness, leading to possible resident harm. Other report claims: Predictable inspection times allow...

Glitches plague star of Medicare drug law.
February 1, 2006... Many problems have hampered implementation of the Medicare drug law, which took effect in January. More than a dozen states declared health emergencies and offered to pay for lifesaving medicines when they discovered many of their sickest...

Study: anemia linked to falls.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... Older adults with anemia may be at risk for repeated falls, a new study suggests. Researchers from a Dutch medical center followed 400 participants 65 and older for three years. Recurrent falls (at least two in six months) occurred in 38%...

Flu vaccine needs unmet.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... Some providers once again have felt the pinch of a less than ample flu vaccine supply, according to the American Health Care Association. Chiron Corp. said late last year it could not produce as much vaccine as it originally expected. As a...

LTC operators struggle with new drug program.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... As a new drug law took effect, many operators struggled to cope with the biggest change to the Medicare program since its inception. Many facilities are still attempting to understand and implement 43 different drug plans. Each plan is...

Grassley: check out 'lavish' QIOs.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) has asked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials to investigate the expenses for conferences and travel of quality improvement organizations (QIOs). He said he wants to...

Federal officials.(At deadline)
February 1, 2006... Federal officials were being pressured to address Medicare drug law problems. Bills introduced in both chambers of Congress would reimburse states that have stepped in to fill in unexpected coverage gaps. The American Society of Consultant...

President Bush.(At deadline)
February 1, 2006... President Bush was expected to make healthcare reform one of the major elements in his State of the Union address. Perhaps most notably, he was likely to press further for non-economic damage limits in lawsuits against providers, according to...

The calendar.(At deadline)(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... The calendar may say 2006, but Congress was planning to enter February still debating budget reconciliation legislation, Many of the unresolved spending issues carry payment implications for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according to CMS....

60 seconds with ... Ken Dychtwald.(baby boomers)(Interview)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Q: How will boomers--28% of the U.S. population--experience aging differently? A: We (baby boomers) will find ourselves with more free time than we've had in our lives. The average life expectancy has skyrocketed from 47 at the beginning...

Beverly shareholders vote this month on Fillmore sale.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... Shareholders of Beverly Enterprises Inc. will vote on Valentine's Day whether to approve the sale of the long-term care company to Fillmore Capital Partners LLC. If approved, Fillmore of San Francisco will pay $12.50 per share, or $1.8...

Supreme Court upholds assisted suicide.(NEWS)
February 1, 2006... The Supreme Court has upheld the physician-assisted suicide law in Oregon, defeating the Bush administration's attempts to overturn the law and punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die. In a 6 to 3 vote, the justices ruled that...

An Office of Inspector General report found that states do not refer almost 8% of nursing home enforcement cases to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2006... * An Office of Inspector General report found that states do not refer almost 8% of nursing home enforcement cases to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. One reason was difficulty identifying cases with a history of noncompliance.

The CMS clarified that both long-term care and retail pharmacies meeting the necessary criteria.(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2006... * The CMS clarified that both long-term care and retail pharmacies meeting the necessary criteria can participate as a long-term care network pharmacy in the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

Congress passed a Department of Health and Human Services fiscal 2006 spending bill that would provide $142.7 billion in discretionary money for health.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2006... * Congress passed a Department of Health and Human Services fiscal 2006 spending bill that would provide $142.7 billion in discretionary money for health, education and job training programs. The bill was sent to President Bush for his...

The Senate passed the Veterans Health Care Act of 2005.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2006... * The Senate passed the Veterans Health Care Act of 2005 requiring the secretary of the Veterans Administration to establish a strategic plan for long-term care.

Volunteers are great to have, but where do we need to rein them in?(feeding residents)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... One area where I would encourage a director of nursing to limit volunteers is feeding residents. I know in many states it is against regulations to have a non-trained individual feed residents, but it still happens. With the numerous...

