McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from June 2008

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from June 2008

Worst homes now on Web.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Federal regulators have begun publicizing all of the nursing homes on a list reserved for the poorest performers around the country. A full list of 134 facilities was unveiled at the end of April on the...

Critical report finds surveys are too soft.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Nursing homes received another quality drubbing last month after the Government Accountability Office revealed that state inspectors often understate deficiencies, including those about malnutrition, bedsores and abuse, in their annual facility...

Bed charges top $76,000.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The national average charge for a private bed in a nursing home has hit $76,460 a year, according to a Genworth Financial survey. The $209 daily charge marks a 2.2 % increase. Genworth, a vendor of long-term care insurance, said in a...

Drugs hasten brain decline.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... Commonly prescribed drugs for incontinence, Parkinson's and other conditions may hasten a loss of thinking ability among the elderly, two new studies find. Physical function declined 50% faster among older nursing home residents who took...

Pain may be undertreated.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nursing home residents with dementia have as many painful health conditions as other residents but are less likely to receive similar pain medication, according to the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. ...

Medicare cuts could be disastrous, study says.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... Nursing home providers have intensified lobbying efforts against a proposed regulation that would reduce Medicare outlays to skilled nursing facilities by $770 million in fiscal year 2009. The cuts would have a ripple effect across the...

McKnight's named best--again.(NEWS)(McKnight's Long-Term Care News)(2008 American Society of Health Publication Editors Awards)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The McKnight's Long-Term Care News staff was named "Best in Nation" in two categories in the 2008 ASHPE Awards program honoring editorial excellence. McKnight's earned Gold Awards for its online news section (at www.mcknights.com) and for...

Federal agencies.(At deadline)
June 1, 2008... Federal agencies have not done enough to prepare for the evacuation of nursing home residents and other vulnerable populations in the event of an emergency, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. Agencies have been...

Seven senators.(At deadline)
June 1, 2008... Seven senators and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor addressed the personal toll of Alzheimer's disease during a recent congressional hearing, Collectively, they called for a national Alzheimer's strategy to deal with this...

Fully $5 million.(At deadline)
June 1, 2008... Fully $5 million in overpayments were awarded to non-compliant nursing homes in 2004, according to a report by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

60 seconds with ... Leah Klusch Executive Director The Alliance Training Center.(NEWS)(Interview)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: You say regulators did a "pretty good job" with Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) pilot programs, but you're still uneasy about this new QIS survey process that is rolling out to more states. Why? A: It's a...

White House, providers spar over possible Medicaid cuts.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... Is sustained Medicaid funding an effective way to ensure the delivery of needed healthcare services to the poor, or a harmful drain on the U.S. Treasury? While providers would opt for the first choice, the president and most conservatives...

Liability costs remaining steady, Aon says.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... Liability costs in the long-term care industry continued to stabilize for the fourth straight year, Aon Corp. disclosed last month. General liability and professional liability costs now total approximately $1,460 per bed (up slightly from...

A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2008... A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would prohibit cold calling and some other marketing practices to increase protections for insurance beneficiaries.

CMS will expand Medicare coverage of artificial hearts during implantation as part of a study.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2008... CMS will expand Medicare coverage of artificial hearts during implantation as part of a study that meets CMS' clinical research criteria and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the agency said.

A bill in the House (H.R. 5924) would help open up and hasten the recruitment of foreign registered nurses and physical therapists.(Bill Watch)
June 1, 2008... A bill in the House (H.R. 5924) would help open up and hasten the recruitment of foreign registered nurses and physical therapists. Two key points of the bill are attestation that the immigrant does not owe his or her country of origin a...

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
June 1, 2008... I am the only one in my facility doing wound assessments, and I'm falling behind with admissions, especially when they occur on evenings or weekends. Do you have any suggestions? I would talk to the DON, and tell him or her of your...

Diabetes gets Golden touch with unique pilot program.(NEWS: Resident Care)
June 1, 2008... A tidal wave of individuals with diabetes is expected to hit the nation's nursing homes in the coming years. To prepare for it, one of the country's largest nursing home chains already has begun implementing a new training and care program. ...

