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

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

Suitors agree to divvy up bankrupt IHS.
March 21, 2003... Rival bidders for Integrated Health Services have avoided a court fight by deciding to share the remnants of the bankrupt nursing home giant. Abe Briarwood Corp. would acquire the buildings and Trans Healthcare Inc. would contract to...

Governors rebuff Bush on Medicaid.
March 21, 2003... The Bush administration did not get the endorsement it sought from the National Governors Association (NGA) regarding its Medicaid reform plan. Bush has proposed "block grants" to states. They're portrayed as temporary help that would...

Databank Problem Areas.
March 21, 2003... DATABANK.... PROBLEM AREAS Nationally, for-profit nursing homes averaged 49% more survey deficiencies than their non-profit counterparts in 2001. Only Alaska and South Dakota bucked the trend. For-profit 7.96...

Twelve nursing home residents died after Greenwood Health Center. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * Twelve nursing home residents died after Greenwood Health Center, Hartford, CT, was set on fire. A 23-year-old patient with a history of mental problems reportedly admitted setting her sheets on fire.

Home healthcare providers will be subject to a "quality initiative" program this year. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * Home healthcare providers will be subject to a "quality initiative" program this year, similar to one started for nursing homes last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced.

HR 5, a tort reform bill that would cap non-economic damages in liability lawsuits against nursing homes and other providers. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * HR 5, a tort reform bill that would cap non-economic damages in liability lawsuits against nursing homes and other providers, quickly passed through several committees and was headed toward a vote by the full House.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission issued its annual report to Congress and recommended no reimbursement update for skilled nursing facilities or home healthcare providers in fiscal 2004.

Beverly Enterprises, the nation's largest nursing home company, agreed to a $1.5 million. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * Beverly Enterprises, the nation's largest nursing home company, agreed to a $1.5 million settlement with the state of Arkansas over allegations of fraud and abuse. The company admitted no wrongdoing.

The average purchase price of skilled nursing beds in 2002. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * The average purchase price of skilled nursing beds in 2002 surprisingly rose 1% to $38,400, according to Irving Levin Associates. Assisted living unit prices dropped by 23%, to $65,200. Independent-living units fell 17%, to $81 ,000.

Hip fractures cut the life of an 80-year-old by 25%. (Late Breaking News).
March 21, 2003... * Hip fractures cut the life of an 80-year-old by 25%, or 1.8 years, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Hard Data.
March 21, 2003... 12.4 The percentage of the U.S. population 65 or older in 2000, according to government figures. 15 The percentage of Medicare enrollees who received their therapy in skilled nursing facilities recently, according to the Centers for...

Experts: many facilities will miss HIPAA deadlines. (Compliance).
March 21, 2003... April deadlines for the HIPAA security standards may be fast approaching, but that doesn't mean long-term care facilities will be in compliance when the dreaded dates arrive. In fact, some are still so unprepared, they likely will need many...

OIG: medical director role needs clarity. (Care Team).
March 21, 2003... A new government study shows disparities on duties and expectations of medical directors at nursing homes. Study authors say key stakeholders should work harder to define the medical director's role. The report offered no specific...

The 289-page security rule for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was issued Feb. 13. (Regulatory Issues).
March 21, 2003... * The 289-page security rule for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was issued Feb. 13 The CMS unveiled the companion to the HIPAA privacy standards, giving providers and their partners two years and two months to come into...

Rep. David Camp (D-MI) introduced HR787. (Legislative issues).
March 21, 2003... * Rep. David Camp (D-MI) introduced HR787, a bill that would allow surveyors to share best-practice information and innovative practices with facilities during surveys. The Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Act also...

Timelines for Medicare to implement coverage for new medical technologies. (Regulatory Issues).
March 21, 2003... * Timelines for Medicare to implement coverage for new medical technologies would be shortened to six- to 12-months under a bill introduced on Feb. 26 by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). Eshoo said that HR 941 would improve the...

High premiums lead to healthcare system problems. (Insurance).
March 21, 2003... The rising cost of liability insurance for healthcare providers is impairing patients' access to care, degrading the quality of care, and increasing the cost of care for all Americans, according to a report released earlier this month by the...

