McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from February 2009

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from February 2009

Capital access getting tough.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the nation's economy continues to struggle, providers are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the capital needed to run or improve their communities. Don't expect a quick reversal any time soon, an...

Measure would stop therapy limitations.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Members of both the House and Senate wasted no time introducing a bill that would eliminate Medicare Part B therapy caps, a move hailed by providers. The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009...

Cuts looming: White House.
February 1, 2009... Medicare and Medicaid will need to be trimmed if spending for the programs continues at current levels. That is according to Peter Orszag who spoke last month at his confirmation hearing for the position of director for the White House Office...

Meds may hike risk of death.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2009... Antipsychotic drugs raise the risk of death for Alzheimer's patients, according to British researchers. Although there is evidence that short-term use of the medications helps those with Alzheimer's, prolonged use can result in serious...

Chronic illness more prevalent.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More Americans--and particularly the elderly--have multiple chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, according to research published in the journal Health Affairs. The percentage of people with three...

Labor nominee mum on card-check issue.(NEWS)(Hilda L. Solis)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Senate Republicans grilled President Barack Obama's choice for Labor secretary at a recent confirmation hearing. But Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) gave them little ammunition. Despite earlier sponsorship for...

SNF-hospice ties investigated.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... Federal investigators will scrutinize possible conflicts of interest between hospice care and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission voted in early January to direct the Department of Health and Human Services...

Only 12% of the nursing homes being rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services received five stars, as of the first grading.(At Deadline)
February 1, 2009... Only 12% of the nursing homes being rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services received five stars, as of the first grading. The remaining facilities were evenly divided among one to four stars, according to the agency. CMS unveiled...

House Democrats disclosed a new $825 billion stimulus package at press time.(At Deadline)
February 1, 2009... House Democrats disclosed a new $825 billion stimulus package at press time. Fully $87 billion of the amount would help states gain additional Medicaid funds, giving providers reason for optimism.

President Obama said that the nation's long-term economic recovery cannot be attained unless the government finally gets control over its most costly entitlement programs.(At Deadline)
February 1, 2009... President Obama said that the nation's long-term economic recovery cannot be attained unless the government finally gets control over its most costly entitlement programs. Toward this goal, Obama said he will soon convene a fiscal...

60 seconds with ... Larry Minnix: President and CEO American Assn. of Homes & Services for the Aging.(NEWS)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: What was one of the most important things you told the Obama transition team when it asked for recommendations? A: Our plan for financing long-term care through a national insurance plan instead of the current...

Bill would expand education, training for workers in LTC.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... A group of bipartisan U.S. senators and congressmen last month introduced legislation to offer more educational and training opportunities for healthcare workers in long-term care and gerontology. The Retooling the Health Care Workforce for...

Spending on nursing homes up by 4.8%.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... Federal spending on nursing homes accelerated 4.8% in 2007--a 20% increase over the 4.0% expansion rate of a year earlier, according to a new federal report. "A major factor underlying the trend was faster price growth," the Centers for...

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in January approved recommendations to revise the current Medicare payment system.(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2009... The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in January approved recommendations to revise the current Medicare payment system for hospice care providers serving terminally ill patients.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule regarding non-emergency medical transportation.(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2009... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule regarding non-emergency medical transportation. It was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 19, 2008.

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) last month introduced the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2009.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2009... Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) last month introduced the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2009. If passed, it would strengthen the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 202 program for the elderly.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a rules package that includes a provision eliminating the Medicare trigger.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. House of Representatives passed a rules package that includes a provision eliminating the Medicare trigger for at least two years.

Ask: the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
February 1, 2009... I am a charge nurse responsible for dressings, wound care, and preventive measures for a 36-bed unit. Can you give some information on the two new stages for wounds? I believe what you are referring to is the National Pressure Ulcer...

Experts: nursing homes need guidelines for diabetes care.(NEWS: Resident Care)
February 1, 2009... Short-term glucose goals in nursing home residents with diabetes largely are not being met, according to new study results. Even worse, there are no specific guidelines for the care of residents with diabetes, experts say. "We haven't yet...

Report: social worker standards lacking.(NEWS: Resident Care)
February 1, 2009... Half of all nursing home social workers do not have a degree in the field, and only one in five hold a four-year diploma in it, according to a new study. Fewer than two in five are licensed in social work, University of Iowa researchers...

Death rates plummeted by 48% and hospitalizations by 27% for seniors who had a flu shot, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study that encompassed data from 700,000 individuals over 10 flu seasons.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2009... Death rates plummeted by 48% and hospitalizations by 27% for seniors who had a flu shot, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study that encompassed data from 700,000 individuals over 10 flu seasons. Even when the vaccine...

