McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from July 2007

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from July 2007

CMS backs rehab floor.
July 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reiterated its support for the 75% Rule as a ramp-up of the mandate was set to take effect this month. The threshold was expected to rise to 65% on July 1 and should hit 75% in July of next...

Lawmakers revisit sprinkler legislation.
July 1, 2007... Nearly 1 in 5 nursing homes might find themselves shopping for sprinkler systems as a result of a new push from federal lawmakers. New bills in the House and Senate would mandate fully automated sprinkler systems for all nursing homes in...

Feds clarify drug rules.
July 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a regulation allowing healthcare providers to help beneficiaries with enrollment and education linked to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. CMS noted in technical...

Alzheimer's estimates up.(NEWS)
July 1, 2007... Alzheimer's could afflict more than 100 million people globally by 2050, new research indicates. Currently, fewer than one-third of that suffers from the disease. Among those expected to have Alzheimer's, 40% are expected to be in a later...

Second drug aids recovery.(NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Giving depressed elderly residents an additional antidepressant may improve their recovery, a new study indicates. A second drug can help those adults who do not respond to first-line therapy, according to the study, which appeared in the...

Stone: labor shortage could get even worse.(NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Worsening labor problems could soon become a crisis, according to a former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official. While the eldercare field now employs more than 1.4 million nurse's aides and some 700,000 home health care...

Bush gives provider taxes a break.(NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A $120 billion supplemental funding bill signed by President Bush gives a reprieve to provider taxes, which were on track to expire. The taxes actually help most providers, because they are typically returned to contributing facilities in...

A hospital compensation index could be used to regulate prospective payments to nursing homes, according to the June report of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.(At deadline)
July 1, 2007... A hospital compensation index could be used to regulate prospective payments to nursing homes, according to the June report of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. The index should be phased in gradually to avert jarring reimbursement...

Nearly two-thirds of nursing home employees rate their overall job satisfaction as "good" or "excellent," according to Web-based research firm My Innerview.(At deadline)
July 1, 2007... Nearly two-thirds of nursing home employees rate their overall job satisfaction as "good" or "excellent," according to Web-based research firm My Innerview. But half of all nurses in the 2,000 facilities surveyed were 50 years or older, which...

Following a meeting between President Bush and Senate Republicans, it appeared that immigration reform legislation was still alive in Washington.(At deadline)
July 1, 2007... Following a meeting between President Bush and Senate Republicans, it appeared that immigration reform legislation was still alive in Washington. However, the measure continued to face long odds at press time.

60 seconds with ... Dale S. Johnson.(NEWS)(Interview)
July 1, 2007... Q: How do you view your job responsibilities since your appointment in April? A: I will be orchestrating a paradigm shift. The old Joint Commission is not going to work anymore. Healthcare has changed, especially in the long-term care...

House committee probes LTC insurance practices.(NEWS)
July 1, 2007... Regulators and lawmakers have been closely scrutinizing long-term care insurance vendors and products. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, for example, has begun investigating the business practices of long-term care insurance...

Senators to consider background checks.(NEWS)
July 1, 2007... The chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging has re-introduced a bill that would establish a nationwide system of background checks for long-term care workers. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), who has long touted the importance of...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to include nursing homes among targeted inspections in 2007.(Regulatory Update)
July 1, 2007... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to include nursing homes among targeted inspections in 2007. It will pick out those facilities with chronic problems.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has called for limiting Medicare reimbursements for anemia medications used by cancer patients.(Regulatory Update)
July 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has called for limiting Medicare reimbursements for anemia medications used by cancer patients. Treatment with anemia drugs is "not reasonable and necessary" for 13 conditions, CMS said.

Senators and representatives have introduced a bill that would provide state grants for health courts and other innovative projects.(Bill Watch)
July 1, 2007... Senators and representatives have introduced a bill that would provide state grants for health courts and other innovative projects. Health courts are an innovative way to resolve malpractice disputes.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) introduced a bill that would link eligible seniors suffering from chronic illnesses.(Bill Watch)
July 1, 2007... Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) introduced a bill that would link eligible seniors suffering from chronic illnesses with a health professional to coordinate their care.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
July 1, 2007... Do you have any suggestions on how I could get the importance of resident sensitivity across to my staff? One of my favorite in-services is sensitivity training with the staff in the entire facility, not just nursing. All staff members need...

