McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from June 2003

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from June 2003

Investors see worse SNF market.
June 13, 2003... A new federal analysis of the nursing facility market states it clearly: Things have gotten worse over the past year. The second annual market analysis from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said uncertainty over Medicare and...

Department of Health and Human Services. (Late Breaking News).
June 13, 2003... Three times the nation's current 1.9 million long-term care workers will be needed to meet the needs of American seniors by 2050, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. The report...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (Late Breaking News).
June 13, 2003... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it withdrew a proposed rule that would have required companies to identify and isolate workers with infectious tuberculosis, and perform skin testing and training on infection...

The state of Pennsylvania. (Late Breaking News).
June 13, 2003... The state of Pennsylvania fined a skilled nursing facility $3,000 for not allowing a resident's lawyer to visit her. The facility said it would appeal. It said the resident's daughter, who had power of attorney, told the facility not to let the...

American Medical Association. (Late Breaking News).
June 13, 2003... Women 65 and older taking combination hormone therapy had twice the rate of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, compared with women not on the hormones, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

LTC Management. (Late Breaking News).
June 13, 2003... After 77 days on the picket lines, workers at Guilderland Center Nursing Home and Rosewood Gardens Nursing Home in Rensselaer, NY, agreed on a contract with operator Highgate LTC Management LLC.

Databank... who pays?
June 13, 2003... DATABANK... WHO PAYS? A variety of sources pay for long-term care, but the government clearly has the biggest checkbook when compared to the others. Medicaid 45% Out-of-pocket 23% Medicare 14% Private...

Tax-cut help for Medicaid 'temporary'.
June 13, 2003... The $350 billion tax cut and state-aid bill signed into law on May 28 offered long-term care and other healthcare providers $10 billion for Medicaid. It allocated $10 billion to improve the federal share of Medicaid payments through the...

Prevention research may make dementia a memory. (Patient Care).
June 13, 2003... Long-term care providers could see some significant changes in the management of dementia disorders -- and perhaps even a dramatic fall-off in new dementia cases -- if a series of promising new research developments pan out. Researchers...

Therapy caps nearing reality despite pleas. (Reimbursement).
June 13, 2003... Intense talks between federal regulators, providers and lawmakers concerning the July 1 effective date of new outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps stretched into June. Stakeholders agreed no solution or compromise would likely come on...

Retirement Security Act of 2003. (Legislative Update).
June 13, 2003... Hoping the third time is the charm, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), introduced a bill that would encourage the purchase of private long-term care insurance. Johnson, the chair of the House Ways and Means health...

Strengthening Our States. (Legislative Update).
June 13, 2003... Reps. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and John Dingell (D-MI) introduced the "Strengthening Our States" (SOS) Act, which would have the federal government take over the all costs for Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below 135% of the federal poverty...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Regulatory Update).
June 13, 2003... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published an updated list of laboratory tests that are approved as waived tests under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. Waived procedures, such as-glucose testing, are not...

National AL center urged: states are expressing interest in assisted living recommendations in the Assisted Living Workgroup's report and supplemental papers. (Cover Story).
June 13, 2003... The Assisted Living Workgroup's report to Congress is passing through federal hands to state officials, who were prime targets originally for the document. The report offers advice, rules and best practices for the growing industry. ...

Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2003. (Nursing News).
June 13, 2003... Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) introduced the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2003 (S 991), a bill that would mandate in healthcare institutions the development of staffing systems that require the input of direct-care registered nurses and...

Committee gives injury-reducing proposal to OSHA. (Nursing News).
June 13, 2003... The National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics presented its first set of work plans to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The nursing home industry was the first to receive a set of voluntary ergonomics guidelines from the...

Stroke survivors not doing enough prevention. (Nursing News).
June 13, 2003... Stroke survivors are not taking preventive steps to protect their health, according to a new survey from The National Council on the Aging. Nearly one-third of stroke survivors were not exercising regularly, 19% were still smoking, and 18% were...