Keeping blood-sugar levels (which often tend to rise with age) low enough, even when diabetes isn't present, could be an effective way to "avert the cognitive slide" many experience as they age, researchers report from Columbia University Medical Center.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2009... Keeping blood-sugar levels (which often tend to rise with age) low enough, even when diabetes isn't present, could be an effective way to "avert the cognitive slide" many experience as they age, researchers report from Columbia University...

Federal health officials released guidelines for the reduction of six common facility-acquired infections.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2009... Federal health officials released guidelines for the reduction of six common facility-acquired infections. They guidelines can be found at www.hhs.gov/ophs/ initiatives/hai/index.html.

Ask: the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
February 1, 2009... We have an incontinent resident who is continually experiencing skin breakdown in the gluteal folds and buttocks area. Would this be considered a pressure ulcer? If the skin breakdown is related to exposure from urinary and fecal...

Study: hospitals struggling with increase in bedsores.(NEWS: Wound Care)
February 1, 2009... While nursing homes have made major strides in reducing pressure ulcers, it appears that hospitals are losing ground. In fact, the number of hospital patients with pressure ulcers increased by nearly 80% over a 14-year span, according to a new...

Wound care 'GPS' may facilitate healing.(NEWS: Wound Care)
February 1, 2009... New research shows that an outer portion of most human cells is able help direct cells to help close a wound. The primary cilium--the solitary, antenna-like structure that studs the outer surfaces of virtually all human cells--orients cells...

Kinetic Concepts (KCI) and Wake Forest University Health Sciences have filed additional patent infringement claims against Smith & Nephew in an ongoing patent lawsuit in federal district court in San Antonio, TX.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2009... Kinetic Concepts (KCI) and Wake Forest University Health Sciences have filed additional patent infringement claims against Smith & Nephew in an ongoing patent lawsuit in federal district court in San Antonio, TX. The new claims involve the...

The Food & Drug Administration is "fundamentally broken" and requires reforms, according to a letter sent to the transition team of President Barack Obama by nine agency scientists.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2009... The Food & Drug Administration is "fundamentally broken" and requires reforms, according to a letter sent to the transition team of President Barack Obama by nine agency scientists. Agency managers have ordered, intimidated and coerced...

The FDA recently gave Adhezion Biomedical marketing clearance for its SurgiSeal.(Treatment Update)
February 1, 2009... The FDA recently gave Adhezion Biomedical marketing clearance for its SurgiSeal (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) skin adhesive.

Ask: the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
February 1, 2009... How do you get staff to take personal accountability for problems? I find this to be harder and harder as time goes by. All we are looking for when we ask questions is a reasonable explanation as to how an issue occurred. It seems that...

New nursing collaborative stresses on-site training.(NEWS: Nursing)
February 1, 2009... A pair of Catholic Senior Services providers in Minneapolis have taken professional education for prospective long-term care nurses to a different level. Rather than exporting professionals to local colleges to expedite the teaching process,...

Perks piling up for nursing prospects.(NEWS: Nursing)
February 1, 2009... Growing shortages of nurses have led nursing facilities and hospitals around the country to become more dramatic in their efforts to attract new employees, according to a recent report. Nursing applicants have been offered incredible...

The Food & Drug Administration approved 24 new drugs in 2008.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2009... The Food & Drug Administration approved 24 new drugs in 2008. That is more than the agency approved in each of the prior three years. Still, the FDA missed several deadlines in the approval process last year.

More people than previously thought are developing a jaw condition as a result of taking oral osteoporosis drugs, according to a new study.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2009... More people than previously thought are developing a jaw condition as a result of taking oral osteoporosis drugs, according to a new study. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is characterized by pain, soft-tissue swelling, infection, loose teeth and...

The FDA recently approved Ryzolt, a once-daily drug for the management of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around-the-clock pain treatment for an extended period of time.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2009... The FDA recently approved Ryzolt, a once-daily drug for the management of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around-the-clock pain treatment for an extended period of time. It is maker Labopharm's first product to...

Real-world ways to use technology for improving care and reducing costs will be presented at the upcoming McKnight's Online Expo.(IT Update)
February 1, 2009... Real-world ways to use technology for improving care and reducing costs will be presented at the upcoming McKnight's Online Expo. This webcast can be seen live at 11 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 25. Free registration is available at www....

University of Illinois researchers found that older people who learned to play a strategy-heavy video game improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function.(IT Update)
February 1, 2009... University of Illinois researchers found that older people who learned to play a strategy-heavy video game improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function. The findings indicate that video games that keep players "on their...