Moving to SNF may quicken Alzheimer's decline: report.(NEWS: Resident Care)
July 1, 2007... Shifting from a community setting to a nursing home may be too difficult a transition for some Alzheimer's patients, a new study finds. Use of adult day care prior to nursing home placement could be a key intermediate step, according to...

Study finds need for better diabetes care.(NEWS: Resident Care)
July 1, 2007... Less than half of diabetic nursing home residents meet blood glucose goals set by the American Diabetes Association. This is according to a yearlong study that examined the care of elderly residents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The nursing...

Experienced doctors make the difference in keeping older people with lung problems out of the hospital.(Caregiving Update)
July 1, 2007... Experienced doctors make the difference in keeping older people with lung problems out of the hospital. Researchers at the Center for Studying Health System Change and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center studied more than 500,000 Medicare...

Elderly individuals who lift weights may not only get stronger but also younger from their exercise, according to researchers at the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, CA.(Caregiving Update)
July 1, 2007... Elderly individuals who lift weights may not only get stronger but also younger from their exercise, according to researchers at the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, CA. Strength training affects older muscles on the level of gene...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
July 1, 2007... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced its 2007 targeted inspection plan will include nursing homes. Do you have any preparation tips for our wound care program? The bloodborne pathogens rule relating to...

Two reports size up growing global wound care market.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The worldwide market for advanced wound care technology will reach $4.6 billion by 2011, according to a new study from ReportBuyer.com. The 153-page report predicts the U.S. market for advanced wound care technologies will reach almost $2.6...

Residents' own blood may heal wounds.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A preliminary study suggests that topical application of a gel made from platdets in healthy individuals' own blood may help wounds heal more quickly and completely, according to a report in the May/June issue of Archives of Facial Plastic...

CytRx Corp. said it plans to begin a mid-stage clinical trial next year to test a treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, if the Food and Drug Administration allows it.(Treatment Update)
July 1, 2007... CytRx Corp. said it plans to begin a mid-stage clinical trial next year to test a treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, if the Food and Drug Administration allows it. The firm announced the research, which is based on promising results from a...

Derma Sciences Inc. announced that it has obtained Food and Drug Administration clearance to market and sell its Mobility-1 boot and compressor device.(Treatment Update)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Derma Sciences Inc. announced that it has obtained Food and Drug Administration clearance to market and sell its Mobility-1 boot and compressor device. The product will be used for the treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), Deep Vein...

CleveX Inc. announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to market and sell its ExiClip[TM] skin biopsy with wound closure device in the United States.(Treatment Update)
July 1, 2007... CleveX Inc. announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to market and sell its ExiClip[TM] skin biopsy with wound closure device in the United States. The firm plans to launch product sales in the third quarter....

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
July 1, 2007... My nursing staff and I don't think that our medical director is doing a very good job. How should we proceed? You might want to set up a meeting with the administrator, the medical director and yourself to go over the goals of the facility...

Report calls for nurse staff mandates, higher payments.(NEWS: Nursing)
July 1, 2007... Policy changes and better Medicaid payments could help improve nurse-staffing levels at nursing homes nationwide, a new study has found. The report comes at a time when most operators staff well below levels recommended by the Centers for...

Elan Corp. PLC of Ireland and Wyeth are seeking approval to begin advanced trials of an Alzheimer's drug.(Medication Update)
July 1, 2007... Elan Corp. PLC of Ireland and Wyeth are seeking approval to begin advanced trials of an Alzheimer's drug to halt memory loss and dementia.

Certain anti-anemia drugs should have labeling restrictions because of the drugs' cardiac and blood clot risks.(Medication Update)
July 1, 2007... Certain anti-anemia drugs should have labeling restrictions because of the drugs' cardiac and blood clot risks, a panel of medical advisers said in their recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration. The drugs, Aranesp, Epogen and...

A widely prescribed type 2 diabetes pill increases users' risk for heart attack, researchers concluded.(Medication Update)
July 1, 2007... A widely prescribed type 2 diabetes pill increases users' risk for heart attack, researchers concluded. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for Avandia in response to the findings, which appeared in the New England...

A combination drug that is used to treat high blood pressure may be effective for initial treatment, researchers found.(Medication Update)
July 1, 2007... A combination drug that is used to treat high blood pressure may be effective for initial treatment, researchers found. Lotrel helped to control blood pressure in 73% of participants in a trial sponsored by Novartis, which sells Lotrel.

