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

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

Law to check on residents.
June 1, 2006... Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed legislation that makes Illinois the first state to require criminal background checks for current and admitted nursing home residents. "Unfortunately, every state across the nation is struggling with sex...

Debate shifting after Senate kills tort bills.
June 1, 2006... For the fifth time in three years, the Senate voted down tort reform proposals that would have eased burdens on nursing home operators and other healthcare providers. The Senate defeated the "Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2006" (S....

Report tracks sex offenders.
June 1, 2006... Providers were gearing up at press time for possible backlash from a federal report on the prevalence of sexual offenders in nursing homes. Nearly 700 registered sex offenders were living in long-term care facilities in 2005, according to a...

Bad choices can take toll.(NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... It is well known that smoking and lack of physical activity are health hazards. But a new study finds they also improve a person's chances of landing in a nursing home. The same factors that increase the risk of disease and early death...

Joint pain cuts effort.(NEWS)
June 1, 2006... More than one third of adults with arthritis don't exercise enough or at all, a new study reveals. Such a finding is disheartening, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say, because evidence shows that activity...

Providers tell panelists how to reform Medicaid.(NEWS)
June 1, 2006... A broad-based public insurance program funded by premiums, with benefits based on individuals' needs for assistance with activities of daily living, was proposed by Larry Minnix, president and CEO of the American Association of Homes & Services...

McKnight's named 'nation's best'.(NEWS)(American Society of Health Publication Editors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... For the second straight year McKnight's Long-Term News has been honored for having the "Best News Section" in the national competition sponsored by the American Society of Health Publication Editors (ASHPE). McKnight's once again also won...

Hospitals that treat chronically ill elderly patients at a higher cost to Medicare don't get better results, according to the Dartmouth Atlas project.(At deadline)
June 1, 2006... Hospitals that treat chronically ill elderly patients at a higher cost to Medicare don't get better results, according to the Dartmouth Atlas project. The study calls for overhauling how the nation manages chronic illness. Non-hospital settings...

Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services broke the law when it retaliated against striking employees at some of its Pennsylvania facilities, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled.(At deadline)
June 1, 2006... Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services broke the law when it retaliated against striking employees at some of its Pennsylvania facilities, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled. The board ordered the company--now known as Golden Gate...

Detailed information about new long-term care medications will begin appearing in McKnight's next month.(At deadline)
June 1, 2006... Detailed information about new long-term care medications will begin appearing in McKnight's next month. Information for this quarterly update will be supplied by the respected Monthly Prescribing Reference.

60 seconds with ... Stephen Cabot, Esq.(Interview)
June 1, 2006... Q: What new labor concerns are there? A: There's a new union organization called "Change to Win," a spin-off from the AFL-CIO led by the leader of the Service Employees international Union. They've quadrupled the number of organizers and...

CMS requires that insurers continue Part D medications.(NEWS)
June 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently delivered some good news to providers. The agency unveiled a policy that allows beneficiaries to continue to receive coverage for medications even if insurers drop the drugs from their...

Official: elderly should wait for vaccines.(NEWS)
June 1, 2006... Should a pandemic influenza outbreak hit the United States, who should be the first to receive antiviral drugs and vaccines? One of the federal government's top health officials says it should not be the elderly and other at-risk populations....

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed rule on competitive bidding for durable medical equipment in the May 1 Federal Register.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed rule on competitive bidding for durable medical equipment in the May 1 Federal Register. Providers were preparing responses to the rule at press time.

CMS released instruction on benefits exhaust and no-payment billing for skilled nursing facilities.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2006... CMS released instruction on benefits exhaust and no-payment billing for skilled nursing facilities. The instruction provides a single consistent billing process for all contractors.

The Senate approved a $108.9 billion fiscal year 2006 emergency supplemental spending bill.(Bill Watch)
June 1, 2006... The Senate approved a $108.9 billion fiscal year 2006 emergency supplemental spending bill. The measure includes funds to prepare for the possibility of pandemic flu and creates a compensation fund for victims of experimental vaccines.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) is sponsoring a bill that would authorize the FDA.(Bill Watch)
June 1, 2006... Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) is sponsoring a bill that would authorize the FDA to conduct postmarket drug reviews of approved medications.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
June 1, 2006... What tips can you give me as the new DON in a long-term care facility? There are many, most of which at least indirectly affect how resident care is performed at your facility: * You are accountable for the budget, so you should have...

