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

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

Care gripes overlooked?
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do state agencies give short shrift to complaints alleging poor care in nursing homes? Prompted by a constituent's concerns, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) wants to find out if the problem is widespread. He has...

CMS offering full list of troubled facilities.
March 1, 2008... All nursing homes on a federal watch list for poor performing facilities now will be publicized on a government Web site, Bush administration officials have decided. The policy switch follows an uproar that occurred when the Centers for...

Providers hit in QIO volley.
March 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the first time publicly released the names of facilities across the country targeted for pressure ulcer and physical restraint reductions. The move responds to wide ranging concerns that the...

Bad plaques form rapidly.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, can develop in one day, according to a groundbreaking finding that appeared in the Feb. 7 issue of Nature. Microscopic imaging detected the swiftly forming protein tangles in...

Feds approve quick flu test.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a test for respiratory viruses that can provide results within as few as three hours. The ProFlu+test checks for four viruses that can cause the flu, pneumonia and...

Officials heap praise on new assessment tool.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The new Minimum Data Set 3.0 will increase clinical relevance, accuracy and clarity, and give residents a greater voice in data collection when it is implemented next year, experts announced. And providers will be able to complete the form...

Sessions to target the bottom line.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... Attendees will gain new insight about the ways information technology can help improve their financial status at a special "virtual trade show" this month. The free, two-day event was a historic first for the long-term care field last...

The number of seniors with diabetes jumped roughly 23%, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.(At deadline)
March 1, 2008... The number of seniors with diabetes jumped roughly 23%, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study also showed that the death rate for patients diagnosed with diabetes dropped 8.3%.

Mary Jane Koren.(At deadline)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Mary Jane Koren, MD, MPH, was elected the chair of the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign Steering Committee for 2008. She is also the assistant vice president of the Commonwealth Fund's Program on Quality of Care for...

As many as 10,000 employer groups offer a form of employer-sponsored long-term care insurance.(At deadline)
March 1, 2008... As many as 10,000 employer groups offer a form of employer-sponsored long-term care insurance, with just over two million Americans insured by these plans, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care insurance.

60 seconds with ... Lynn Unruh.(NEWS)(Interview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lynn Unruh PhD, RN, Assoc. Professor, University of Central Florida Q: You recently examined published research on nurse-staff ratios and patient outcomes in acute-care settings. What can you tell us about...

Kohl-Grassley bill aims for larger fines, transparency.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Nursing home operators could face frees up to $100,000--10 times the current maximum--and would have to provide more ownership, expenditure and staffing information under a new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate. Federal health officials...

Latest budget plan draws providers' ire.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... For providers, the president's $3 trillion budget proposal may feel like deja vu all over again. Repeating a theme from recent years, his plan has providers scrambling to deal with cuts in both Medicaid and Medicare. One notable feature is...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a letter to sponsors of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.(Regulatory Update)
March 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a letter to sponsors of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans with guidance to help them prepare for changes that take effect next year.

CMS last month proposed coverage in limited cases for artificial heart devices.(Regulatory Update)
March 1, 2008... CMS last month proposed coverage in limited cases for artificial heart devices. The proposal marks a significant change in the government's long-held noncoverage policy.

The Senate Finance Committee may mark up a Medicare bill in April.(Bill Watch)
March 1, 2008... The Senate Finance Committee may mark up a Medicare bill in April. The committee has yet to resolve the issue of the Medicare therapy caps' exceptions process, which will expire in June.

President Bush signed a $168 billion economic stimulus package.(Bill Watch)
March 1, 2008... President Bush signed a $168 billion economic stimulus package amid fears of a recession.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
March 1, 2008... What are your thoughts on this Advancing Excellence movement? Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes is a coalition-based, two-year campaign that launched in September 2006. The campaign is reinvigorating efforts to improve the...

Guidance stresses falls-risk check for vulnerable groups.(NEWS: Resident Care)
March 1, 2008... Individuals with dementia, a history of stroke, walking and balance disorders, or certain other conditions, should regularly be screened for their risk of falls, according to a new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology. The...

Nurses face a similar risk of being stuck by a needle across all locales, including long-term care and hospital settings, according to researchers at Columbia University in New York.(Caregiving Update)
March 1, 2008... Nurses face a similar risk of being stuck by a needle across all locales, including long-term care and hospital settings, according to researchers at Columbia University in New York. Long work hours, heavy patient loads, lack of safety devices...