UCLA scientists have used brain-scan technology and patient-specific information on Alzheimer's disease risk to help diagnose brain aging, often before symptoms appear.(IT Update)
February 1, 2009... UCLA scientists have used brain-scan technology and patient-specific information on Alzheimer's disease risk to help diagnose brain aging, often before symptoms appear. This new approach holds promise for finding more accurate ways to track...

State lawmakers have introduced nearly 400 bills relating to health information technology in the past 18 months, according to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures.(IT Update)(Conference news)
February 1, 2009... State lawmakers have introduced nearly 400 bills relating to health information technology in the past 18 months, according to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures. More than 130 eventually became laws, the report noted....

Investigators using a hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI have found that chronic stroke patients can be rehabilitated, according to a study presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.(IT Update)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2009... Investigators using a hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI have found that chronic stroke patients can be rehabilitated, according to a study presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America....

Physicians are adopting mobile technology faster than the general public, according to Manhattan Research.(IT Update)
February 1, 2009... Physicians are adopting mobile technology faster than the general public, according to Manhattan Research. Some 54% of U.S. physicians own a PDA or smartphone. Meanwhile, Diffusion Group predicts that 70% of physicians will own a smartphone or...

Obama makes IT a key part of economic recovery plan.(NEWS: Technology)
February 1, 2009... Just prior to taking office, President Barack Obama outlined plans for an economic recovery package that's loaded with plans for healthcare IT improvements. Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan would require up to $800 billion...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keeping patient referrals organized between three separate senior communities can be tricky, especially when each building uses a different technology. That was the case at The A.G. Rhodes Home in Atlanta. "Our...

Investors should consider long-term care stocks in this tough economic climate, according to one consultant.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Investors should consider long-term care stocks in this tough economic climate, according to one consultant. The growth in the number of people 65 and older makes this market attractive in this bearish environment, said Ben McClure, director of...

Emeritus Corp.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2009... Emeritus Corp. finalized an approximately $65 million purchase of five assisted living facilities from Ventas Inc. The company bought the facilities for $62.5 million, plus transaction costs of about $3.3 million. They are located in four...

Golden Living.(Business Briefs)(James Avery)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Golden Living named James Avery, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer. He will be instrumental in helping the skilled nursing chain provide superior quality medical, nursing and therapy services to its patients and residents,...

Metro monitor.(Business Briefs)(Table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Metro Monitor The median occupancy levels for continuing care retirement communities in the 31 biggest metropolitan areas in the United States (during third quarter of 2008). Leaders Rank Metro CCRCs 1 ...

Layoffs at Erickson blamed on 'unprecedented' economy.(NEWS: Companies)
February 1, 2009... Erickson Retirement Communities, a major developer of continuing care retirement communities, last month said it planned to eliminate more than 250 positions as a result of "challenging and tumultuous" U.S. financial markets. "Like many...

FBI raids six Ensign units.(NEWS: Companies)
February 1, 2009... Federal agents in mid-December raided the headquarters of The Ensign Group Inc., and six of its southern California skilled nursing facilities. The search was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged Medicare fraud at the 63-unit chain....

Nursing home outlays.(GOOD month)
February 1, 2009... * Nursing home outlays: Although government spending may be down in many areas, it continues to grow for nursing homes. Federal spending in this area increased by 4.8% in 2007, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

Healthcare funding relief.(GOOD month)
February 1, 2009... * Healthcare funding relief: President Obama's economic recovery plan included funds for Medicaid relief (about $80 billion) and IT improvements (about $20 billion).

Social worker qualifications.(BAD month)
February 1, 2009... * Social worker qualifications: Minima federal standards and inconsistent state laws have caused lapses in nursing home social workers' qualifications. according to a University of Iowa study.

Home- and community-based services.(BAD month)
February 1, 2009... * Home- and community-based services: States may not have the infrastructure to support a potential increase in home- and community-based services, according to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office.

Seeing too many stars?(SOUTHEAST)
February 1, 2009... NORTH CAROLINA -- A new four-star rating system for adult-care homes recently took effect in the state. That comes on top of the new federal five-star rating system for nursing homes. While the systems govern different industries and are...

New Medicaid waiver for HCBS worries providers.(RHODE ISLAND)
February 1, 2009... Nursing homes are concerned about a new federal waiver that allows the state to reform its long-term care program to emphasize home- and community-based care. Advocates reportedly fear that "intermediaries" will make decisions about who...