Therapy cap exception may soon ease regulation's blow.(NEWS / Resident Care)
February 1, 2006... Some nursing home residents already may have felt the blow of the newly enacted Medicare Part B therapy caps. But a new exceptions policy, if approved, could take some sting out of the initiative. The House this month is expected to vote on...

Resistance training exercises improve muscle strength in the elderly, according to a report in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2006... * Resistance training exercises improve muscle strength in the elderly, according to a report in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Even a low-level workout results in enhanced physical performance, which could help prevent...

Nursing home residents prefer quiet time with a dog as opposed to with a dog and other people present, according to a new St. Louis University study.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2006... * Nursing home residents prefer quiet time with a dog as opposed to with a dog and other people present, according to a new St. Louis University study. Just being with a dog makes residents feel less lonely than spending time with other people,...

Eating whole grains may help prevent risk factors in older people that could lead to heart attacks and strokes, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2006... * Eating whole grains may help prevent risk factors in older people that could lead to heart attacks and strokes, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. People in the study between ages 60 and 98 who ate more...

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a gene linked to preserved mental function in old age.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2006... * Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a gene linked to preserved mental function in old age. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study reportedly is among the first to uncover such a...

What is the proper technique for cleansing a wound?(care and treatment)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... All wounds should be cleaned with every dressing change unless otherwise indicated by the physician. The most widely used and recommended cleaning solution is normal saline. Any solution used should be at least room temperature or warmer...

Is a swab culture still an acceptable method to culture a wound?(wound care)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Yes, swab culture still is the most widely used and accepted method. Tissue biopsy can be time-consuming, costly and painful. Quantitative and semi-quantitative swab cultures are reasonable alternatives in long-term care. Wound culturing...

Tenacity of bird flu not yet ringing experts' alarm bells.(NEWS / Wound Care)
February 1, 2006... Signs that the H5N1 bird flu virus may be developing resistance to the frontline drug Tamiflu in some patients are not necessarily a cause for alarm, according to a senior World Health Organization official. Keiji Fukuda told reporters that it...

Winter raises risks of skin breakdown.(NEWS / Wound Care)
February 1, 2006... For many people, the winter months mean bundling up to protect against catching a cold or the flu. Nursing home residents face additional skin-care challenges. As air humidity decreases in the winter, residents are more likely to face dry,...

The Food and Drug Administration has approved AcryMed's SilvaGard product.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2006... * The Food and Drug Administration has approved AcryMed's SilvaGard product, which is used to make medical devices impervious to infection-causing bacteria.

Recent studies showed that GlaxoSmithKline's investigational antibacterial Retapamulin was effective against key pathogens commonly associated with skin and soft tissue infections.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2006... * Recent studies showed that GlaxoSmithKline's investigational antibacterial Retapamulin was effective against key pathogens commonly associated with skin and soft tissue infections. Retapamulin also showed a low propensity for development of...

Putting antibacterial coatings on hip and knee implants and biomedical devices such as catheters could cut infection rates.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2006... * Putting antibacterial coatings on hip and knee implants and biomedical devices such as catheters could cut infection rates, dramatically reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life for patients, researchers at the University of South...

What's the best simple nurse-morale booster you've seen in practice?(interactions)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... I am a goal-oriented leader and believe strongly in communicating those goals to my staff. In making rounds, when you see a staff member practicing in a manner that promotes the "message" of the nursing department and facility, take the time to...

Recruiters head to Canada to solve nursing shortage.(nursing home companies)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... It's not unusual to see recruiters from nursing home companies at American job fairs. But when the venue is Toronto, something's up. In fact, recruiters from a wide variety of American healthcare settings are streaming north of the border, in...

A new study shows that many of the atypical antipsychotic medications taken by elderly residents may raise blood sugar levels, resulting in the condition known as hyperglycemia.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2006... * A new study shows that many of the atypical antipsychotic medications taken by elderly residents may raise blood sugar levels, resulting in the condition known as hyperglycemia. A two-year study by doctors at the VA Connecticut Healthcare...

