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

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

Pending deals promise funds.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Providers are hoping that pending stimulus packages will help their bottom lines. Two measures were being shopped on Capitol Hill at press time. One package, which could cost between $500 billion and $700...

Workforce bill gives providers new boost.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The nursing home community last month applauded Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) for introducing a bill to expand education and training in geriatrics and long-term care for...

Providers irate over ratings.
January 1, 2009... The start of the five-star rating system, which took effect on Dec. 18, provoked near outrage from nursing home providers. "It is based on significantly flawed and inadequate information that has stacked the public relations deck against...

Hypertension woes mounting.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Increased blood pressure in older adults could hurt their inductive reasoning abilities, a new study from North Carolina State University shows. Study subjects whose average systolic blood pressure was 130 or higher saw a significant...

Conquering brain decline.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A video game whose objective is to expand territory and build nations improves cognitive functions in older adults, according to a new study published in the journal Psychology & Aging. Researchers conducted a...

MedPAC to providers: rates fine as they are.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) apparently believes that inflation does not exist for long-term care providers. At press time, the organization was about to call on Congress to keep current payment...

Third online expo takes shape.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Providers can learn more about some of the eldercare field's most pressing challenges and opportunities at an upcoming McKnight's Online Expo. The flee, two-day virtual trade show will take place March 2526. Free registration is available...

For the first time in a quarter century, state spending is projected to drop in the year ahead, according to a report from the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Governors Association.(At Deadline)
January 1, 2009... For the first time in a quarter century, state spending is projected to drop in the year ahead, according to a report from the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Governors Association. The downslide could affect...

Millions of U.S. workers will find their 2009 pay raises are less than 3%, according to a survey conducted by Hewitt Associates.(At Deadline)
January 1, 2009... Millions of U.S. workers will find their 2009 pay raises are less than 3%, according to a survey conducted by Hewitt Associates. The survey blames the sluggish increases on an ongoing financial crisis.

Nonprofit communities appear to be among the victims of Wall Street tycoon Bernie Madoff, who was arrested in what may turn out to be the largest fraud case in history.(At Deadline)
January 1, 2009... Nonprofit communities appear to be among the victims of Wall Street tycoon Bernie Madoff, who was arrested in what may turn out to be the largest fraud case in history. The former NASDAQ chairman admitted that his investment firm was running a...

60 seconds with ... Dale E. Yeatts: Professor of Sociology University of North Texas.(NEWS)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Yeatts is an author of the new book "Empowered Work Teams in Long-Term Care" from Health Professions Press) Q: What did your five-year study discover about nurse aides? A: It surprised me that they really...

The January Profile article on page 46 misidentified Ron Silva as the CEO of Formation Capital.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... The January Profile article on page 46 misidentified Ron Silva as the CEO of Formation Capital. He is the president and CEO of Filmore Capital Partners.

Kohl's bill aims to bolster flagging caregiver workforce.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) last month took a swipe at the workforce shortage with new legislation that would provide funding for more educational and training opportunities for caregivers. "The number of healthcare workers devoted to caring for...

SEIU tried to broker Senate-seat deal: ad.(NEWS)
January 1, 2009... The Service Employees International Union assisted in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's efforts to shop President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, according to a recent advertisement in The New York Times. The union "offered to help...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last month disclosed a new rule allowing states to create "benchmark" healthcare plans for Medicaid beneficiaries.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2009... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last month disclosed a new rule allowing states to create "benchmark" healthcare plans for Medicaid beneficiaries. It exempts nursing home residents.

CMS issued a regulation allowing states to charge Medicaid beneficiaries premiums and higher copayments.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2009... CMS issued a regulation allowing states to charge Medicaid beneficiaries premiums and higher copayments for physicians' services, hospital care and prescription drugs.

President-elect Barack Obama nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.(Bill Watch)
January 1, 2009... President-elect Barack Obama nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and Shaun Donovan secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Healthcare reform is expected to be an item on Obama's agenda when he takes office on Jan. 20.(Bill Watch)
January 1, 2009... Healthcare reform is expected to be an item on Obama's agenda when he takes office on Jan. 20. Interest groups have been pressuring him to take up this issue.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
January 1, 2009... Last month, we spoke about finding out more about the new QIS survey. This continues the discussion. Print the section on the Task 2 in the manual, "On-site Prep." This will tell you what will be asked for when the team arrives at your...