An analysis of 31 clinical studies showed that smokers who were given advice to quit by nurses were more likely to stop compared with smokers who weren't counseled by a nurse.(Caregiving Update)(Clinical report)
March 1, 2008... An analysis of 31 clinical studies showed that smokers who were given advice to quit by nurses were more likely to stop compared with smokers who weren't counseled by a nurse. "Smoking is fueling so many health problems. In the long run...

Deaths relating to heart disease dropped by more than 25% between 1999 and 2005, and deaths from stroke fell by about the same amount during that period, according to data released by the American Heart Association.(Caregiving Update)
March 1, 2008... Deaths relating to heart disease dropped by more than 25% between 1999 and 2005, and deaths from stroke fell by about the same amount during that period, according to data released by the American Heart Association. The decrease in heart...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
March 1, 2008... We recently admitted a patient who has an open wound on his left foot (bunion area) that is painful, red inflamed and has white hard crystals in the exudate. What is causing this? It is possible that your patient has gout, a disease created...

Researchers create new gel that hastens wound healing.(NEWS: Wound Care)
March 1, 2008... British scientists have developed a gel that can help wounds heal more rapidly. Their findings could have major implications for nursing home residents suffering from wound-related problems. Research by Professor Paul Martin and colleagues...

Diabetics can use a special thermometer to measure the temperature of their soles.(Treatment Update)
March 1, 2008... Diabetics can use a a special thermometer to measure the temperature of their soles. The practice will help detect emerging foot ulcers, researchers announced. In a recent study, diabetics using the thermometer were nearly two-thirds less...

Derma Sciences has signed a clinical services agreement with U.S. Biotest.(Treatment Update)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Derma Sciences has signed a clinical services agreement with U.S. Biotest. The partners will enter Phase II clinical development of a rapid wound-healing and scar-reduction product for treating foot ulcers. The product has shown promising...

Medical Nutrition USA has been issued a patent for its Pro-Stat line of products for treating wounds.(Treatment Update)
March 1, 2008... 10 Medical Nutrition USA has been issued a patent for its Pro-Stat line of products for treating wounds. Pro-Stat[R] provides nitrogen-rich, hydrolyzed protein and calories in concentrated liquid form. It is an effective nutritional...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
March 1, 2008... As a DON, I oversee more than just the nursing department. I am responsible for most areas of the interdisciplinary team. Any ideas on how to manage this team efficiently? It is always interesting to me how the role of the DON changes from...

Study: hand gels fail to stop spread of patient infections.(NEWS: Nursing)(Report)
March 1, 2008... Increased use of alcohol-based hand gel may yield direct care workers' certain benefits, but decreasing the spread of infections might not be one of them, new research indicates. Nurses and physicians nearly doubled their use of hand gel...

Eli Lilly was discussing possibly paying a $1 billion fine to settle a civil and criminal investigation.(Medication Update)
March 1, 2008... Eli Lilly was discussing possibly paying a $1 billion fine to settle a civil and criminal investigation. The company has been accused of promoting its Zyprexa for off-label use in the treatment of age-related dementia and mild bipolar disorder....

The drug etanercept has a therapeutic effect in Alzheimer's patients, according to study findings published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.(Medication Update)
March 1, 2008... The drug etanercept has a therapeutic effect in Alzheimer's patients, according to study findings published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. The drug, also known as Enbrel, is used to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Calcium channel blockers might have a two-for-one benefit: controlling blood pressure and cutting the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.(Medication Update)
March 1, 2008... Calcium channel blockers might have a two-for-one benefit: controlling blood pressure and cutting the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. So say findings published in the Feb. 6 online issue of Neurology. However, the research is far from...

The Food and Drug Administration last year approved 19 new medications, the lowest number since 1983, according to an analyst with research firm Washington Analysis.(Medication Update)
March 1, 2008... The Food and Drug Administration last year approved 19 new medications, the lowest number since 1983, according to an analyst with research firm Washington Analysis. Drug makers' shift in focus to the development of new uses for medications...