Rift hits with AL report due: debate rages on topics ranging from the definition of assisted living to minute details of patient care, staff training and management philosophy. (Cover Story).
March 21, 2003... As the Assisted Living Workgroup (ALW) finalized its report to Congress, some key stakeholders were protesting and calling into question the very philosophy behind the recommendations. Other stakeholders, meanwhile, applauded the spirit of...

Survey relief, Medicaid drug pricing, liability aid. (State News).
March 21, 2003... Midwest/Missouri A bipartisan group of lawmakers said they agreed on a bill that would allow less-frequent inspections of "good" nursing homes but also call for daily fines of up to $250,000 for those with life-threatening violations. Under SB...

First multi-state pool aims for cheaper Medicaid prices. (State News).
March 21, 2003... For the first time, two states, Michigan and Vermont, are combining efforts to obtain deeper prescription drug discounts from drug manufacturers. Many individual states already command cheaper prices from drug companies to get their products on...

Appeals court rejects fine in nursing home deaths. (State News: Missouri).
March 21, 2003... The Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Feb. 25 that the state could not collect a civil penalty from Leland Health Care Center in University City because the skilled nursing facility had fixed air conditioning problems in a timely manner. Two...

Panel recommends arbitration for lawsuits. (Southeast: Florida).
March 21, 2003... A bipartisan panel of lawmakers voted Feb. 19 to recommend an arbitration system that says if both sides in a nursing home lawsuit agree to binding arbitration and the defendant admits wrongdoing, the most the plaintiff could win would be...

State moves closer to insurance pool, jury award limits. (Southeast: Arkansas).
March 21, 2003... The Arkansas House of Representatives passed a controversial bill that would cap jury awards against skilled nursing facilities and create an insurance pool for providers. HB 1213 would limit punitive damages to $1 million, create more...

2002 the worst ever financially for nursing homes. (Northeast: New York).
March 21, 2003... Last year was the worst ever for New York nursing homes, according to a recent report by the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Facilities reported modest bottom-line increases in 2001 but projected a 300 percent revenue...

Sleep danger, diabetes risk, ibuprofen concerns. (Nursing News).
March 21, 2003... Elderly people who don't sleep well may die sooner than their sound-slumbering counterparts, a new study suggests. Researchers found that sleep difficulties -- such as problems falling asleep or middle-of-the-night waking -- significantly...

High blood sugar might contrubute to memory loss. (Pharmacy News).
March 21, 2003... Another reason to watch those snacks and stay active: High blood sugar may contribute to memory loss in old age. According to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, middle-aged and elderly people with...

Body fat location key to diabetes risk in elderly. (Pharmacy News).
March 21, 2003... Normal-weight older adults may face an increased type 2 diabetes risk if they have excess fat in the stomach or within thigh muscle tissue, researchers have discovered. "Just because an older person is not overweight or obese does not...

Study: foodborne illness deadlier than thought. (Pharmacy News).
March 21, 2003... More people may be dying of foodborne illnesses than was previously believed, according to new study in the British Medical Journal. Infections with several different bacteria were associated not only with increases in the short-term risk of...

Ibuprofen may harm heart patients: study. (Pharmacy News).
March 21, 2003... Researchers have found that ibuprofen might be dangerous for most heart patients because it can block the blood-thinning benefits of aspirin. According to The Lancet, a medical journal, people taking both aspirin and ibuprofen were twice...

New technique shows how Alzheimer's disease spreads. (Nursing News).
March 21, 2003... A new technique allows scientists to watch Alzheimer's disease travel through the brains of living patients. According to the Journal of Neuroscience, this breakthrough may help pharmaceutical companies evaluate the effectiveness of Alzheimer's...

Court: some quality documents carry federal privilege. (Law).
March 21, 2003... The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that some nursing home quality records do not have to be given to a grand jury because they are protected under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act. The state's highest court said that three Buffalo...

Experts: methods outweigh setting for Alzheimer's care. (Dementia Care).
March 21, 2003... An informal debate about whether nursing homes or assisted living facilities offer a better care setting for Alzheimer's residents has been cropping up in the long-term care provider community lately. But most experts-including those who...

Genesis Health Ventures Inc. (Company Split).
March 21, 2003... * Genesis Health Ventures Inc. will split itself into two companies. NeighborCare, the pharmacy and medical equipment company that Genesis bought in 1996 will be one component. The other part will be the firms skilled nursing homes and a...