Study: resident suicide rate unimproved, changes needed.(NEWS: Resident Care)
January 1, 2009... The suicide rate among community-dwelling seniors might have fallen in recent years, but it hasn't budged among long-term care residents, according to new study findings. As a result, providers could benefit by re-examining their screening...

Study: dementia underreported in deaths.(NEWS: Resident Care)
January 1, 2009... Alzheimer's disease and dementia are dramatically underreported as a cause of death for seniors in nursing homes, according to recently published research. Instances of dementia-related deaths could be up to four times higher than reported....

About 1 in 5 nurses use electronic health records, and facilities where use of EHR by nurses is prevalent are more likely to report nursing excellence and improved quality of care, according to a recent Harvard study.(Caregiving Update)
January 1, 2009... About 1 in 5 nurses use electronic health records, and facilities where use of EHR by nurses is prevalent are more likely to report nursing excellence and improved quality of care, according to a recent Harvard study. Researchers also...

Seniors discharged from hospital rehabilitation facilities with new activity of daily living disabilities have a greater chance of dying within a year than those discharged without additional disabilities.(Caregiving Update)
January 1, 2009... Seniors discharged from hospital rehabilitation facilities with new activity of daily living disabilities have a greater chance of dying within a year than those discharged without additional disabilities, Johns Hopkins University researchers...

Hospitalization rates as a primary or secondary result of pressure ulcers rose 80% over the last 15 years.(Caregiving Update)
January 1, 2009... Hospitalization rates as a primary or secondary result of pressure ulcers rose 80% over the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
January 1, 2009... How do you suggest positioning a resident for wound measurement when the wound edges sag over the wound bed? Sagging of the wound edges generally occurs with wounds that have undermining. Position the resident comfortably with the...

Antioxidants will not delay aging process, study reveals.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Report)
January 1, 2009... For more than five decades, antioxidants have been used to prevent skin decay and other ravages of aging. New research now indicates that the approach simply doesn't work. To check whether antioxidants actually help in the fight against...

The American Medical Association.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2009... The American Medical Association recently issued reimbursement coding guidelines for medicinal maggots and maggot therapy. The AMA released the information in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The move is expected...

Scapa Medical.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2009... Scapa Medical has introduced Scapa 4005-800A, a soft and conformable pressure sensitive polyurethane foam tape. The product is intended for direct skin applications, such as wound care.

The Food and Drug Administration.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has given Wound Care Innovations clearance to market a new wound management product that combines hydrolyzed collagen polysulfated glycosaminoglycan. The product initially will be available in gel formulation,...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
January 1, 2009... I am getting ready to develop my goals for the nursing department for the next 12 months and am not sure where to start. What would you recommend? I like to meet with my administrator and ask what her/his goals for the facility are for the...

Staffing and stress are worst headaches for many DONs.(NEWS: Nursing)(directors of nursing)(Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Staff recruitment and retention issues are the biggest headaches for directors of nursing, according to the latest edition of the "Senior Care Digest Interdisciplinary Report." More than two-thirds (68%) of DONs said staff concerns were...

Providers ask Congress for staffing help.(NEWS: Nursing)
January 1, 2009... The largest nursing home group in the country is appealing to Congress to enact reforms that would help ease nurse shortages. There were at least 110,000 unfilled nursing positions in U.S. nursing homes in 2007. That's 10.5 % of all nursing...

The risk of heart failure, heart attack and death for older diabetics may be higher with Avandia, a widely used diabetes drug, compared to Actos, a drug in the same class, according to Harvard researchers.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2009... The risk of heart failure, heart attack and death for older diabetics may be higher with Avandia, a widely used diabetes drug, compared to Actos, a drug in the same class, according to Harvard researchers. Both are used for lowering blood sugar...

