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

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

Senator seeks survey fixes.
May 1, 2006... Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) says he wants action from federal regulators regarding survey and certification problems identified in a General Accountability Office report released earlier this year. Standards for nursing home inspections...

Immigration rallies force balancing act.
May 1, 2006... In a dramatic show of political muscle, hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants held rallies last month in nearly 100 cities. Many waved U.S. flags while voicing pride in their adopted country and denouncing politicians who have likened...

Private room hits $71,000.
May 1, 2006... Growth in the cost of assisted living units and home health workers this year trumped the rise in nursing home room prices, according to a new survey by Genworth Financial Inc. The average cost for a private room in a nursing home increased...

Sleep helps hypertension.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... Lack of sleep could be a cause of high blood pressure, a new study suggests. Sleeping less than six hours per night more than doubled the risk of developing high blood pressure in subjects aged 32 to 59, according to the May issue of...

Elders' pain merits study.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... Researchers need to conduct more studies on pain and the elderly, according to an editorial in the journal Pain Medicine. Just 1% of studies concentrate on pain as it relates to aging, according to editorial author Dr. Debra Weiner of the...

Bush warns Congress to trim spending plan.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... President Bush warned Congress he will veto budget legislation flit does not restrain spending. The clear message for providers: More Medicare and Medicaid cuts are needed. "If necessary, I will enforce spending restraint through the...

Smoke-detector mandate in play.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... Operators who use battery-operated smoke alarms must have a program in place for maintaining and testing them by May 24 under new federal rules. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimated 4,200 nursing homes without sprinklers...

More downscale nursing homes were put up for sale last year, a reality confirmed by a 3% drop in bed prices.(At deadline)
May 1, 2006... More downscale nursing homes were put up for sale last year, a reality confirmed by a 3% drop in bed prices. In fact, the average bed price fell to $43,250, according to the Senior Care Acquisition Report, Conversely, the typical assisted...

The Institute for the Future of Aging Services has been chosen to participate in the Accelerating Changes and Transformation in Organizations and Networks (ACTION) Program.(At deadline)
May 1, 2006... The Institute for the Future of Aging Services has been chosen to participate in the Accelerating Changes and Transformation in Organizations and Networks (ACTION) Program. The institute will conduct research in integrated healthcare delivery...

Prices for the medications most often used by older patients rose 6% last year, according to an AARP report.(At deadline)
May 1, 2006... Prices for the medications most often used by older patients rose 6% last year, according to an AARP report. Such costs have outpaced inflation six years in a row. "Brand name drugs have become substantially less affordable," said the AARP's...

60 seconds with ... Mark Wynn.(NEWS)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Q: A Medicare pay-for-performance demonstration project for nursing home operators could be in motion by the end of the year. Who will be involved in the three-year study? A: There will be about 50 nursing homes in each of about four or...

Report: Fines collected but not spent on quality efforts.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A massive pool of funds collected through civil monetary penalties (CMP) and fines against nursing facilities remains a largely untapped resource, according to new research. Investigators say that $60 million collected in 46 states in 2005...

Drug plans modified for Part D in 2007.(NEWS)
May 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave drug plans a roadmap for transitioning new seniors into the prescription drug benefit for next year. As part of the new guidance, plans will be required to provide 31-day transition...

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a new rule to make the contents of medical gas containers easier to identify.(Regulatory Update)
May 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a new rule to make the contents of medical gas containers easier to identify. Serious incidents involving these containers, including one at a nursing home, spurred the FDA's action.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations warned providers of dangers of catheter and tubing misconnections.(Regulatory Update)
May 1, 2006... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations warned providers of dangers of catheter and tubing misconnections. Warning signs include having to force-fit tubes or having to use an adaptor, JCAHO said.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has introduced a bill that would establish a matching grant program for states to support home care services for seniors.(Bill Watch)
May 1, 2006... Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has introduced a bill that would establish a matching grant program for states to support home care services for seniors. States would set up the programs under the bill, which would offer seniors financial aid.