Including high amounts of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc in the diet reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).(Medication Update)
February 1, 2006... * Including high amounts of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc in the diet reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly, by 35%, according to a study published in the Journal of...

The Food and Drug Administration recently gave Toronto-based Biovail Corp. approval to sell its formulation of the antidepressant citalopram.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2006... * The Food and Drug Administration recently gave Toronto-based Biovail Corp. approval to sell its formulation of the antidepressant citalopram. The orally disintegrating tablet formulation of citalopram hydrobromide, intended for patients who...

Nutritional supplements of vitamins, minerals and protein bolster the health of malnourished seniors in hospitals or long-term care settings, but have little effect on well-nourished seniors living at home.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2006... * Nutritional supplements of vitamins, minerals and protein bolster the health of malnourished seniors in hospitals or long-term care settings, but have little effect on well-nourished seniors living at home. That's according to a team of...

Did I hear right that the Data Assessment Validation (DAVE) process is coming back?(Ask THE PAYMENT EXPERT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that DAVE 2 will be implemented in the spring of 2006. Sixty facilities will be targeted nationally for these visits. CMS states that these reviews will be performed by RNs...

What do we need to do to ensure we meet the therapy caps in 2006?(Ask THE PAYMENT EXPERT)(tracking therapy costs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... You need to develop some internal systems to track Part B therapy costs in your facility immediately, if you haven't started already. First, when Part B services are implemented, if the resident was admitted after Jan. 1, 2006, you should be...

Survey: 4 in 5 experts favor LTC benefit from Medicare.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
February 1, 2006... The federal Medicare program should offer a long-term care benefit paid for by beneficiary premiums, according to an overwhelming majority of healthcare opinion leaders surveyed by the Commonwealth Fund. Eighty percent of the 246...

MedPAC votes no pay hike.(Medicare Payment Advisory Commission)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Nursing home operators are again upset with MedPAC commissioners, who formally voted against raising Medicare reimbursement rates for skilled nursing facilities in 2007. The outcome of the Jan. 10 vote was largely expected after MedPAC...

Go figure.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
February 1, 2006... 6.5 The percentage of deficiencies cited for causing actual harm to nursing home residents dropped to 6.5 from 7.0 between 2003 and 2004, the GAO said. 9.2 The national average that Medicaid paid of total healthcare expenses in states was...

Steve Chies.(Achieve Healthcare Technologies)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Steve Chies will address ways providers can use technology to achieve superior outcomes during an upcoming McKnight's Webcast. Chies is the senior vice president of long-term care operations for Benedictine Health System, and immediate past...

In a budget.(IT Update)
February 1, 2006... In a budget proposal to be released later this month, President Bush is expected to request between $100 million and $200 million to fund healthcare information technology efforts.

Rep. Darrell Issa.(Wired for Healthcare Quality Act)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) recently introduced the Wired for Healthcare Quality Act. The measure is likely to improve chances a healthcare IT bill will pass in Congress this year. The Senate passed similar legislation late last year. The latest...

The Center's for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(IT Update)
February 1, 2006... The Center's for Medicare & Medicaid Services soon will begin pilot testing electronic prescribing standards, agency staff said last month. The pilot project will be undertaken as part of cooperative agreements with outside organizations. The...

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded a $1.1 million e-prescribing grant to Achieve Healthcare Technologies.(IT Update)
February 1, 2006... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded a $1.1 million e-prescribing grant to Achieve Healthcare Technologies. Achieve will use the funds to examine current practices and to help develop new standards, according to the firm.

Investments in the nation's health care IT primarily benefit Americans in wealthier areas, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC).(IT Update)
February 1, 2006... Investments in the nation's health care IT primarily benefit Americans in wealthier areas, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). The report found that while extensive financial investments in healthcare are...