Because many drug trials fail to include older adults and those with complex conditions, a group of advocates is lobbying Congress to fund an Institute for Comparative Effectiveness Research.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2009... Because many drug trials fail to include older adults and those with complex conditions, a group of advocates is lobbying Congress to fund an Institute for Comparative Effectiveness Research. The institute would identify gaps in evidence for...

Medicaid paid nearly $198 million from 2004 to 2007 for more than 100 unapproved prescription drugs for beneficiaries.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2009... Medicaid paid nearly $198 million from 2004 to 2007 for more than 100 unapproved prescription drugs for beneficiaries, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2009... What changes do you anticipate in 2009 related to the assessment process? Lots! First, we anticipate the final version of the MDS 3.0 in March 2009. Although many providers are still questioning whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

Obama not likely to enact unpopular Medicaid rules.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2009... Seven unpopular Medicaid rules, six of which were delayed from taking effect, are unlikely to be implemented under an Obama administration, panelists said at a recent meeting of the American Bar Association. Among other restrictions, the...

Insurer unloading policies.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2009... Insurance company Conseco has transferred many of its long-term care policies to a trust because of enormous costs associated with supporting these policies, according to a news report. Conseco moved the policies to Senior Health Insurance...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2009... 8 The Medicare Part A trust fund could become insolvent in as few as eight years because of current economic conditions, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' chief actuary in this area. Previous projections estimated...

Extendicare Homes Inc.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Extendicare Homes Inc. recently was hit with a class-action lawsuit in Milwaukee, the site of its U.S. headquarters. The suit argues that the Canadian nursing home chain used false advertising and admitted residents even though it didn't have...

Skilled Healthcare Group Inc.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Skilled Healthcare Group Inc.'s profits rose by about 39% in the third quarter of 2008 to approximately $9.6 million. Revenues rose by 13% to $182.5 million. Sales from the company's long-term care services segment increased by 13% to...

Five Star Quality Care Inc.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Five Star Quality Care Inc. lost about $2 million in the third quarter. Contributing to poor results were losses stemming from holdings of the company's auction rate securities and the impairment of certain investments in marketable securities....

Nursing home chains feeling pressures of weak economy.(NEWS: Companies)
January 1, 2009... The economic downturn has affected industries nationwide, and long-term care is no exception. Chains have been hit in the areas of Medicaid cuts, capital constriction and a slowing of new admissions into seniors housing. Sun Healthcare...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... MetroMonitor Metropolitan areas with the highest and lowest median occupancy levels at skilled nursing facilities (in the third quarter of 2008). Leaders Rank Metro Occupancy 1 Philadelphia ...

Sunrise deters takeover talk.(NEWS: Companies)
January 1, 2009... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. recently enacted new defensive measures to deter potential takeovers. It changed its rules in late November for when it can begin issuing preferred shares. The McLean, VA-based company can now issue such stock...

Banking shift.(GOOD month)
January 1, 2009... Banking shift: More vendors are attempting to become banks, in an effort to tap into $700 billion in federal bailout funds.

Cigarette break.(GOOD month)
January 1, 2009... Cigarette break: The percentage of nurses who smoke fell to 8.4% by 2003. That's down considerably from the 33% mark seen in 1976, according to a new report.

IT.(GOOD month)
January 1, 2009... IT: The adoption of healthcare information technology is key to viability in the future, according to a new report from the Joint Commission.

Staffing.(BAD month)
January 1, 2009... Staffing: A report by the American Health Care Association found that are more than 100,000 unfilled nursing positions nationwide.

Housing crisis.(BAD month)
January 1, 2009... Housing crisis: More seniors unable to sell their homes are delaying moves into assisted living communities and CCRCs, according to media reports.

Gene deregulation.(BAD month)
January 1, 2009... Gene deregulation: The deregulation of certain genes leads to cell damage and aging, according to researchers at Harvard University.

The man President-elect Barack Obama has tapped to run the Office of Management and Budget has previously said federal intervention would be needed to ensure healthcare IT adoption.(IT Update)(Peter Orszag )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The man President-elect Barack Obama has tapped to run the Office of Management and Budget has previously said federal intervention would be needed to ensure healthcare IT adoption. In testimony last July, Peter Orszag said free market shifts...