Study: family-style dining offers beneficial outcomes.(NEWS: Resident Care)
June 1, 2006... Switching to family-style meals may work wonders on residents' well-being and won't bust the bank, results of a new study indicate. Dutch researchers found that nursing home residents who ate family-style were better off physically and...

Black patients are less likely than whites to trust their healthcare providers, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2006... Black patients are less likely than whites to trust their healthcare providers, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. About 45% of blacks and 33% of whites reported low levels of trust in their providers.

Seniors who are socially active could protect against the damaging impact of Alzheimer's disease, a new study says.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2006... Seniors who are socially active could protect against the damaging impact of Alzheimer's disease, a new study says. The larger a person's social network, the less effect the tangles and plaques of Alzheimer's had on their cognitive test scores,...

Seniors with unmanaged depression are more likely to be admitted to a nursing home, study results say.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2006... Seniors with unmanaged depression are more likely to be admitted to a nursing home, study results say. Diabetes and heart failure were the greatest predictors of nursing home admission. Depressive symptoms were the third largest indicator,...

A new study sheds light on the prevalence of pain shortly after and even months after a stroke, according to study of 297 Swedish stroke sufferers.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2006... A new study sheds light on the prevalence of pain shortly after and even months after a stroke, according to study of 297 Swedish stroke sufferers. A total of 32% reported moderate to severe pain four months after a stroke. The study appeared...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
June 1, 2006... Do all wounds require cover dressings? No. There are several instances where a cover dressing is not required or may be physically impossible to place. Treatment choices must allow for keeping the wound moist until healed. There are...

Wound care market poised to hit $2.8 billion by 2008.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Advanced wound management approaches hold the promise of dramatic caregiving improvements, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan. Such payoffs may include increased resident comfort, less time for dressing changes, faster healing...

The most effective treatments for inflammatory skin disorders might be those that suppress the immune response and enhance the maturation of new skin cells, investigators have found.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2006... The most effective treatments for inflammatory skin disorders might be those that suppress the immune response and enhance the maturation of new skin cells, investigators have found. Writing in the May issue of Clinical Investigation, Julia...

A mutation in a gene commonly associated with deafness can play an important part in improving wound healing.(Treatment Update)(Medical condition overview)
June 1, 2006... A mutation in a gene commonly associated with deafness can play an important part in improving wound healing. Dr. Stella Man, from the Institute of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Queen Mary's University, London, England, said the discovery may...

Data show that a protocol of care using ConvaTec's absorbent antimicrobial dressing provided several benefits.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2006... Data show that a protocol of care using ConvaTec's absorbent antimicrobial dressing provided several benefits, including fewer dressing changes and better cost-effectiveness when compared to silver sulfadiazine cream for the management of adult...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2006... What is this "culture change" I am hearing about in long-term care? We have all heard of programs such as the Greenhouse Project, The Eden Alternative and more. They all work towards a more homelike environment in the long-term care...

'Compassion fatigue' can be a consequence of caregiving.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2006... There's never been much doubt that nursing is a stressful occupation. A new study sheds light on an often overlooked risk factor: compassion fatigue. As the June issue of International Journal of Nursing Practice reports, compassion...

Several medications commonly prescribed to the elderly are the focus of new lawsuits.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2006... Several medications commonly prescribed to the elderly are the focus of new lawsuits. The actions stem from allegations of companies' covering up side effects, according to a New York Times report. The drugs include Seroquel, Prempro and...

Between 1994 and 2003, deaths in New Mexico from accidental prescription drug overdoses increased from 1.9 out of 100,000 deaths to 5.3 per 100,000 deaths.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2006... Between 1994 and 2003, deaths in New Mexico from accidental prescription drug overdoses increased from 1.9 out of 100,000 deaths to 5.3 per 100,000 deaths. Prescription drug overdoses top overdose deaths caused by illegal drugs, a long-range...

More than one in seven prescriptions for common drugs are used for off-label purposes that lack scientific support, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.(Medication Update)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... More than one in seven prescriptions for common drugs are used for off-label purposes that lack scientific support, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The investigation, which used data from the 2001 IMS Health National...