Study: poorly controlled diabetes leads to dementia. (Nursing News).
June 13, 2003... Diabetic people over age 60 scored lower on cognitive function tests if their disease was not under control, according to new research from Ohio State University. Researchers gave cognitive tests to more than 2,000 adults over the age of 60...

Research: synthetic thc may reduce Alzheimer's agitation, improve appetite. (Pharmacy News).
June 13, 2003... Researchers said a promising pilot study may have discovered a drug that will cut agitation and increase appetite in Alzheimer's patients. Dronabinol, a synthetic version of THC, may be suitable for use when more traditional treatments are not...

Lithium shown to block Alzheimer's formations. (Pharmacy News).
June 13, 2003... Researchers working with mice have found that lithium blocks an enzyme that leads to Alzheimer's plaque build-up and tangles. Lithium currently is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder in humans. Lead researcher Dr. Peter Klein of the...

NHQI out of headlines, but not out of minds of providers. (Patient Care).
June 13, 2003... Although quality data publicly reported under the Nursing Home Quality Initiative may soon be revised, nursing facilities nationwide already are engaging in meaningful quality improvement work as a result of the program. The quality...

Murder charges, bed taxes, tougher surveys. (State News).
June 13, 2003... Northeast/Connecticut Authorities have charged a 23-year-old woman with arson murder in connection with a Connecticut nursing home fire in February that killed 16 fellow residents. The woman, who reportedly has a history of psychological...

Liability reform pressure increasing around the country. (News).
June 13, 2003... Providers' battles against huge jury and settlement awards in malpractice and wrongful death cases has picked up momentum over the past several months. Pressure has increased in more than 20 states, where providers, businesses, and...

Beverly Enterprises Inc. (Briefs).
June 13, 2003... Beverly Enterprises Inc. reported $12.2 million in first quarter profits. The numbers mark a dramatic turnaround from a year earler, when Beverly lost nearly $57 million. Beverly sold its Matrix outpatient rehabilitation clinics in January,...

A $20 million tax break helped Louisville, KY-based Ventas Inc. (Briefs).
June 13, 2003... A $20 million tax break helped Louisville, KY-based Ventas Inc. report a net income of $37.3 million in the first quarter, up from $12.7 million a year earlier. An accounting change reversed a previously-recorded liability that reflected...

Genesis Health Ventures Inc. (Briefs).
June 13, 2003... Genesis Health Ventures Inc. announced $9.7 million ($0.23 per share) income from continuing operations for the quarter ending March 31 . That's down $18.6 million from a year ago. The firm attributed the downturn to internal restructuring...

Extendicare Health Services Inc. (Briefs).
June 13, 2003... Extendicare Health Services Inc. unveiled its results for the first quarter of 2003--including its highest census level in almost a decade. Extendicare reported net earnings of $2.3 million for the period, a 38% increase from a year ago....

Manor Care Inc. (Worth Watching).
June 13, 2003... In a move that could affect other publicly-traded chains, Manor Care Inc. stockholders approved a proposal calling on the board of directors to face re-election each year. Company Chairman and CEO Paul Ormond said the board would consider the...

Sunrise Senior Living plans. (Worth Watching).
June 13, 2003... Sunrise Senior Living plans to wean itself from property sales to boost earnings, according to Paul Klaassen, chairman and CEO. Klaassen said management fees will account for about 90% of Sunrise's earnings within two years. He compared...

Wound care pay often missed. (Reimbursement).
June 13, 2003... While long-term care providers are doing their best to make sure their residents are "covered" with strong, healthy skin, they are ironically not covering themselves as well. Many facilities are losing out on available reimbursement...

Five keys to success in long-term care. (Executive Decisions).
June 13, 2003... Q: Your first success factor is a total commitment to quality of care and services. Is that also your most important factor? A: I start the five key success factors with quality of care and service because quality drives the business. As...