This quarterly update of new drugs in the long-term care market is provided by an experienced staff of pharmacists and pharmacologists at our sister publication MPR.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... This quarterly update of new drugs in the long-term care market is provided by an experienced staff of pharmacists and pharmacologists at our sister publication MPR, the nation's leading supplier of concise prescribing information for more than...

Slow-release, oral drug attacks colitis, reduces inflammation.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
July 1, 2007... Lialda Company: Shire Rx Pharmacologic class: Aminosalicylate Active ingredient: Mesalamine 1.2g; del-rel tabs. Indication: To induce remission in active, mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Pharmacology: Mesalamine is...

Anti psychotic for schizophrenia, not for elderly with dementia.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
July 1, 2007... Invega Company: Janssen Rx Pharmacologic class: Antipsychotic (benzisoxazole) Active ingredient: Paliperidone 3mg, 6mg, 9mg; ext-rel tabs. Indication: Schizophrenia. Pharmacology: Paliperidone is the major active...

Antiviral proves effective for chronic hepatitis B treatment.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
July 1, 2007... Tyzeka Companies: Idenix and Novartis Rx Pharmacologic class: Antiviral (nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Active ingredient: Telbivudine 600mg; tabs. Indication: Treatment of chronic hepatitis B in patients...

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
July 1, 2007... How important is the cognitive performance scale? Use of the cognitive performance scale (CPS) can be extremely important in assessing your residents' abilities and making sure they receive appropriate services. This scale also is important...

Fire safety bills promise providers sprinkler funding.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
July 1, 2007... Although they fear the price tag sounds high, nursing home advocates are hoping bills introduced in Congress recently will smooth the way for 100% automatically sprinklered facilities. The Nursing Home Fire Safety Act of 2007 would require...

OSHA to inspect facilities.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
July 1, 2007... Some nursing homes may soon receive an unexpected visitor from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA plans to conduct surprise inspections at nursing homes and other personal care facilities...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
July 1, 2007... 5.1 About 5.1% of the nation's 2.4 million registered nurses work at nursing homes, while 57% are employed by hospitals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 7.25 Congress approved raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25 from the...

Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. recently began trading as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange.(Business Briefs)
July 1, 2007... Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. recently began trading as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange. The company's public debut in May came about 18 months after Onex Corp., a Canadian company, acquired it for about $710 million. The...

Advocate Inc.'s shareholders re-elected.(Business Briefs)
July 1, 2007... Advocate Inc.'s shareholders re-elected William C, O'Neil, Jr. and Robert Z. Hensley to the board of directors. A proxy prior to the May annual meeting demanded that Advocate name three new people, Todd R Robinson, Essel W. Bailey and Terry...

National HealthCare Corp's first quarter.(Business Briefs)
July 1, 2007... National HealthCare Corp's first quarter profits rose 30% to $7 million as revenues increased by 7% to $146 million. During the quarter, the company completed construction on a 60-bed addition to its Parklane facility in Columbia, SC.

MetroMonitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... MetroMonitor Median occupancy rates for skilled nursing care facilities ranged more than 11 percentage points in major metropolitan areas nationwide in the first quarter of 2007/Leaders Rank Metro Occupancy Leaders...

Formation acquires Genesis after struggle with Fillmore.(NEWS: Companies)
July 1, 2007... After a protracted bidding fight, a private equity joint venture earned shareholder approval to acquire Genesis HealthCare Corp., the third-largest nursing home chain in the country. Shareholders on May 30 voted for the $69.35 per-share...

SEC probes major chain.(NEWS: Companies)
July 1, 2007... The Securities and Exchange Commission has begun investigating assisted living giant Sunrise Senior Living Inc. regarding insider trading, the timing of stock option grants and matters relating to accounting practices. Following the...

Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME)introduced legislation to authorize more than $4 billion in grants to providers over five years.(IT Update)
July 1, 2007... Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME)introduced legislation to authorize more than $4 billion in grants to providers over five years. Funds will help operators adopt interoperable information technology, Under a draft version of...

A coalition led by former Sen. John Breaux and former Rep. Nancy Johnson urged Congress at press time to pass legislation promoting health information technology.(IT Update)
July 1, 2007... A coalition led by former Sen. John Breaux and former Rep. Nancy Johnson urged Congress at press time to pass legislation promoting health information technology. The group said the measure should include financial incentives to facilitate...