The Senate approved a bill that requires lobbyists to disclose more information about their dealings with lawmakers.(Bill Watch)
May 1, 2006... The Senate approved a bill that requires lobbyists to disclose more information about their dealings with lawmakers. It also would prevent lobbyists from paying for lawmakers' meals or giving gifts.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
May 1, 2006... I have residents whose weight fluctuates up and down several times per month. Do you have suggestions about how to get more reliable readings? Ask some questions to yourself: Is the weight fluctuating due to a staff error? Is it an error...

Medicaid tells facilities to reuse, recycle unused meds.(NEWS: Resident Care)
May 1, 2006... A new policy regarding the reuse of drugs in nursing homes could affect as many as 100,000 residents, a major long-term care association asserts. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is instructing its state programs to require...

Concerns about stigma among Alzheimer's patients delayed their diagnosis an average 3 1/2 years after their symptoms occurred.(Caregiving Update)
May 1, 2006... Concerns about stigma among Alzheimer's patients delayed their diagnosis an average 3 1/2 years after their symptoms occurred, according to a new survey from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. The delay widened to an average of six years...

The mental state of the recipient seems to alter the value of a flu shot, a British study suggests.(Caregiving Update)
May 1, 2006... The mental state of the recipient seems to alter the value of a flu shot, a British study suggests. One month after receiving the shot, bereaved elderly showed a 69% lower antibody response to one flu strain, compared to those who had not...

How often do you watch "The Young and the Restless?".(Caregiving Update)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... How often do you watch "The Young and the Restless?" Elderly women who showed a preference for daytime TV were more likely to score poorly on tests of memory, attention and mental quickness than peers who liked other shows, say researchers at...

Delirium in the elderly could signal the presence of underlying life-threatening diseases, according to a March report in the New England Journal of Medicine.(Caregiving Update)
May 1, 2006... Delirium in the elderly could signal the presence of underlying life-threatening diseases, according to a March report in the New England Journal of Medicine. An acute decline in cognitive functioning and attention, delirium often goes...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
May 1, 2006... What is the best camera to use for photographing wounds? For instant wound photographs, the Polaroid Spectra HealthCam Kit is a great option. This camera has auto exposure and auto focus to ensure sharp, correctly exposed images. You can...

Old-fashioned honey helps sweeten wound treatment.(NEWS: Wound Care)
May 1, 2006... One of the newest wound-care remedies is also one of the oldest: honey. Honey can help as a wound dressing in numerous ways, according to a review article in the March issue of the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. ...

Acute infections may temporarily increase the risk of both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, according to British researchers.(Treatment Update)
May 1, 2006... Acute infections may temporarily increase the risk of both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, according to British researchers. In the first two weeks following an acute urinary tract infection, the risk of deep vein thromboembolism...

3M Health Care will make and distribute ClozeX wound closure devices.(Treatment Update)(Medical condition overview)
May 1, 2006... 3M Health Care will make and distribute ClozeX wound closure devices, under a new deal aimed at supplying clinicians with easy-to-use products, the company said.

Covalon Technologies Ltd. will seek Food and Drug Administration approval to market a new a collagen antimicrobial silver wound dressing (Collagran Ag).(Treatment Update)
May 1, 2006... Covalon Technologies Ltd. will seek Food and Drug Administration approval to market a new a collagen antimicrobial silver wound dressing (Collagran Ag). "[The product] creates an environment conducive to optimal wound healing with increased...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
May 1, 2006... I am working on teaching my nurse managers and supervisors more about federal regulations. Any suggestions? Well, expecting them to just sit down and read them all is unrealistic, as we know. I like to take a tag or two at a time, copy...

AHCA stresses compromise as immigrants demonstrate.(NEWS: Nursing)
May 1, 2006... The Senate failed to vote on a measure aimed at granting amnesty to most of the 11 million-plus illegal immigrants, as of press time. The issue is an awkward one for providers, who find themselves facing unprecedented nursing staff shortages....

Long drug regimens work better than psychotherapy for seniors' depression, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2006... Long drug regimens work better than psychotherapy for seniors' depression, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. About one-third of study participants taking just an anti-depression drug relapsed into depression, half the...