Merck and Schering-Plough face at least 10 federal lawsuits as a result of delaying a study release.(Medication Update)
March 1, 2008... Merck and Schering-Plough face at least 10 federal lawsuits as a result of delaying a study release. The study found that Vytorin is no more effective than a generic form in preventing the accumulation of plaque on artery walls.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Minimum Data Set)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... We want to prepare our staff for the MDS 3.0. What tools can we use? We are suggesting that your staff starts to use the interview process that is described in the draft MDS 3.0. Many areas are the same as the MDS 2.0 but are approached...

OIG: Medicare paid millions too much for nursing care.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
March 1, 2008... The Medicare program paid nearly $130 million too much for hospital and laboratory services from 2001 to 2003, a federal investigation has discovered. The amount constitutes unintended double payments for services, according to auditors...

Board can help drive quality, report finds.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A recent government-providers roundtable on how boards of directors can influence quality of care in long-term care facilities may be the start of a broader initiative, officials said. One of the top goals was specifying items that could be...

Sun Healthcare Group Inc.(Business Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Sun Healthcare Group Inc. forecasts 2008 results within range of expectations. The long-term care chain expects 2008 income from continuing operations to range from $37.2 million, or 85 cents per share, to $39.6 million, or 90 cents per share....

Sunwest Management Inc.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Sunwest Management Inc. has begun to unravel legal problems involving the state of California and its facility residents. In August 2005, authorities with the California Department of Justice raided the company's Salem, OR, headquarters. The...

Metro Monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The number of nursing care properties versus the number of assisted living facilities, as of third-quarter 2007. Leaders Nursing Assisted Dif- Rank Metro Care Living ference 1 ...

Benedictine carves out new long-term care business.(NEWS: Companies)
March 1, 2008... One mid-sized chain has restructured itself, separating from its parent company and forming its own long-term care business. The Benedictine Health System, which owns and/or manages about 40 long-term care facilities in seven states, was...

Manor Care owner adds facilities in Asia.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Carlyle Group, fresh off its acquisition of Manor Care Inc., has bought four assisted living properties in Tokyo for $137 million. The Asian division of The Carlyle Group will buy the assets from the Goodwill Group, an investment...

Technology's ability to help providers will be examined during an upcoming virtual trade show sponsored by McKnight's.(IT Update)
March 1, 2008... Technology's ability to help providers will be examined during an upcoming virtual trade show sponsored by McKnight's. Keynote Speaker Andrew Carle will assess current innovations and technology, as well as the field's future. Carle is founding...

Technology-related issues will highlight AAHSA's upcoming Future of Aging Services Conference in Washington.(IT Update)
March 1, 2008... Technology-related issues will highlight AAHSA's upcoming Future of Aging Services Conference in Washington. Sessions include: "Long-Term Care Health Information Technology and Quality," "Performance Improvement Using Technology," "Technology...

Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton agreed during a recent debate that healthcare IT would be beneficial in lowering costs.(IT Update)
March 1, 2008... Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton agreed during a recent debate that healthcare IT would be beneficial in lowering costs. Clinton said IT also could be used to manage chronic care and ensure healthcare access.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology would receive a 7.7% funding hike under President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal.(IT Update)
March 1, 2008... The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology would receive a 77% funding hike under President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal. ONCHIT, the Health and Human Services Department's health information technology...

Approximately half of the increased spending for healthcare in recent decades can be linked to technological changes, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office report.(IT Update)
March 1, 2008... Approximately half of the increased spending for healthcare in recent decades can be linked to technological changes, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office report. Future advances may need to be weighed against possible costs, and...

Seniors technology takes stage at Capitol Hill event.(NEWS: Technology)
March 1, 2008... Chair sensors, computer programs to test memory and other technology tools were on display at a recent Capitol Hill briefing. The Senate's Special Committee on Aging hosted the event, in conjunction with the Medical Technology Caucus and...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(Extended Care Information Network Patient Referral Software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stacks of referral faxes, lengthy voicemail messages about patients and frequent trips to the hospital to view charts all can be considered things of the past, thanks to electronic referral software from recent...

State pays big for Mangano case.(SOUTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... LOUISIANA -- The failed prosecution of former nursing home owners Sal and Mabel Mangano cost state taxpayers a whopping $360,000, according to documents obtained last month by the Associated Press. State Attorney General Charles Foti spent...