National Healthcare Corporation. (Earnings).
March 21, 2003... * National Healthcare Corporation announced $1 6.4 million in after-tax earnings for the year. The amount was a $3.2 million improvement over 2001. Fourth-quarter revenues hit $1 17 million, up $7.5 million The Murfreesboro, TN-based firm...

Manor Care Inc. (Earnings).
March 21, 2003... * Manor Care Inc., Toledo, OH, with more than 40,000 beds in service, reported fourth-quarter 2002 diluted earnings per share up two cents from a year ago. For the year, revenues reached $2.9 billion, an 8% increase over 2001. Higher occupancy,...

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. (Worth Watching).
March 21, 2003... * Residents may not receive adequate pain relief due to their own fears of drug abuse or dependence or because staff may be too over-worked to recognize a patient's pain, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore....

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Worth Watching).
March 21, 2003... * The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a Web-based medical journal showcasing patient safety lessons from actual medical errors (http://webmm.ahrq.gov). Each month, five cases of medical errors and patient safety problems...

Facing a tougher sales pitch. (Marketing).
March 21, 2003... Even successful nursing facilities are facing up to some rough, new realities of long-term care marketing. They include giving residents more while finances are tighter, as well as having to offer more technology, more security and more...

Beverly: we will control our own destiny. (Executive Decisions).
March 21, 2003... Q Beverly recently participated in the JP Morgan H&Q Healthcare Conference. What is the key message you wanted to get to the investment community? A We want the investment community to understand the difficult environment we are operating...

Tablet PCs may change facilities' computer use. (Managing Technology).
March 21, 2003... Tablet PCs have been around long-term care facilities for years. But Microsoft Corporation is making a huge bet that they will soon become much more visible. The firm has unveiled a new operating system and lined up assistance from major...

Long-term care facilities are being recruited to participate in a four-year project aimed at reducing pressure ulcers. (Quality Corner).
March 21, 2003... * Long-term care facilities are being recruited to participate in a four-year project aimed at reducing pressure ulcers. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's Institute for the Future of Aging Services is co-sponsoring...

Progress has been made in closing quality gaps in treating chronic conditions and illnesses over the last two years. (Quality Corner).
March 21, 2003... * Progress has been made in closing quality gaps in treating chronic conditions and illnesses over the last two years, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study shows improvement in 22 clinical...

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations announced. (Quality Corner).
March 21, 2003... * New hand hygiene guidelines established by the CDC to reduce infections are critical for healthcare providers to follow, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations announced. The number of patients acquiring infections...

Volker from Hertz Supply. (Furnishings, Case Goods).
March 21, 2003... Volker from Hertz Supply, Allentown, PA, offers innovative new ideas in healthcare beds. Solid wood construction for beauty, aluminum components for light weight, integrated lighting for convenience and disappearing side rails are key features....

Cervitor Kitchens. (Furnishings, Case Goods).
March 21, 2003... Cervitor Kitchens, EI Monte, CA, offers the new MicroKitchen line, based on an exclusive Energy Management System that allows a refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker to safely operate on a single 15 amp circuit. Featuring fully integrated,...

The rePLACE line from Johnsonite. (Furnishings, Case Goods).
March 21, 2003... The rePLACE line from Johnsonite, Chagrin Falls, OH, is a reusable and post-consumer recyclable product that hangs on a wall track. Because the installation requires no adhesives, there are no extra costs to repair damaged drywall, a common...

Lonseal Flooring. (Furnishings, Case Goods).
March 21, 2003... Lonseal Flooring, Carson, CA, offers the new Londura line, a "revolutionary" smooth wet-traction safety sheet well suited for areas where slip-resistance is key. Londura's anti-microbial, smooth sheet-vinyl production simplifies the process of...

Fitch ratings: poor for CCRCs, worse for nonprofit SNFs. (Credit Ratings).
March 21, 2003... Both nonprofit skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities can expect to remain in the financial doldrums in the near future, according to the most recent report from Fitch Ratings. Nonprofits received a "negative"...

Watch agency use, insurance to better control costs. (P & L Journal).
March 21, 2003... A chief financial officer recently asked: "With Medicaid and Medicare margins increasingly smaller and even negative, I know I need to be holding the line with expenses, but my success is limited. Where are you seeing the greatest strides...