Summit lays out road map for growing, managing IT.(NEWS / Technology)
February 1, 2006... Long-term care providers need to more aggressively address health IT and electronic health record (EHR) issues, according to a major technology report. The report stems from a summit in Chicago last August that brought together providers,...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS / Technology)
February 1, 2006... Compliance Manager, an Internet subscription service, serves facilities as an audit and quality assurance tool for state surveys. "I feel like it's helped me overall as far as our total survey is concerned," said Betty B. Farley of GlenWood...

Hidden cameras bring charges.(NORTHEAST)
February 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has charged the owner and operator of a Rochester, NY, nursing home with patient neglect after hidden cameras allegedly revealed substandard care. Anthony Salerno and Healthcare Associates...

Survey: consumers satisfied.(NORTHEAST)
February 1, 2006... MASSACHUSETTS -- Families are generally satisfied with the care their loved ones receive in the state's nursing homes, according to a government-directed consumer satisfaction survey. Surveys showed an overall satisfaction rating of 4.25,...

State offers drug funding.(NORTHEAST)
February 1, 2006... VERMONT -- Gov. James Douglas (R) has signed a measure making $7 million available to cover drug costs for seniors after the new federal Medicare prescription drug program rejects some of their claims, Before the new Medicare drug plan went...

Emergency response to Part D.(NORTHEAST)
February 1, 2006... MARYLAND -- Baltimore's health department turned on its emergency surveillance and response system to monitor prescription drug access for Medicare beneficiaries when the new benefit went into effect Jan. 1. The health department's system,...

Lighter culprit in deadly fire?(MIDWEST)
February 1, 2006... MICHIGAN -- A cigarette lighter may have caused a fatal fire at a nursing home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in December. While a lighter is believed to be the culprit, that information had not been confirmed at press time, according...

State readies Part D help.(MIDWEST)
February 1, 2006... KANSAS -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) recently announced that the state would distribute $500,000 to bolster community resources that help Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the new Medicare drug benefit. Acknowledging that "people are...

Changes to sex offender law.(MIDWEST)
February 1, 2006... ILLINOIS -- Concerns from the nursing home community could result in a change to an Illinois law that protects nursing home residents from sex offenders. Under a proposed change to the Vulnerable Adults Protection Act, nursing home...

Schumer insists on Part D improvements.(NEW YORK)
February 1, 2006... U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) used a recent visit to St. John's Home in Rochester to demand that the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services repeal some of its Medicare Part D regulations to eliminate frustration and save money for nursing...

$2.5 million settlement.(Life Care Centers of America Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... GEORGIA -- Life Care Center of Lawrenceville, GA, has reached an agreement to pay $2.5 million to resolve allegations of misuse of government funds. Federal and state authorities investigated the nursing home after five whistle-blowers...

Labor costs spiral up.(payroll costs for nursing facilities)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... LOUISIANA -- Since Hurricane Katrina hit in August, payroll costs for nursing facilities in many areas of the state have increased by up to 80%, in part, because of the displacement of the labor pool, according to Joe Donchess, executive...

Because it is so new, I'm worried that families might get angered with Medicare Part D fallout. How can we best react to any complaints?(Ask THE LEGAL EXPERT)
February 1, 2006... As the Medicare Part D program begins, facilities should keep up to date on program developments and state and federal responses to problems. As the facility is not responsible for problems caused by Part D or the Part D drug plans, your...

Groups vow to appeal Part D dual-eligible suit dismissal.(NEWS / Legal Matters)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Leaders of advocacy groups are planning to appeal a federal judge's decision to dismiss their lawsuit over dual eligibles' accessibility to prescription drugs under the new prescription drug benefit. Eight advocacy groups, as well as the...

Court rules arbitration 'unconscionable'.(NEWS / Legal Matters)
February 1, 2006... The Third District Court of Appeals ruled an arbitration agreement signed by a daughter as her father was being transported to a nursing home is unenforceable. The decision opens the door for the daughter to sue over claims of negligence and...