State invests $2m in training for nurses.(PENNSYLVANIA)
March 1, 2008... The state plans to spend nearly $2 million to help educate and enlarge the nursing workforce. Twenty grant recipients, which span 28 counties, will receive $679,933 to expand clinical education for nurses and $1.1 million to purchase...

Bill would rein in liability costs.(SOUTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... TENNESSEE -- Two state legislators have introduced a bill to lower nursing homes' astronomical liability costs, The state reportedly has the second-highest liability cost per bed as a result of runaway lawsuits. The average annual cost of...

Staffing debate simmers.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... KENTUCKY -- A new state bill requiring minimum staffing standards at nursing homes has pitted advocates of quality care against members of the nursing home industry. House Bill 109, sponsored by Rep. Carl Rollins (D), would require that...

WWI survivor dies, only 1 remains.(SOUTHEAST)(World War I veterans Harry Richard Landis and Frank Buckles)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... FLORIDA -- One of two known surviving U.S. veterans of World War I died last month. Harry Richard Landis, who enlisted in the Army in 1918, died of natural causes at a Sun City Center nursing home in Florida. He was 108. Donna Riley,...

Ombudsman seeks reform.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- The state's long-term care ombudsman has proposed a dozen reforms to strengthen oversight of nursing homes. The reforms, outlined in a report to lawmakers, follow findings about resident-care deficiencies at one of the state's...

No pay for preventable errors.(NORTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... PENNSYLVANIA -- Gov. Edward Rendell (D) recently disclosed that Medicaid no longer will pay for care related to preventable hospital errors. The new program also will prohibit hospitals from charging patients for such errors. Under the...

Steep Medicaid cuts requested.(NORTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... NEWYORK -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) proposed a $124.3 billion budget plan for fiscal year 2009 makes deep cuts in Medicaid funding. The proposal calls for $980 million in savings to Medicaid and other health programs, in part by changing the...

New EHR could save $50m a year.(NORTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... MAINE -- An upcoming statewide electronic health record system, HealthInfoNet, is expected to save the state $50 million annually, Construction on the not-for-profit network is set to begin later this year and supporters have raised $4...

Budget overlooks nursing homes.(NORTHEAST)
March 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell last month proposed a fiscal year 2009 budget that offers no increase for nursing homes, according to a Journal Inquirer news report. More than 20 nursing homes have declared bankruptcy or have been placed...

Nurse may have molested 100.(MIDWEST)
March 1, 2008... OHIO -- A former nursing home nurse who has been jailed on felony rape and sexual imposition charges may have had improper contact with as many as 100 residents in his 20-year career, he said. John R. Riems was last employed at Concord Care...

Card helps monitor medications.(MIDWEST)(Iowa Healthcare Collaborative)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... IOWA -- The state has begun a campaign to promote communication between patients and healthcare providers regarding appropriate medication use. The Iowa Healthcare Collaborative and other groups in the state are participating in the...

Dramatic health proposal fails.(WEST)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- The California Senate Health Committee voted to reject legislation that would have overhauled the state's healthcare system. Supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), the $14.9 billion proposal would have required most...

Nurse groups will collaborate.(WEST)
March 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Hospital and nursing groups in the state have agreed to work together to improve staffing policies. The agreement took place in conjunction with proposed state legislation that calls for collaboration between nurses and...

Where high-touch meets high-tech: the 2008 Online Expo has a simple goal: to provide useful, relevant information.(NEWS: Calendar)
March 1, 2008... One of the truest descriptions of a long-term care provider is this: "Wears many hats, yet must be precise under all of them. All the time. Or else." That is why one of the newest innovations in long-term care professional education is so...

Lintech.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Lintech announced that it has attained certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Software Solutions, recognizing Lintech's expertise and total impact. As a Microsoft certified partner, Lintech has proven the ability...

Invacare.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Invacare reported a dramatic turnaround in fourth-quarter earnings. The maker of wheelchairs and other healthcare products noted that net income for the latest fourth quarter reached $7 million, or 22 cents a share, In the year-ago period,...

CIT Group.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... CIT Group recently announced the formation of 505 Capital Partners LP. The new fund will invest in second lien, mezzanine and other subordinated debt instruments, according to CIT. When fully leveraged, it will have a target size of...