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services permitted drug companies to continue providing free medicines to low-income Medicare beneficiaries even if they are covered under the prescription drug benefit.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2006... The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services permitted drug companies to continue providing free medicines to low-income Medicare beneficiaries even if they are covered under the prescription drug benefit....

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2006... We seem to be getting more residents admitted to our facility who do not meet the three qualifying hospital days requirement for Medicare A. Is there a reason for this change? I have heard this concern expressed in at least three different...

CMS proposes pay increase to lighten 75% rule impact.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed increasing payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), a move that could slash an expected new flow of therapy patients to long-term care facilities. CMS forecasts...

LTCHs get funding break.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2006... Federal health officials have backed off plans to cut long-term care hospitals' reimbursement rates by an average of 11%. Public comment helped lead the agency to be more generous, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said. The...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2006... 21 The percentage of 725 million prescriptions examined from a 2001 database that were for off-label use. Three-fourths of the off-label applications lacked scientific support, according to the lead researcher from Stanford University. 34...

Extendicare Inc.'s first-quarter profits.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
June 1, 2006... Extendicare Inc.'s first-quarter profits declined by 23% to $14 million Canadian (about $12 million U.S.) as earnings per diluted subordinate voting share fell to $0.20 from $0.26 last year in the same quarter. A number of items negatively...

Sun Healthcare Group Inc. said it returned to the black in the first quarter largely because of the December acquisition of Peak Medical Corp.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2006... Sun Healthcare Group Inc. said it returned to the black in the first quarter largely because of the December acquisition of Peak Medical Corp. Sun earned $1.7 million in the first quarter as overall revenues increased by 39% to $287 million....

National HealthCare Corp.'s profits increased by 10% to $5 million while its revenues rose to $137 million in the first quarter.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2006... National HealthCare Corp.'s increased by 10% to $5 million while its revenues rose to $137 million in the first quarter. First quarter occupancy at owned and leased skilled nursing centers averaged 94.2%.

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2006... Areas with highest proportion of skilled nursing facilities vs. assisted living facilities (among properties with 25 or more units). Leaders Number of Properties SNF market AL ...

For-profit to buy 3 Catholic homes, terms undisclosed.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... In a unique partnership, Harborside Healthcare, a for-profit long-term care chain, is planning to acquire three nursing homes in Connecticut from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. Harborside will purchase the facilities and their...

Ventas seeks big rent hike.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2006... Nursing home giant Kindred Healthcare Inc. last month received some alarming news from its main landlord. Ventas Inc., a healthcare real estate investment trust, announced it wanted to raise Kindred's rent by 54%, increasing the aggregate...

The second annual Long-Term Care Health IT Summit will be held June 8-9 at the Marriott Baltimore Inner Harbor hotel.(IT Update)
June 1, 2006... The second annual Long-Term Care Health IT Summit will be held June 8-9 at the Marriott Baltimore Inner Harbor hotel. Among the key issues on this year's agenda: funding, standards, data content, e-prescribing and medical safety, research and...

CMS has streamlined its so-called "no pay billing" requirements.(IT Update)
June 1, 2006... CMS has streamlined its so-called "no pay billing" requirements. The modified process requires providers to submit monthly no-pay bills only if a resident continues to receive skilled care after exhausting his/her skilled nursing facility...

Prospects for a healthcare IT bill to move forward in the House appear promising, according to Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA).(IT Update)
June 1, 2006... Prospects for a healthcare IT bill to move forward in the House appear promising, according to Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA). He said the most likely vehicle for a healthcare IT bill to pass in the House is a proposal that would remove legal barriers...

Fewer healthcare facilities are complying with federal laws to protect patient privacy, and more patients are refusing to sign forms to release health information, according to a survey by the American Health Information Management Association.(IT Update)
June 1, 2006... Fewer healthcare facilities are complying with federal laws to protect patient privacy, and more patients are refusing to sign forms to release health information, according to a survey by the American Health Information Management Association....

CMS has issued final regulations streamlining Medicare enrollment requirements for providers and suppliers.(IT Update)
June 1, 2006... CMS has issued final regulations streamlining Medicare enrollment requirements for providers and suppliers. The agency said it had eliminated some redundancies in its CMS-855 enrollment forms and lengthened the period between required...