Online storage of sensitive data is a bad idea, according to Germany's PC Praxis magazine.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Online storage of sensitive data is a bad idea, according to Germany's PC Praxis magazine. Most organizations that offer online storage do not encrypt stored information, the magazine noted. The publication added that while some firms promise...

Nursing homes are unfairly pegged as laggards when it comes to information-technology adoption, a new report suggests.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Nursing homes are unfairly pegged as laggards when it comes to information-technology adoption, a new report suggests. In fact, operators are relatively aggressive in adopting IT, according to an analysis by the American Association of Homes...

Internet use may help seniors improve their cognitive abilities, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... Internet use may help seniors improve their cognitive abilities, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. Two groups of seniors, ages 55 to 76, participated in the study. Half had prior Internet experience. Those...

A recent Washington Post article offers suggestions for improving healthcare delivery across the nation.(IT Update)
January 1, 2009... A recent Washington Post article offers suggestions for improving healthcare delivery across the nation. The paper interviewed several experts. Their consensus? Paying for results.

Latest payoff for electronic records: reduced lawsuits.(NEWS: Technology)
January 1, 2009... Providers who use electronic health records are likely to gain an advantage that has largely gone unnoticed: reduced malpractice claims. At least, that's the conclusion of a new Harvard-based report. The investigators speculate that EHRs...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(elder care training for nurses using Fox Learning System)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Reinforcing education with new and ever-changing information is key to advancement in any field, and this holds especially true in nursing. To help give his staff an easy, individualized way to keep up with their...

Inspector shortage cited.(SOUTHWEST)
January 1, 2009... OKLAHOMA -- A shortage of surveyors has resulted in inspection delays at the state's 670 long-term care centers, according to state health department officials. Only two inspectors oversee the state's 250 assisted living, residential care...

State reduces access to disabilities program.(KANSAS)
January 1, 2009... In reaction to budget shortfalls and general economic concerns, the state imposed a freeze on access to the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver program for individuals with physical disabilities. As of Dec. 1, no new...

Waiver to expand options.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2009... RHODE ISLAND -- Federal officials have been considering a plan that would allow the state to choose how it spends its Medicaid dollars for long-term care. The Rhode Island Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver, a five-year plan, would...

State hosts survey forums.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2009... IOWA -- The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals set up a series of public forums over the last two months to ex plain how and why it regulates nursing homes. The purpose of the forums is to counteract criticism from the nursing home...

Initiative targets bedsores.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2009... WISCONSIN -- The state's Department of Health Services unveiled a Wisconsin Pressure Ulcer Coalition to help reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities. New Jersey is currently the...

Evac center proposed.(SOUTHEAST)(evacuation)(Lamar-Dixon Center)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... LOUISIANA -- Two state lawmakers proposed hurricane preparedness measures during a recent meeting to explore ways to improve hurricane state operations and response. Sen. Mike Walsworth (R) recommended granting tax credits so operators can...

Stinging Medicaid cuts.(SOUTHEAST)
January 1, 2009... SOUTH CAROLINA -- The state Medicaid agency is slashing funding by $61 million, the agency disclosed last month. Home health and hospice residents will be among the hardest hit. It was on a list of cuts released by the Department of Health...

Fiscal emergency declared.(WEST)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CALIFORNIA -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) declared a fiscal emergency on the first day of the new Legislature last month. The state could face a $28 billion budget gap by mid-2010. Meanwhile, funding could run dry by February or March,...

Union merger controversy.(WEST)(Service Employees International Union)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CALIFORNIA -- Plans by the Service Employees International Union to consolidate local unions in the state have unleashed a storm of protest from some of the locals. If the merger takes place, as many as 300,000 employees currently...

Medicaid computers flawed.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
January 1, 2009... IDAHO -- The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Medicaid program may face sanctions because it has failed to adequately fix a computer database riddled with errors. The Legislative Services Office in 2003 first recommended that the...