Fujitsu Computer Systems.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Fujitsu Computer Systems has released a new convertible notebook PC that's designed to offer enhanced data security. The LifeBook P1620 can be used as either a notebook or Tablet PC,

Smith & Nephew Wound Management.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Smith & Nephew Wound Management made the North American launch of the EZ CARE and VISTA portable negative pressure wound therapy systems at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Feb. 29.

DM Systems.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... DM Systems has released a new study that examines heel pressure healing. Investigators found that pressure relief boots and pillows outperformed pressure relief mattresses and heel protectors by a wide margin,

MyExpectations.com.(Company Briefs)
March 1, 2008... MyExpectations.com has developed census-building software intended for long-term care providers. Covered topics include working with hospital discharge planners and third party payment providers.

Waxman: don't use journals to promote off-label usage.(NEWS: Vendors)
March 1, 2008... Should pharmaceutical companies use medical journal articles to help market drugs in unapproved ways? A leading watchdog in the House of Representatives says no, and he is pushing to halt pending rules that would allow the practice. ...

Report: billing fraud rampant across SNFs.(NEWS: Vendors)(Report)
March 1, 2008... Many nursing homes continue to charge the government for therapy and testing that is not required, according to a new report from America's Watchdog. The third annual report concludes that billing abuse and fraud remain rampant. ...

How to do it ... info technology.(Business & Marketing)
March 1, 2008... When it comes to adopting and using information technology, long-term care providers have a reputation for being "behind the curve." Many observers say it is a well-earned tag. In this piece, experts and industry veterans offer advice on how...

Sizing up opportunity: seniors housing and care opportunities exist for smaller and regional players. But they need to have their house in order.(Market analysis)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Small and regional operators, take solace: You are still in the capitalization game, provided you mind your business well. Interested lenders remain out there and they are looking for worthwhile projects to fund. ...

Davids vs. Goliaths: smaller operators must practice due diligence to scale lending hurdles.(Market analysis)
March 1, 2008... Just a couple years ago, the lending landscape was so hot seniors housing operators didn't have to do much to secure a hefty loan. Over the past year, however, the market's taken a dramatic downturn, potentially leaving a sea of capital-seeking...

No job too small: NIC MAP helps small operators get the market data they need to level the playing field.(Market analysis)(National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry's Market Area Profiles)
March 1, 2008... It used to be that if an eldercare operation wanted to investigate expansion, it meant rigorous travel, convoluted logistics, an endless series of phone calls and lots of guesswork on top of it all. With fewer resources at their disposal, small...

Scratch that niche: a growing number of operators are taking a more targeted approach to providing housing and care options.(Market analysis)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rather than trying to be all things to all people, a growing number of seniors housing operators are trying their hand in the niche segment, developing strategically focused communities to residents of like-minded...

A recipe for your success.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
March 1, 2008... Dinner dates, family picnics, summer barbecues, Sunday brunch--let's face it: Food brings so much pleasure that we plan entire events around it. That feeling shouldn't end once you move into a nursing home. Food Service Director Deborah Hearn...

Doing America business?(THE BIG PICTURE)(Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee)
March 1, 2008... As this issue goes to press, Roger Clemens and his former trainer are taking turns on Capitol Hill calling each other a liar. My guess is that they are both right, but that's beside the point. The showdown between Clemens--arguably the best...

Writer's remorse: maybe I should not have said that.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... Nowadays there are all too many writers making the story about themselves. This is a violation of a traditional journalism tenet that I like to adhere to. But this time I can't help it. Ever since completing a Profile piece on Sen. Herb...

"What makes a good long-term care mentor?".(Reader Poll)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "What is needed is someone who cares about people--not just the elderly--someone who will sacrifice their time and experience to get the job done. This person needs to understand the needs of the residents, as well...

Learning is time well spent.(HAVING MY SAY)
March 1, 2008... With 30 years in nursing, the last 17 in long-term care, I've had the opportunity to wear many hats: staff nurse, charge nurse, infection control, employee health, administration and even a surprise stint as the acting director of nursing when...

'Trust' him: more than LTC insurance needed.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2008... Your recent article (McKnight's Long-Term Care News, January 2008, "No Easy Solution ahead for LTC funding dilemma," p. 42) highlights a core question in the long-term care financing debate: How do we pay for the long-term care needs of all...