Providers' financial burden delays IT progress: study.(NEWS: Technology)
June 1, 2006... In most industrialized nations, insurers and governments pay implementation costs for healthcare IT. The rationale is that these two players reap the rewards of having such data management systems in place. But in the United States,...

"I couldn't live without...".(NEWS: Technology)
June 1, 2006... Quarryville (PA) Presbyterian Retirement Community, which includes a 110-bed skilled nursing facility, began its journey toward an electronic, paperless medical record with a clinical software program used by its nurses and nursing assistants....

Violent criminals law passes.(WEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... UTAH -- The state legislature recently passed a law that took effect May 1 requiring nursing homes to inform residents when a violent felon with a terminated sentence is living on the premises. But the law does not require notification when...

Provider gives 'tanks'.(MASSACHUSETTS)
June 1, 2006... Management at Harborside Cedar Glen Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Danvers filled employees' tanks at a local gas station as a way to thank them for their cost-savings efforts. The bonus was a gift to staff for significantly reducing...

State facility data posting tardy.(WEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... CALIFORNIA -- Despite a 1999 law that requires the state Department of Health Services to post nursing home inspection reports on the internet, so far that information is not available--and it probably won't be until April 2007, state officials...

Study: LTC's capabilities in peril.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... PENNSYLVANIA -- The state's ability to provide quality long-term care services in the future is at risk, according to a new study by the Lewin Group commissioned by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association. According to the study report,...

Families satisfied with care.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... MARYLAND -- Nursing home care in the state received good marks from residents' family members, according to a new survey. The pilot survey conducted by the Maryland Health Care Commission found that on a 5-point scale, overall satisfaction...

Spouses' assets at risk.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Gov. George E. Pataki has removed from the state budget a provision that allows spouses of nursing home residents the right to refuse to help pay the cost of care. The change could result in savings of $34.2 million this year...

Prison for facility directors.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... MINNESOTA -- The administrator and assistant administrator of a Little Falls nursing home have been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from the facility. Darrel Schwartz, the administrator, and his wife, Kathleen...

Nursing home use to tumble?(MIDWEST)
June 1, 2006... WISCONSIN -- Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has signed new legislation that is designed to reduce nursing home use by 25% over the next eight years. The law focuses on expanding the state's use of home and community-based services. Currently the...

Pledges help facility pay bills.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... ILLINOIS -- Public funding took on a whole new meaning for Davier Health Care Center in LaHarpe. Officials of the 45-bed nursing home asked community residents to pledge money to help keep the facility open. Within a week, the nursing home...

Deficit reduction program.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... KENTUCKY -- Kentucky became the first state to receive approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revamp its Medicaid program, customizing benefits in accordance with the federal Deficit Reduction Act that was signed in...

Unique DVD for legislators.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... LOUISIANA -- The Louisiana Nursing Home Association has created a new DVD offering strategies to improve safety and quality in the state's facilities. The DVD, unveiling the "2006 Quality Care and Safety Agenda," was distributed to members...

More LTC choices wanted.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2006... FLORIDA -- Seventy-three percent of registered voters in the state recently polled said they would overwhelmingly support a managed long-term care system for low-income seniors if they were allowed to make a choice between in-home services and...

Survey: Part D causing problems.(SOUTHWEST)
June 1, 2006... ARIZONA -- At least 11% of state seniors recently surveyed said finding a nursing home or assisted living facility was a "serious problem." In addition, more than 63% of seniors called understanding the Medicare drug coverage program a...

Olympians converge on facility.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... KANSAS -- Residents from 26 south central Kansas nursing homes have been invited to compete in Pratt County's Annual Nursing Home Olympics. This year's Olympics are being hosted by Pratt Regional Living Center at the Pratt County Fair Grounds....

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2006... We've heard of several cases of arbitration agreements in admission packets being "unconscionable." How do we avoid getting that label while still keeping a strong arbitration statement? There is no clear roadmap to determine whether a...

Study: 40% of malpractice cases are without grounds.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2006... About 40% of medical malpractice cases filed in the United States are groundless, according to a Harvard researcher who previously conducted a separate study of nursing home claims. The findings challenge the view of tort-reform advocates...

Judge tosses nurse whistleblower case.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2006... A federal judge has dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit against Extendicare Inc. The long-term care chain, the judge said, was not liable under the state's whistleblower statute for demoting a nurse who complained to her superiors about alleged...