Despite the fact that regular mammograms can significantly reduce the risk of women 80 and older being diagnosed with breast cancer, only about one in five women in that age cohort have regular screenings, researchers say.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2008... Despite the fact that regular mammograms can significantly reduce the risk of women 80 and older being diagnosed with breast cancer, only about one in five women in that age cohort have regular screenings, researchers say. "This study suggests...

The number of hospital patients with infections linked to Clostridium difficile, or CDAD, more than doubled from 2001 to 2005 (up to 301,200), according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2008... The number of hospital patients with infections linked to Clostridium difficile, or CDAD, more than doubled from 2001 to 2005 (up to 301,200), according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Death rates and the number...

Individuals can reclaim more than 10 years of life by maintaining aerobic fitness into their older years.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2008... Individuals can reclaim more than 10 years of life by maintaining aerobic fitness into their older years, researchers said recently in an analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
June 1, 2008... I hear rumors that Polaroid is going to quit making instant film. Is this true? If so, what should we do for our wound photography? On Feb. 8, Polaroid Corporation announced that it would discontinue production of all instant film. The...

Wound agent heparin seen as growing health problem.(NEWS: Wound Care)
June 1, 2008... A contaminated blood thinner exported from China has become a worldwide public health problem, federal officials said. The contaminant--a compound called an over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate--can trigger chemicals in blood cells that...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services is actively soliciting public input for the establishment of a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System for medicinal maggots.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is actively soliciting public input for the establishment of a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System for medicinal maggots. Medical grade maggots have been in use for nearly eight decades, but...

Skin lesions larger than six millimeters in diameter are more likely than smaller lesions to be melanoma skin cancer, researchers at the New York University School of Medicine have discovered.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2008... Skin lesions larger than six millimeters in diameter are more likely than smaller lesions to be melanoma skin cancer, researchers at the New York University School of Medicine have discovered. The finding supports the current widespread use of...

ImmuneRegen BioSciences has announced an agreement with BioCure.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2008... ImmuneRegen BioSciences has announced an agreement with BioCure. The arrangement calls for the development of a spray-on liquid bandage.

The FDA has sent Retro-Tech a warning letter for problems related to its use of a contract manufacturer.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2008... The FDA has sent RetroTech a warning letter for problems related to its use of a contract manufacturer. Retro-Tech makes wound dressings. At issue are lax oversight and other accountability issues.

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2008... I "inherited" a nurse in a leadership position who is absolutely poison to the facility. How do I "professionally" confront her? This is a tough one. Usually staff is afraid to "rock the boat" with her for fear she will target them with...

Economy, regulations lead to brighter nurse staff outlook.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2008... A pair of negative economic forces actually is improving the nurse-shortage forecast, according to some experts. As consumer costs such as food and gasoline continue to rise and the housing market remains in the tank, more nurses are going back...

Ritalin, the drug used to treat attention-deficit disorder, could help reduce the risk of falls among older people, according to a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2008... Ritalin, the drug used to treat attention-deficit disorder, could help reduce the risk of falls among older people, according to a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It sharpens their mental function, which could help...

Alzheimer's patients who take high dosages of vitamin E could live longer than those who do not, a new study finds.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2008... Alzheimer's patients who take high dosages of Vitamin E could live longer than those who do not, a new study finds. The research comes amid concern over the safety of giving patients high levels of the vitamin.

Fewer seniors have skipped medications since Medicare Part D took effect in 2006, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2008... Fewer seniors have skipped medications since Medicare Part D took effect in 2006, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports. But adherence did not improve among those considered the sickest beneficiaries.

An official with the Food and Drug Administration said the agency cannot ensure the safety of all medications sold in the United States.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2008... An official with the Food and Drug Administration said the agency cannot ensure the safety of all medications sold in the United States. The FDA is not equipped to regulate the number of medications and food made abroad, said Janet Woodcock of...