Veterans want more LTC.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
January 1, 2009... WYOMING -- The Wyoming Veterans Commission is grappling with the issue of long-term care for aging veterans. Specifically, it wants federal legislation that would allow the Veterans Administration to contract for beds in veterans' home...

State's oldest resident dies.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)(Myrtle Bunting)(Obituary)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... SOUTH DAKOTA -- The woman who was the oldest person in the state died in late November at the age of 109. Myrtle Bunting, who resided at St. Williams Care Center in Milbank, reportedly was born Feb. 28, 1899. During World War I, she worked...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2009... We've heard a lot about the False Claims Act being invoked to sue or prosecute providers, How do we steer clear of this? The Federal False Claims Act (FCA) is an increasingly successful weapon in the federal government's efforts to combat...

Court: facility expenses can count toward spend-down.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2009... A state appeals court has ruled that a nursing home resident's facility expenses may be credited toward her Medicaid spend-down needs. The decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals reverses a ruling by the Indiana Family and Social Services...

Low staffing brings $2 million settlement.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2009... A District of Columbia long-term care facility has agreed to pay a $2 million settlement or allegedly keeping staffing levels so low, care was deemed compromised or non-existent, federal and local authorities announced. Grant Park Care...

PointClickCare.(Company Briefs)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... PointClickCare was ranked No. 348 on Deloitte's 2008 Technology Fast 500. The annual ranking lists the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in North America. Rankings are based on the percentage...

AOD.(Company Briefs)
January 1, 2009... AOD recently partnered with The Kendal Corporation and Widener University to examine how electronic health records affect care delivery in eldercare settings. The study will continue through next year and is expected to result in a paper that...

Life Care Funding Group.(Company Briefs)
January 1, 2009... Life Care Funding Group has launched a blog that examines the impact of funding woes on seniors and their families. Chris Orestis, the firm's president, will author the weekly posting. See it at www. lifecarefunding.com/blog.

The American Medical Directors Association.(Company Briefs)(The American Medical Directors Association partners with ReachMD)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The American Medical Directors Association has announced a strategic programming partnership with ReachMD, The Channel for Medical Professionals. The groups aim to provide more access to key thought and practice leaders through peer-to-peer...

Space Tables.(Company Briefs)
January 1, 2009... Space Tables recently unveiled a redesigned Web site. The site's improved visual appearance makes navigation easier than ever. Visitors can select from six separate options: Home, Benefits, Industries, Products, General Info and Contacts.

Vigilan and Life Settlement Financial.(Company Briefs)
January 1, 2009... Vigilan and Life Settlement Financial announced a collaborative effort to develop improved models for the valuation of life insurance policies. The firms plan to increase the accuracy of valuations on life insurance policies.

ConvaTec.(Company Briefs)
January 1, 2009... ConvaTec has announced that Michael E. Steadman will be president of the firm's Wound Therapeutics Business Unit. In addition, Nino Pionati has been appointed as president of the company's Ostomy Care Business Unit.

Firms banking on access to $700 billion in new funding.(NEWS: Vendors)
January 1, 2009... The Treasury Department's plan to provide up to $700 billion for banks appears to be having a transformational effect on corporate America. Increasingly, vendors that formerly focused on unrelated services such as insurance, real estate and...

Roche CEO speaks out against DTC ads.(NEWS: Vendors)
January 1, 2009... The growing practice among drug makers to use direct-to-consumer advertising marks "the single worst decision for the industry," Roche Pharmaceuticals CEO William Burns said at a recent conference in London. Burns also cast doubt on...

How to do it ... Resident security.(Business & Marketing)
January 1, 2009... Allowing residents freedom to roam and move about while also keeping them safe is one of a long-term care operator's biggest challenges. It is such a serious issue, the National Quality Forum recently included patient death or serious...

Better, bigger and faster: an Ohio assisted living and skilled nursing facility uses clever design and construction techniques to more rapidly build its community.(Business & Marketing: Design)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Putting together The Willows at Bellevue in Ohio was like constructing a giant 3-D puzzle, says Adam Foltz, project manager with The Douglas Company. Unlike many other construction and design companies, Douglas...