Market Monitor.
March 21, 2003... MARKET MONITOR Mental status by state, 2001 Percentage of nursing home residents with: Psychiatric Behavior Diagnosis (1) Dementia (2) Symptoms (3) United...

Still time to get your HIPAA act together. (Legal Matters).
March 21, 2003... Q We never got a serious start on our HIPPA preparations for the April 14 deadline. What do you suggest? A First, do not panic! You are not alone. Second, do not stick your head in the sand. If you continue to do nothing, you will increase...

Squabblers need to be reined in tightly. (Staffing Concerns).
March 21, 2003... Q What would you do about two employees who do not like each other and are affecting the morale of other employees? A First, you need to make it very clear to both individuals that their behavior is affecting the operation of the facility....

Time may be 'now or never' for tort reform. (Regulations/Compliance).
March 21, 2003... Q: What is your outlook for tort reform and controlling medical malpractice Insurance premiums? What kind of federal relief can we expect from Rep. Greenwood's Health Act of 2003? A: The move in Congress for tort reform is especially strong...

Floating assessment date critical for best payment. (Payment Answers).
March 21, 2003... A: What is your suggestion for setting the Assessment Reference Date to capture the best Medicaid case mix? Q: Facilities are very accustomed to strategically setting Assessment Reference Dates (ARDs) for Medicare A patients to ensure they...

Bosch Security Systems. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Security Escort available from Bosch Security Systems provides a highly effective synchronized security system, customized to fit your community's security needs. Security Escort can give your residents the ability to call for help instantly,...

Stanley-Senior Technologies. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... The company that brought you WanderGuard introduces an innovative way to promote resident independence. The AccessPro door automator by Stanley-Senior Technologies automatically opens, closes, locks and unlocks the door with a push of the...

Keane Care. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Looking for a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use system to help you meet today's challenges? Then take a look at VistaKEANE from Keane Care, integrated windows-based financial and clinical software. Circle 228 on reader service card

Direct Supply Eldercare Interiors. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Eldercare Interiors, Direct Supply's team of professional consultants and designers, can plan your renovation or new construction from start to finish. The team offers interior design services, kitchen and laundry design, product consultation...

Advanced Answers On Demand[R]. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Advanced Answers On Demand[R] is an information management system specifically designed to meet the special needs and requirements of the Senior Health Care industry. Our software integrates a complete accounting package with clinical,...

Health Care Software Inc. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Health Care Software, Inc. (HCS), a leader in healthcare information systems, features an enterprise-wide, fully integrated, clinical and financial information system, INTERACTANT, with development, installation, conversion, and ongoing...

EnduraCare. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... EnduraCare, LLC Rehabilitation Specialists is a national provider of comprehensive Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Services with regional offices located throughout the country. EnduraCare's therapy programs consist of dedicated...

GE Healthcare Financial Services. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... GE Healthcare Financial Services is the premier provider of capital, financial solutions and related services for the global healthcare market, offering a full range of financing capabilities from equipment leasing and real estate financing to...

McKnight's Long-Term Care News. (Alfa '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... The only long-term care industry publication devoted exclusively to covering business news. In day-to-day operations, McKnights Long-Term Care News is the one industry publication you can turn to for the most concise, timely news on the...

Horizon Healthcare Technologies. (ALFA '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... Horizon Healthcare Technologies offers software and service solutions to meet the needs of long-term care facilities. Contact us today to learn more about MasterSeries[TM] software, our integrated clinical, reimbursement, financial and employee...

RehabWorks. (ALFA '03 Show Stoppers).
March 21, 2003... At RehabWorks, we provide the right people, the right training, the right resources and the right direction to deliver the right results. And we do it at the right price. By keeping the formula simple, RehabWorks has grown to become the largest...

Direct Supply. (Product Focus).
March 21, 2003... Direct Supply introduces Maxwell Thomas[TM], an attractive and affordable line of resident room furniture and furnishings, all designed specifically for eldercare. Furniture pieces are durably built with resident- and staff-friendly features...

S.A.F.E. System. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * S.A.F.E. system standard on all computerized ADC on-premise dryers * System protects against dryer fires; extinguishes fires in seconds * Sprinkler stops after a pre-set amount of time, reducing water damage * Produced by...