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2008... Is a clarification order needed for therapy services if we have an eval and treat order? A clarification order is recommended after the therapist evaluates the patient, even if the order states "eval and treat." The final rule is clear...

All 'worst' performing homes now on government Web site.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2008... The federal government has stopped shielding nursing homes with severe quality problems from the public. Federal regulators began publishing the identities of all facilities on its "special focus facilities" list at the end of April,...

CMS proposes '60% rule'.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2008... Federal-officials will--continue to take comments until June 20 on a proposed rule that implements the "60% Rule" for Medicare Part A therapy payments. The rule is expected to decrease the flow of rehab patients to long-term care facilities....

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(elderly patients)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... 1.6 This many million people ages 65 or older lived in U.S. nursing facilities in 2006. That constituted 4% of all people in that age group, according to the 2006 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau. 37.3 This many million...

Kindred Healthcare Inc.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Kindred Healthcare Inc.'s net income grew by a healthy 87% to nearly $15 million in the first quarter of 2008, despite slight sales slippage, All three of its operating divisions performed well, with higher than expected performance for the...

Sun Healthcare Group Inc.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Sun Healthcare Group Inc.'s profits more than doubled to nearly $9 million in the first quarter of 2008 on robust sales. Revenues increased by 74% to $458 million. Results were driven by the company's focus on higher acuity patient care and the...

Formation Capital LLC.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Formation Capital LLC announced that Damian N. Dell'Anno, the former CEO of Harborside Healthcare, has joined the company as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Metro Monitor The fastest and slowest skilled nursing private-bed rent growth rates (measuring 4th quarter 2006 to 4th quarter 2007). Leaders Rank Metro Nursing Care 1 Houston 17.4% 2 ...

Medicare 2009 pay proposal welcome news for investors.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2008... It may come as a surprise, but nursing home investors reacted positively to the government's proposed May 1 rule that recalibrates Medicare rates for skilled nursing facilities. Company stocks immediately pushed upward after the rule's...

Ventas moves to Windy City.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2008... Ventas Inc., the landlord of nursing home chain Kindred Healthcare Inc., has packed up and moved to the Windy City. "We believe that identifying Chicago as our headquarters will provide the company with increased visibility and access to...

McKnight.(Good month)(McKnight's Long-Term Care News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... McKnight 's: The McKnight's Long-Term Care editorial staff has won two Gold Awards and two Bronze Awards, as announced by organizers of the ASHPE 2008 Awards competition. McKnight's landed top honors in the Best Online News Section...

Staffing levels.(Good month)
June 1, 2008... Staffing levels: Despite a slight drop in wages, the healthcare sector added 84,200 nurses last year, researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered.

Processing errors.(Bad month)
June 1, 2008... Processing errors: Nursing homes that fell out of compliance with federal quality-of-care standards in 2004 inappropriately received more than $5 million in overpayments that year because of processing errors, according to officials at the...

Alzheimer's victims.(Bad month)
June 1, 2008... Alzheimer's victims: Nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia receive fewer pain medications than other residents, despite having as many painful, co-morbid conditions, according to a new study from the...

University of Central Florida.(IT Update)
June 1, 2008... University of Central Florida researchers have concluded that medical Web sites can dramatically improve the quality of care delivered at nursing homes. Such sites could offer new ways to improve training and care quality, while reducing...

Consulting and management.(IT Update)(Health Workforce Solutions)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Consulting and management firm Health Workforce Solutions has launched a Web site profiling two dozen innovative healthcare delivery models. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the site is designed to serve as a resource for...

The Supreme Court.(IT Update)
June 1, 2008... The Supreme Court's decision to uphold a photo-identification law for Indiana voters may have negative repercussions for nursing home residents, experts say. The ruling could make it more difficult for some seniors to cast votes in future...

More than 40 businesses.(IT Update)
June 1, 2008... More than 40 businesses and organizations have signed a letter to Congress seeking approval for legislation that mandates electronic prescribing for the Medicare program. The letter was delivered to leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and...