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a searchable directory of more than 200 healthcare "report cards" produced by a variety of monitoring organizations.(IT Update)
July 1, 2007... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a searchable directory of more than 200 healthcare "report cards" produced by a variety of monitoring organizations. It said the purpose of the Health Care Report Card Compendium "is...

The federal government is expected to expand its efforts to create an interoperable healthcare IT network of networks.(IT Update)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The federal government is expected to expand its efforts to create an interoperable healthcare IT network of networks. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, will call...

Bill proposes new agency to oversee health-related IT.(NEWS: Technology)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Department of Health and Human Services has failed in its duty to embrace a White House directive for widespread electronic medical records adoption, according to some critics. In response, one lawmaker has introduced a measure that would...

"I couldn't live without ..." .(NEWS: Technology)
July 1, 2007... When the goal is "prompt response," you can't go wrong with a state-of-the-art wireless call system, says Jaak Juhkentaal, vice president for operations at Rockwood South Retirement Community, Spokane, WA. The facility took the opportunity to...

Nurse call system.(NEWS: Technology)
July 1, 2007... VisionLink Wireless Nurse Call System by Systems Technologies melds many patient technology systems into one centralized system. This helps to provide patient-focused care with superior facility management FOR MORE INFO: (888) 826-3394...

Judge upholds charges.(SOUTHEAST)
July 1, 2007... LOUISIANA -- A state judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against Salvador and Mabel Mangano, the owners of a New Orleans nursing home where 35 residents perished in flooding following Hurricane Katrina. The owners face 35 counts of...

Installation costs water down sprinkler mandate.(MISSOURI)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... State legislators late last year had envisioned a law mandating sprinkler systems at all long-term care facilities. But costs ultimately put a damper on their plans. Gov. Matt Blunt (R) signed a bill last month that could exempt more than...

Summit airs hurricane concerns.(SOUTHEAST)
July 1, 2007... FLORIDA -- Transportation could continue to pose a problem for nursing home operators if a hurricane hits, a recent nursing home summit revealed. Lack of transportation resulted in fatal problems during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Still, no...

Program gives recipients choice.(SOUTHEAST)
July 1, 2007... ALABAMA -- Some Medicaid recipients now can decide how to spend their monthly allowances, under a new program approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Personal Choices, a voluntary program, is available to participants in...

Study: adults not thinking ahead.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... GEORGIA -- Most baby boomers in the state have not prepared financially to handle the costs of long-term care, a new study shows. Only 16% of Georgians own a long-term care insurance policy, according to the survey of 815 baby boomers aged...

Bill calls for fingerprint checks.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... ILLINOIS -- The state House unanimously passed a bill that would require fingerprint-based background checks for direct care and long-term care access workers. Currently, only name-based background checks apply to new hires. The...

Providers ask for fee increase.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... OHIO -- Nonprofit and for-profit nursing home providers in the state are pressuring lawmakers to increase nursing home reimbursement fees. An alliance, the Skilled Nursing Care Coalition, is running television ads to generate public...

Facilities lose out in session.(MIDWEST)
July 1, 2007... MINNESOTA -- Nursing homes in the state will have to make do with less following the 2007 state legislative session. Facilities, which had been pushing for cost-of-living increases of around 6%, received only 2%. One state senator fears...

State conducts insurance probe.(WEST)
July 1, 2007... CALIFORNIA -- Health advocates are following the lead of federal lawmakers who are probing the policies and practices of some long-term care insurers for denied claims. The California Department of Insurance has begun a "market conduct...

Prison opens dementia unit.(NORTHEAST)
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK -- A medium-security prison just north of New York City is operating the first dementia unit in the state. Twenty inmates are now patients at the Fishkill state prison dementia unit, which opened in October. The unit, which...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
July 1, 2007... What are the best steps to take to insulate ourselves against punitive damage claims? Generally, chains have restructured their ownership by making each operating entity a separate legal entity, with the same owners. If such entities...

Lawsuit to determine if CMS can cut Medicare payments.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
July 1, 2007... A federal court has ruled regulators cannot end a skilled nursing facility's Medicare provider agreement until a pending lawsuit about the termination is decided. An administrative law judge found the facility in compliance after a state...

Court: nursing home has right to evict.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
July 1, 2007... A nursing home resident may be evicted for not paying for care provided before she became eligible for Medicaid benefits, an Ohio appeals court has ruled. Dayspring of Miami Valley was allowed to discharge Nell Shepherd because of...