Facilities saved from cuts.(SOUTHEAST)
February 1, 2009... FLORIDA -- The state Legislature last month opted to exempt nursing homes from sweeping budget reductions. Instead, it agreed on a plan to allow the 460-plus facilities to levy a 5% "quality assessment" fee beginning in April. This move...

In-home services combined.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... NEW JERSEY -- Following federal approval, the state has consolidated three Medicaid-supported home- and community-based service programs into a single program known as Global Options (GO) for Long Term Care. The move, which took effect in...

New laws target elder abuse.(WEST)
February 1, 2009... CALIFORNIA -- Three new state laws aim to toughen penalties for those who commit elder abuse. One law, S.B. 1140, seeks to define more clearly and broadly what elder abuse is. Taking advantage of a person's weakness of mind, lack of...

'Five Star' is progress.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
February 1, 2009... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a new rating system to grade the 16,000 nursing homes in the United States that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. With the goal of streamlining the data already publicly...

Now, this is a great deal.(THE BIG PICTURE)
February 1, 2009... Call it a sign of the times: the American Association of Homes and Services of the Aging recently unveiled a new Web site that helps members cope with new economic realities. The AAHSA Economy Forum lets participants share ideas that help...

[Cartoon].(Opinion)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'm confident that I would make an excellent director of nursing. My five older brothers are still afraid of me."

What will your record be after the storm clears?(Editor's DESK)
February 1, 2009... When is it going to end? Can we get some good news, please? Usually it doesn't seem to get this bad or stay that way this long. But it seems we're being pushed to the limit now. Day after day, it seems like the same thing: Get...

"What steps has your facility taken to 'go green'?".(Reader Poll)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We've invested in new lighting at several facilities to reduce energy consumption. Also, we've upgraded to water-saver toilets, usually with assistance grants from water agencies. One water agency provided...

'Five-Star' ratings fail consumers, providers.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although created with good intentions, the new "Five-Star" nursing home quality ratings system is, overall, an inaccurate measuring criterion that fails to provide consumers with the accurate tool necessary to...

The deep freeze: after a year in which economic conditions have shaken housing sectors to their roots, long-term care pundits continue searching for bright spots.(Finance)
February 1, 2009... There's no denying that 2008 was the worst financial year that anyone born after World War II has seen. Coming off one of its best years in 2007, the long-term care industry saw its financial situation plunge like a Coney Island roller coaster....

Rehabilitation: firms to help you provide needed therapies.(Buyer's Guide)(Table)
February 1, 2009... Rehabilitation Firms to help you provide needed therapies Accelerated Care Plus (ACP) Aegis Therapies Settings served Skilled nursing facilities * ...

Bariatric dining chairs.(Recent arrivals: new products to help you conduct your business more successfully)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kwalu has developed dining room chairs for the bariatric population. The Bariatric Dining Chair comes in versions designed to withstand weights of 250, 500,750 or 1,000 pounds while keeping the same aesthetic appeal...

Tracheostomy tube holder.(Recent arrivals: new products to help you conduct your business more successfully)
February 1, 2009... A tracheostomy tube holder that features an adjustable neckband with a moisture-repellent lining to prevent skin excoriation on the neck has been introduced by Dale Medical Products Inc. The holder stabilizes and limits the movement of the...

Adjustable sink.(Recent arrivals: new products to help you conduct your business more successfully)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Accessible Systems now is offering several new features for Adjust-a-Sink. The improvements to the product include a 3-in-1 faucet, a broader selection of bowl and laminate colors, and a smoother surface to aid in...

Sanitizing wipes.(Recent arrivals: new products to help you conduct your business more successfully)
February 1, 2009... Safetec announced the release of SaniZide Plus Germicidal Disinfectant Wipes. The wipe is a ready-to-use hospital grade surface disinfectant, decontaminant, cleaner and deodorizer. It is safe for use in bathrooms, shower stalls, bathtubs and...

A day in the life: the undercover administrator.(Careers)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Happy Sunshine, a former resident at Renaissance Gardens in Springfield, VA, was not so perky when he was admitted to the skilled nursing and assisted facility for a week in October. After having fallen at an...

Salary snapshot: admissions coordinator.(Careers)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Median salaries (all facilities) REGION SALARY ($) 1 50,024 2 35,277 3 40,560 4 39,092 5 37,153 6 35,000 7 40,761 8 ...

She's paying it forward.(Profile)(Kay Kallander)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kay Kallander Senior VP, American Baptist Homes of the West So many wondrous moments have punctuated her life, Kay Kallander relies on her Christian faith to explain them. Such as the time that her MBA...