Latest robot may address staffing, caregiving woes.(NEWS: Technology)
June 1, 2008... Staffing shortages present one of the most vexing challenges in long-term care. Most efforts to address this problem are focusing on identifying and recruiting new workers. But scientists at the University of Maryland have created a...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(Kronos Inc.'s hiring software)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] High turnover rates and low employee retention have plagued the healthcare field. With a dwindling supply of caregivers, it's becoming even more difficult for human resources departments to find the right person for...

Nursing home pay threatened.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- Nursing homes in the state were worrying about receiving the 1% increase in payments they were expecting for fiscal year 2009, which starts July 1. In the face of ballooning deficits, the state's appropriations committee in...

Criteria offered for nursing home evacuations.(FLORIDA)
June 1, 2008... Leaders from state emergency command centers and long-term care organizations in the Southeast convened last month to release criteria for nursing home evacuations. The guidelines support the recommendations of the April 2008 Government...

Alzheimer's cases to soar.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2008... NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Alzheimer's disease is expected to claim a number of victims statewide, according to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. A total of 22,000 of state residents are expected to have the...

Pilot focuses on small facilities.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- A pilot program that would create small, homelike nursing homes was awaiting action by the state House, as of press time. The Senate in late April passed the bill that would require that the Department of Social Services to...

Study: pay rises, but care lags.(WEST)
June 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- Nursing homes are receiving higher Medicaid reimbursements than ever, but the quality of resident care has not significantly improved as hoped, a new study found. Medi-Cal reimbursements rose to $152 per day in 2006, according...

New arbitration agreement rule.(WEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- Nursing homes in the state have been gearing up for what could be a new battle over arbitration agreements. The California Department of Health is expected to rewrite an old regulation that could make it tougher for facilities...

Voting made easier for residents.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KANSAS -- A new law will make it easier for long-term care residents to vote in the November election. The Senate bill designates nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals' long-term care facilities...

Tort reform eases pressures.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... MISSOURI -- The legal climate has improved significantly since the state passed tort reform measures in 2005, a legislative consultant for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the news outlet Legal Newsline. Missouri has gone...

Judge stops home discharge.(MIDWEST)(David Lee Vincent III)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... MISSOURI -- A Circuit Court judge has stopped a nursing home in Ellisville from discharging a resident following a billing dispute, Bethesda Health Group reportedly was planning to discharge the resident in July because the family allegedly...

Closures under Bush proposal.(SOUTHWEST)
June 1, 2008... ARIZONA -- Some of the state's long-term care facilities could close under President Bush's proposed 2009 budget, according to industry representatives. The budget, which Congress had been mulling as of press time, would reduce Medicare...

E-prescribing gains momentum.(SOUTHWEST)
June 1, 2008... TEXAS -- More than 1,500 healthcare facilities in the state use electronic prescribing, according to SureScripts, which operates an e-prescription network. They represent a growing state and national movement. While this technological form...

Billions spent on Medicaid LTC.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2008... TENNESSEE -- The state spent $2.1 billion on Medicaid for long-term care during the 2006 fiscal year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Tennessee ranked 13th in the national study, which listed Medicaid funding spent for each...

CMS tests personal health record.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2008... SOUTH CAROLINA -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a pilot test here to see if Medicare beneficiaries will use Internet-based resources to track their healthcare. An online tool called a Personal Health Record (PHR)...

Nursing home care costs rise.(SOUTHWEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... UTAH -- Nursing home care in the state increased by 13% over the past five years to $57,332, according a report released by Genworth Financial. The average cost of yearly nursing home care in the United States is $76,460. It has increased...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2008... How can we mitigate liabilities for our corporate directors or officers? As mentioned last issue, when a corporate director or officer acts appropriately, he or she is entitled to the business judgment rule. This rule provides that...

Court: many documents are fair game for legal discovery.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2008... Providers must surrender any incident reports and other documents requested by plaintiffs in malpractice actions, a federal trial court in Tennessee has ruled. The items are not privileged under state or federal law, justices determined. ...