Plans of correction not always done correctly. (Legal Matters).
June 13, 2003... Q What are some basic principles that we providers may often forget when preparing a plan of correction? A A facility is required to submit a plan of correction for any alleged deficiency of C or higher, unless one is contesting the...

Thankfully, CMS treads where Congress won't. (Regulations/Compliance).
June 13, 2003... Q CMS recommends a 2.9% pay hike for fiscal year 2004 and also announces it is postponing RUG refinements again. Which is the better news? A Both are wins! The full funding of the marketbasket for fiscal 2004 is something that nursing...

Don't get hit by the delegation boomerang. (Staffing Concerns).
June 13, 2003... Q I seem to have a problem delegating work to my department heads and others within the facility. What can I do to get them to not only accept assignments (they often do) but to complete them without bouncing them back to me? A When you...

Caps spotlight Rehab Low, restorative nursing. (Payment Answers).
June 13, 2003... Q What do you advise in regard to coping best with the new therapy caps set to become effective again July 1? A Program Memorandums AB-03-18 and A AB-03-057, dated Feb. 7, 2003, and May 2, 2003, discussed the implementation of Part B...

Kindred follows beverly out of Florida due to liability costs. (Business).
June 13, 2003... Nursing home giant Kindred Healthcare looks like it soon will have its wish of exiting the two states with the highest liability costs. The Louisville-based firm announced on May 14 that it had reached a deal to buy the Florida and Texas...

Service providers find new strategies needed. (Managing Technology).
June 13, 2003... In the movie "Field of Dreams," Kevin Costner's character constructs a ballpark in response to a promise: If you build it, they will come. Does the same kind of view toward innovation--that growth is the key to profitability--hold true for...

CareScout. (Quality Corner).
June 13, 2003... CareScout recently awarded its highest honor--the AAA" rating--to 151 high-performing nursing facilities nationwide. The company evaluates government inspection records, quality of life data, and other resident care information to determine...

Health System Change. (Quality Corner).
June 13, 2003... While physicians spent about two more hours a week on patient care in 2001 than in 1997, a growing percentage of doctors say they don't have enough time with patients, according to a study released by the Center for Studying Health System...

Investment policy a strong budget tool. (P & L Journal).
June 13, 2003... As the long-term care industry matures, more providers are relying on investment performance to supplement operating incomes. However, the budgeting process that's used to determine the contribution from investment performance to the bottom...

Market monitor.
June 13, 2003... MARKET MONITOR Occupancy percentage rates 1999 2000 2001 United States 82.70 82.44 82.53 Alabama 92.48 91.45 91.24 Alaska 76.41 72.47 72.34 Arizona ...

Beds, chairs and lifts continue to improve care. (Industry Innovators).
June 13, 2003... A bed is not just a bed and a chair is not just a chair. Especially when it comes to long-term care. The same philosophy can hold true for many pieces of durable medical equipment. That's why providers find it so important to keep an eye...

Hertz Supply Co. Inc. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... Volker, "The Healthcare Bed in Disguise," is again bringing the latest developments in bed technology to savvy healthcare customers. In addition to totally unique features such as disappearing side rails, disappearing casters, fine wood...

Resource Systems. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... The CareTracker System by Resource Systems provides an innovative approach to supportive documentation using wall-mounted touch screens. The improved accuracy ensures accurate reimbursement while reducing MDS completion time. The system helps...

Xmark. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... Xmark's WatchMate Wander Prevention System uses FM radio technology in a bracelet to prevent an Alzheimer's resident from leaving a facility undetected and becoming lost or injured. WatchMate is currently being used in thousands of healthcare...

Healthcare Services Group Inc. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... Healthcare Services Group, Inc. is a cost-effective management of housekeeping, laundry and food services customized per long-term care or healthcare facility, designed to reduce expenses and improve productivity while enhancing the facility's...

Novartis. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... Think what's possible. We're working hard to make Alzheimer's disease a distant memory. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is proud to be part of the effort to fight Alzheimer's disease. For more information about Alzheimer's disease warning...