How to do it ... support surfaces.(Business & Marketing)
February 1, 2006... The proper acquisition of pressure support surfaces has never been more important for long-term care providers. With the cost of treating some pressure ulcers ranging into the tens of thousands of dollars, not counting liability concerns, the...

Building the business.(Business & Marketing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Challenge: Bond grades Response: Core excellence Result: BBB ratings RATING SERVICES grade a bond issuer's probability of defaulting, based on an analysis of the firm's financial condition and profit potential. Receiving a BBB...

Renovation expands subacute capability.(Waukesha Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... WAUKESHA SPRINGS HEALTH and Rehabilitation Center in Waukesha, WI, is undergoing a $500,000 renovation to upgrade resident rooms, common space and nursing stations. But the centerpiece of the project is the overhaul of rooms in a subacute...

Catching up on your reading.(THE BIG PICTURE)(Book review)
February 1, 2006... Each year, hundreds of books and thousands of magazine articles offer guidance on how to run one's business better. For any long-term care leader, the breadth and depth of these choices can be overwhelming. That's why it's so nice when...

Washington should be taking a stronger hand.(Editor's DESK)
February 1, 2006... Imagine what it would be like if the federal government sent air traffic controllers to different schools to learn their trade. Or, what if Major League Baseball umpires didn't all receive the same instruction and oversight? Whether...

Reader poll: "what would you tell young long-term care workers who are just starting out?".(Opinion)
February 1, 2006... "Regarding residents, that the spirit doesn't age, that even as our bodies age, we are the same person as we go through life's experiences. It's something we learn ourselves as we age. I think it's such a complex field, depending on what area...

Re-raising the roof: facilities are aging along with their residents, prompting operators to fund remodeling aimed at restoring their youth.(Finance)(Company Profile)
February 1, 2006... Don't look now, but senior living residents aren't the only ones who are feeling the ravages of old age. Though they are young by comparison, the average ages of skilled nursing (30) and assisted living facilities (13) show a housing stock...

The next step: resident security technology is improving, thanks to scalable wandering systems that piggyback onto existing platforms.(Wandering)
February 1, 2006... Few events can be as frightening--and damaging--to providers as when a dementia resident wanders unescorted off the property or into an unsecured, potentially dangerous area of the facility. The risks are mounting as more residents with...

EnduraCare.(Rehab therapy services)
February 1, 2006... EnduraCare is America's first choice for Rehab Therapy Services! We provide the expertise to run a profitable therapy department by providing staffing, on-site management, software technologies, and billing and referral, as well as source...

RehabCare.(Rehab therapy services)
February 1, 2006... RehabCare is a leading provider of rehabilitation program management services in more than 800 hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities throughout the United States. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 677-1238 www.rehabcare.com

Kindred Ltc.(Rehab therapy services)
February 1, 2006... People first provides rehabilitation services--including physical and occupational therapy and speech language pathology--to skilled nursing centers, hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics and assisted living centers across the country, We also...

Rehabilitation: the following firms offer an array of services.(Directory)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2006... Rehabilitation Aegis Endurance Therapies Therapy Settings served Assisted living * * CCRCs ...

A day in the life.(Careers)(Taunton Nursing Home's John A. Brennan)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... JOHN A. BRENNAN came to the Taunton (MA) Nursing Home as its administrator nearly three years ago. But he has spent nearly 30 years in the healthcare industry, including 10 in long-term care. Brennan's strong background in accounting and...

Salary snapshot: social service director.(Careers)
February 1, 2006... Median salaries (all facilities) REGION SALARY($) REGION SALARY($) 1 48,226 6 28,683 2 42,536 7 40,351 3 38,490 8 -36,866 4 35,880 ...

A balanced approach.(Profile)(American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging chair Margaret Mullan)
February 1, 2006... Margaret "Peggy" Mullan AAHSA board chair ONE MIGHT THINK that heading a 600-resident not-for-profit continuing care retirement community and actively serving on a slew of legislative and governmental affairs committees on aging would be...