Ruling: consultant pharmacist not liable.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2008... A consultant pharmacist did not breach duties for a resident who died because the pharmacist did not have contractual and legally assumed duties to provide reasonable resident care, a state court of appeals has ruled. It determined that...

The U.S. Food and Drug.(Company Briefs)
June 1, 2008... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the voluntary recall of Cardinal Health-brand alcohol-free mouthwash due to possible contamination. The mouthwash was distributed to long-term care facilities, hospitals and medical centers...

Vocollect Healthcare Systems and Answers on demand have announced a partnership that will combine products from both firms.(Company Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Vocollect Healthcare Systems and Answers on Demand have announced a partnership that will combine products from both firms. Vocollect's AccuNurse (a voice-activated, hands-free documentation and communication system) will work with AOD's...

The Food and Drug.(Company Briefs)
June 1, 2008... The Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing the first device made from guayule latex, a new form of natural rubber latex. The product, the Yulex Patient Examination Glove, is derived from the guayule bush. The product is...

Orkin Commercial Services.(Company Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Orkin Commercial Services and the American Society of Healthcare Environmental Services have jointly launched a Web site that helps providers manage pest issues more effectively. Training, self-assessment and best practices are available,...

Silverchair Learning Systems.(Company Briefs)
June 1, 2008... Silverchair Learning Systems recently announced a partnership with Swett & Crawford, an independent wholesale insurance intermediary. The arrangement gives Swett & Crawford's risk management clients reduced-cost access to Silverchair's...

Companies stick to script when ads are questioned.(NEWS: Vendors)
June 1, 2008... Executives from several of the nation's largest drug companies defended their advertising practices during a testy congressional hearing in May. But congressional Democrats seemed generally dissatisfied with their answers, and are moving...

Growth predicted for monitoring makers.(NEWS: Vendors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... If it seems there is already a profusion of companies that offer monitoring-related products, just wait. Increasing demand will spur more vendors to enter this growing field, a new report from Reportlinker.com predicts. The study notes...

How to do it ... wound care.(Business & Marketing)
June 1, 2008... Because of an ongoing emphasis on pressure ulcer care and prevention, it is no wonder that nursing directors are looking for ways for their staff to become as sharp as possible when it comes to wound care. Although not all aides or nurses can...

Community-centered: from 'Nightmare on Elm Street' to the streets of New Delhi, a New Jersey facility receives a cultural makeover to become a success story.(Business & Marketing: Design)(AristaCare and Alameda Center for Rehabilitation and Care)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] When AristaCare took over the Alameda Center for Rehabilitation and Care in July of 2004, officials knew they had a lot of work ahead. The building itself was run down, a decrepit fixture of the neighborhood...

Grieving takes its course.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
June 1, 2008... This month we continue our discussion with Joyce Ebmeier of Tabitha Health Care Services. A 25-year veteran of the nursing home industry, Ebmeier talked about the social benefits of the Green House and a phenomenon she calls the "Green House...

CMS boss only acting a part.(THE BIG PICTURE)
June 1, 2008... There's a famous scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy is urged to ignore "that man behind the curtain." At that point, we realize the jig is up. It has become obvious that the "great and powerful" Wizard really can't deliver the goods. ...

Sun takes can-do spirit to struggling New Orleans.(Editor's DESK)
June 1, 2008... Cynical journalists can tell you: It's hard to find pure "feel-good" stories nowadays. Really hard. Maybe that's why one of Rick Matros' most recent brainstorms comes off as, well, charming. Matros, of course, is the hip 50-something who...

How do you plan to spend upcoming vacation time?(Reader Poll)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "This year I'm traveling to Connecticut for the 4th of July holiday for a family reunion. At the end of July, my husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary by traveling through New England (without the...

Put lawmakers' feet to fire.(HAVING MY SAY)
June 1, 2008... Everybody wants to fix Connecticut's nursing homes. The problem is, the fix elected officials have in mind is empty rhetoric, and it could do more damage than good. The state's leaders, looking to get tough after Haven Healthcare made...