Gojo Industries Inc. (Show Stoppers).
June 13, 2003... GOJO Industries announces its new PROVON[R] FMX[TM] foaming skin care system, a product line designed to help long-term care facilities enjoy the benefits of hand hygiene compliance while also helping residents enjoy gentle, effective bathing...

Spectroline[R] germicidal UV lamps. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * UV lamps destroy or render harmless virtually all bacteria and viruses * Housings constructed of anodized aluminum or enameled sheet metal for extra-long life * Corrosion-resistant, specular aluminum reflector ensures maximum UV...

Blue gel for nasal masks. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Durable gel cushion provides an ideal sealing surface * Three masks compatible with all CPAP and bi-level systems * Single-size masks and headgear designs reduce inventory and fitting time * Produced by SleepNet Corp. Circle...

Custom imprinting for ringbinder chartholders. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Custom imprinting ensures medical record confidentiality and security * Stamping process permanently bonds customized information onto binder * Imprinting available on side-and top-opening binders in a variety of colors *...

Wheelchair scale. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Increased portability with lightweight, foldable designs * Sturdy handrails and low platforms * Standard features include auto tare, auto zero and auto weigh * Manufactured by Tanita Corp. Circle 195 on reader service card

Onetouch system. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) module replaces paper * Tracks patient care and helps prevent mistakes * Requires that all ordered tests and documentation are performed prior to administration of medication *...

Finger Oximeter. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Digit[TM] Finger Oximeter gives accurate [SPO.sub.2] pulse rate and pulse strength measurements * Weighs 3 oz., portable, with extra-large LED numerals * Long-lasting battery performs 1 400 spot checks * From Direct Supply ...

Thermoskin[R] flexible thumb splint. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Relieves pain associated with arthritis, tendonitis and injuries * Rigid moldable insert provides excellent support and comfortable fit * Increases blood flow and wicks away moisture * Produced by United Pacific Inc. Circle...

TM hot/cold gel pack. (New Products).
June 13, 2003... * Large 10 by 15 gel pack for heat or cold pack therapy * Designed to help relieve acute and chronic discomfort from strains, sprains and injury * Produced by Trademark Medical Circle 199 on reader service card

Setting Realistic Expectations. (Product Focus).
June 13, 2003... GuideOne Insurance, one of the top insurers of Senior Living Communities, is requiring nursing home policyholders to show Setting Realistic Expectations during the admissions process and present a copy to family members. The 15-minute video...

Quality care costs less. (Q&A).
June 13, 2003... If you think you have to pay more to get better quality results, you're wrong, and a former provider-turned-researcher has the numbers to prove it. She explains here which facilities are more likely to do well and also offers advice on how...

The Alzheimer's angle. (Commentary).
June 13, 2003... A caregiver conducting scientific research is a lot like a journalist writing a book. He or she starts out with an idea and eventually has to adopt full faith in it, often not knowing if it will amount to much. Many times you don't even...

Reader's letters.
June 13, 2003... "Granny" taxing needed The recent article in McKnight's Long-Term Care News, "Granny Taxing Popular Pursuit of States," makes it clear there are none or very few members of the long-term care provider community fully enthusiastic about the...

Visitation visionary: Oklahoma woman starts network to put a visitor in every long-term care room, 'recycling' funding and service hours. (McKnight's LTCN Profile).
June 13, 2003... Brenda Merritt is a woman on a mission. It's no easy task, but then again, one gets the idea that Brenda Merritt is not one who is easily intimidated. Simply put, her goal is to leave no nursing home resident without a personal visitor...

When you leave, will they cry or cheer? This boss found that example, empowerment and listening are the keys. (Parting Shots).
June 13, 2003... One of of the realities of military life is the occassional change in command. For most rank-and-file workers, these changes are a hassle. Normal duties get added to or shoved aside. Meanwhile, just about everything gets scrubbed, painted,...