How to do it ... skin/wound care.(Business & Marketing)(Medical condition overview)
June 1, 2006... When it comes to the best ways to practice good skin and wound care, experts repeatedly return to a common theme, independent of one another: Practice the basics. Keep a simple routine that thrives on preventive maintenance. Do this, and the...

Homespun healthcare: a new dementia and Alzheimer's care environment that originated 15 years ago paved the way for today's more compassionate settings.(Business & Marketing: Design)
June 1, 2006... When the late Charles Pruitt set out to create a more compassionate environment for Alzheimer's and dementia residents in the late 1980s, he couldn't have imagined the tremendous influence his ideas would have on the rest of the industry. But...

Looking past the parking lot.(THE BIG PICTURE)
June 1, 2006... In his illuminating autobiography, Wendy's Restaurant Founder Dave Thomas talks about the intense competition he faced early on. It seems one of his rivals was in the habit of parking outside Dave's restaurant each day around lunchtime. The...

Cast your ballot now for Readers' Choice Awards.(Editor's DESK)
June 1, 2006... As part of our 25th anniversary celebration last year, we asked readers to name their preferred products of the past quarter century. It was such a huge success, we've decided to make it an annual program. Among other things we learned...

Better jobs will produce better long-term care.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... It's really pretty simple. If you want your friends, neighbors and loved ones to receive the very best long-term care--in a nursing home, an assisted-living center, in their own home or in other settings--it will happen when there is a stable...

'Handwriting on the wall' for bed tax opponents?(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Thank you so much for the McKnight's Long-Term Care News magazine. We do enjoy it so much and find so many articles of help in operating a nursing home. This is in regard to your April 2006 issue regarding "This tax cut is no break" (p. 1). ...

F-315: tag daze: a year later, facilities are still struggling to adapt to new incontinence care guidelines. More citations may occur.(Incontinence)
June 1, 2006... ultimately, new federal guidance on incontinence care will be a good pill for the nursing home community to swallow, experts and providers agree. But right now it looks and feels like a horse pill. Despite preparations by some, experts...

Subacute surge: the 75% rule and other recent events have thrust nursing homes' subacute expansion back into the limelight.(Rehabilitation)
June 1, 2006... It's a rare occasion when nursing home operators can feel both fortunate and confident about market events. Yet those are the general feelings providers express when it comes to the profession's new thrust into subacute care. The tumblers...

Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully.(New Products)
June 1, 2006... (1) Talc-free moisturizing powder Donovan Industries has introduced DawnMist[R] Liquid Cornstarch Powder with Aloe & Vitamin E. This talc-free product applies like a lotion and quickly dries, leaving skin moisturized and coated with a...

Wound care: products to help you get the upper hand with wound prevention and care.(Product Focus)
June 1, 2006... MEDICAL NUTRITION USA Pro-Stat[TM] from Medical Nutrition USA, Inc., is pure liquid protein that has the highest concentration of protein in the smallest serving amount. Pro-Stat is rich in arginine, glycine, proline and hydroxyproline,...

Wound care.(Buyer's Guide)(Buyers guide)(Medical condition overview)
June 1, 2006... 3M Skin Health (651) 228-3957 www.3m.com/skinhealth Briggs Corporation (800) 247-2343 www. BriggsCorp.com Longport Inc. (610) 675-0090 ww.longportinc.com Mason Medical Products (800) 233-4454 ...

A day in the life.(Careers)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Robert Kopansky, administrator ROBERT KOPANSKY describes himself as a "hands-on" administrator. When new residents arrive at Pennypack Center, a 54-bed skilled nursing facility in Philadelphia, he meets them within 24 hours and tries to...

Salary snapshot: Nursing Supervisor.(LPN)
June 1, 2006... Median salaries (all facilities) REGION SALARY($) REGION SALARY($) 1 51,480 6 31,200 2 43,036 7 31,429 3 43,576 8 38,458 4 41,800...

Building a network.(Profile)(National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration)(Biography)
June 1, 2006... Joan Warden-Saunders, Founder/CEO, NADONA AT AGE 17, while working as a certified nursing aide for a nursing home in Madisonville, OH, Joan Warden-Saunders told a nurse she noticed a resident looking "a little funny." The nurse ignored...