Dispatch[R] hospital cleaner disinfectant with bleach. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Faster acting germicidal efficacy; 30-second TB efficacy * Ideal for point-of-care equipment such as stethoscopes, exam tables and carts * Meets OSHA, CDC, NCCLS and Universal Precaution guidelines for bloodborne pathogen...

Solo sling. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Maintenance-free sling eliminates cross-contamination * Disposable sling may be discarded after single-patient use * Holds up to 440 pounds and can be used multiple times * Produced by Liko Circle 240 on reader service card

AutoAAP[TM] 9.0 Software. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Brings companies into full compliance with federal affirmative action requirements * Allows companies to centralize the development of their affirmative action plans into a single operating unit * Addresses new regulations and...

Rock[TM] ankle exercise board. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Used for the rehabilitation of ankle injuries * Helps the user regain or improve stability through prorioceptive training * Flat disc-shaped top and unstable rounded bottom effectively increase prorioception * Produced by OPTP...

MDS2GO. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * The first PDA-based MDS data entry solution for skilled nursing facilities * Enter assessments and synchronize information into clinical software * HIPAA friendly; allows users to temporarily remove resident data to ensure...

Contreet[R] antimicrobial wound dressings. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Indicated for chronic and acute care wounds - leg ulcers, pressure sores, burns, donor sites, postoperative wounds and skin abrasions * Moisture control for optimal wound healing and physical barrier against airborne contamination *...

Ez Assist Reacher[R]. (New Products).
March 21, 2003... * Enables anyone with a disability to grab items high or low * Sturdy non-slip rubber suction cups assure easy retrieval of items * Lightweight and easy to use * Produced by Arcoa Circle 245 on reader service card

Kaplan Publishing introduced Your Career in Nursing. (Resources).
March 21, 2003... * Kaplan Publishing introduced Your Career in Nursing, a reference designed to assist nurses in managing their careers. The book includes business strategies for career management, advice on developing a marketing plan, strategies for...

American Health Care Association. (Resources).
March 21, 2003... * The American Health Care Association published the booklet Living in a Nursing Facility: Myths and Realities. The consumer guide is designed to educate individuals about moving to a nursing facility and help them to gain a comfort level about...

The Institute for the Future of Aging Services and the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute established a database of successful direct-care worker recruitment. (Resources).
March 21, 2003... * The Institute for the Future of Aging Services and the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute established a database of successful direct-care worker recruitment, training and retention programs in aging services organizations. The Practice...

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality created a peer-reviewed. (Resources).
March 21, 2003... * The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality created a peer-reviewed, Web-based medical journal that will showcase patient safety lessons drawn from case studies of medical errors. The Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web is...

Worth repeating.
March 21, 2003... "It's insane. I have a $250,000 [insurance] policy that I pay $325,000 a year for." Ralph Marrinson, the owner of five long-term care facilities in Florida's Broward County, regarding the effects of the state's mandatory insurance rule,...

In search of the right road. (Q&A).
March 21, 2003... When Sen. David Durenberger was chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee in the 1980s and 1990s, he had a hand in many major pieces of healthcare legislation. Now, he's trying to carve the right path for long-term...

Coming to terms with AL. (Commentary).
March 21, 2003... I thought it strange at first when a debate-class professor said that one of the first things you have to do is define terms before pushing your views on someone else. It didn't take too long to learn how right he was, however. It turns...

Reader's Letters.
March 21, 2003... Regulatory overkill This letter is in response to "Caught in the spin cycle, can't come clean," (Feb. 10, 2003, p. 30) column by John O'Connor. He is entirely correct when he states that the long-term care system requires fixing. I would...

What do you do first at work each day? (Reader Poll).
March 21, 2003... LEO S. GRIMES Executive director, Windsor House Inc., Girard, OH Setting the agenda for the day is first priority. The basic daily outline is similar but the content is constantly changing. There is so much input throughout each day...

Not same 'old' song: at age 76, a 'rookie' nursing home aide is showing that age is no barrier when it comes to taking care of residents. (LTCN Profile).
March 21, 2003... You've heard the one about someone becoming a certified nursing aide for great-grandmothers. But how about the great-grandmother becoming a CNA for others? Louise "Lou" Horton really doesn't want to talk about it, but that's just...