How to do it ...: incontinence care.(Business & Marketing)(Medical condition overview)
July 1, 2007... Providers are constantly looking for better ways to conduct incontinence care programs and assessments. It's no wonder, since the recent rollout of F-tag 315 directs surveyors to take a harder look at care plans and their execution. Also, with...

Welcome to the club: Atlanta-area CCRC prides itself on going above and beyond the typical retirement home with golf courses, a heated pool and other luxuries.(Business & Marketing: Design)
July 1, 2007... Inspired by his parents' plight as retirees, Andy Isakson has set out to provide a continuing care retirement community that gives seniors what they want. "The mistake some operators make is designing a community from their view of what...

Weighty advice for the future.(THE BIG PICTURE)
July 1, 2007... You've no doubt heard the adages before: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... A stitch in time saves nine. The directive embedded in both is to address an issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Don't be surprised if these...

Time for you to put these yo-yos on a shorter string.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
July 1, 2007... Leave it to the General Accountability Office to get politicians, regulators and lobbyists pointing fingers at each other again about nursing homes. In case you missed it, the GAO issued a report recently that concluded federal health...

"What's your favorite long-term care joke?".(Reader Poll)
July 1, 2007... "My favorite all-time long-term care joke is about a newly admitted resident who rolls her wheelchair into the dining room where residents are playing Bingo. She rolls up to a table where a male resident is sitting and says, 'Pardon me, sir,...

Just want to get a laugh.(HAVING MY SAY)
July 1, 2007... Ask any working comic and he or she will tell you that stage time is precious. Stand-up comedy is a competitive business. Because it's often difficult to find new venues, I've been doing a lot of charity events lately--mostly nursing homes. And...

Enjoyed presentation of 'informative' webcast.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I enjoyed the presentation (McKnight's "Make eLearning Work for You," May 22, 2007). It was informative. I particularly liked being able to pull down the outline after the presentation. Perhaps it would have been better if we could have pulled...

Put McKnight's webcast info to use immediately'.(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I thought the webcast was very interesting. We put a lot of the information to use immediately. I thought the experts were very knowledgeable and presented in a manner that kept one's interest. I am looking forward to many more webcasts in...

Advocate rips newspaper about LTC insurance story.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... The recent New York Times article (as reported on in McKnight's "Analysis rips LTC insurers," May 2007, p. 12) is on a par with the attacks in USA Today and Consumer Reports on nursing homes--i.e., some real problems exist, but the criticism is...

Insurers say NYT article lacked proper context.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... A recent [New York Times] article "Aged, Frail and Denied Care by Their Insurers" raised issues about long-term care insurance without providing context about the reliability of these policies based on the experience of most policyholders...

'Green' acres? As hospitals lead the way, the healthcare field is catching on to the benefits of building environmentally sound buildings.(Design/furnishings)
July 1, 2007... Long-term care facilities have placed lots of attention on interior design in recent years, mostly on creating environments that are less institutional and more homelike for residents. The results often have been impressive, with creative use...

Riding high: access to reliable, safe vehicles can boost your facility's image--and improve the quality of life for your residents.(Transportation)
July 1, 2007... Resident transportation involves far more than merely taking passengers from Point A to Point B. A well-run program keeps residents connected to the community, fosters socialization and instills a sense of independence. All of this can improve...

Achieve Healthcare Technologies.(Corporate Profiles)
July 1, 2007... Achieve Healthcare Technologies is a leading provider of software systems and services for the eldercare industry, serving more than 2,800 facilities nationwide. Achieve Matrix, a Web-based, fully integrated clinical and financial software,...

ADL Data Systems.(Corporate Profiles)
July 1, 2007... ADL Data Systems' OptimumSeries fully integrated software suite is the culmination of more than 30 years of software development experience in long-term care. By combining the latest technology with the most comprehensive software in the...

American Data.(Corporate Profiles)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... ECS--Electronic Chart System and Financial System: A unique and totally integrated software solution eliminates forms and can do it all in nursing homes, assisted living and CCRC's: --Referral List --Physician Order Entry ...

American HealthTech.(Corporate Profiles)
July 1, 2007... American HealthTech is one of the largest, most reliable companies in the industry, with 30-plus years of post-acute care software and technology solutions, 4,300 licensed customers nationwide and a proven record of customer loyalty. Our...