Diuretics used to lower blood pressure may help lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study in the Archives of Neurology.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2006... Diuretics used to lower blood pressure may help lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study in the Archives of Neurology. Researchers found an overall 40% reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease...

If all Medicare beneficiaries taking cholesterol-lowering statins switched from brand-name medications to generic drugs.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2006... If all Medicare beneficiaries taking cholesterol-lowering statins switched from brand-name medications to generic drugs, the program could save about $8 billion annually beginning in 2007, according to separate studies by the Consumers Union...

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration urged the agency to put a monthly intravenous drug for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis back on the market despite questions about a rare brain disease.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2006... Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration urged the agency to put a monthly intravenous drug for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis back on the market despite questions about a rare brain disease. The drug, Tysabri, has been linked...

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2006... We seem to have a lot of days in the nine new RUGs categories. Is that OK? So far, we are seeing over 20% of the RUGs days moving into the nine new resource utilization group categories. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had...

Kaiser reports examine key LTC issues from budget act.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2006... A handful of new reports from the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured delve into effects of the recently signed Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on long-term care. "Medicaid Long-Term Services Reforms in the...

SNF bad-debt rule advances.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2006... The federal government is a step closer to implementing "bad debt" reimbursement provisions that nursing home operators have worried about for at least three years. The good news is the proposed regulation will not decrease allowable bad...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2006... 1.3 The cost in billions of dollars for treating the approximately 1.8 million Americans afflicted annually with pressure ulcers, according to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. 10 The percentage of people aged 65 and older in...

National HealthCare Corp.'s profits.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
May 1, 2006... National HealthCare Corp.'s profits increased in the fourth quarter of 2005 as revenues slipped to $140 million. Lower costs and expenses for the quarter helped to boost earnings to $10 million. Profits expanded for the year to $29 million....

American Retirement Corp. agreed to acquire two senior living communities in Kansas City, KS, for $29.5 million.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... American Retirement Corp. agreed to acquire two senior living communities in Kansas City, KS, for $29.5 million. One community has 106 skilled nursing beds and 44 assisted living units. The other setting has 54 Alzheimer's units. The...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)
May 1, 2006... Metro Monitor The top and bottom metropolitan markets as ranked by the number of skilled-nursing beds that would be added through construction projects active at the end of 2005. Leaders 1 San Francisco 780...

Operators are getting hip to short-stay rehab opportunity.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nursing home chains are beginning to tap into a new revenue stream through their therapy divisions: short-term stay units. Golden Gate National Senior Case's Aegis Therapies is the latest to embark on this path, opening six Orthopedic...

Advocat 4Q shows profit.(NEWS: Companies)(Financial report)
May 1, 2006... Advocat Inc. returned to the black in the fourth quarter as revenues rose. The nursing home chain, which is based in Brentwood, TN, earned $13 million in the quarter ending Dec. 31. That compares to a loss of $4 million in the previous...

More than 90% of all providers still rely on paper-based claims submittal and payment, according to a survey from PNC Financial Services Group Inc.(IT Update)
May 1, 2006... More than 90% of all providers still rely on paper-based claims submittal and payment, according to a survey from PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Providers cited requirement inconsistencies from payers as the primary reason.

Legislation to encourage health information technology should avoid interfering with marketplace advances, says House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal (R-GA).(IT Update)
May 1, 2006... Legislation to encourage health information technology should avoid interfering with marketplace advances, says House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal (R-GA). At a subcommittee hearing on electronic medical records,...

Health plans will increasingly use the Internet to reach out to patients directly with tips for staying healthy and keeping costs down, according to a report from First Consulting Group.(IT Update)
May 1, 2006... Health plans will increasingly use the Internet to reach out to patients directly with tips for staying healthy and keeping costs down, according to a report from First Consulting Group. Additionally, health plans help healthcare providers...

Medical and financial information on Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries is at risk because of security flaws, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.(IT Update)
May 1, 2006... Medical and financial information on Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries is at risk because of security flaws, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. "Instead of firewalls to safeguard sensitive data, we have Swiss cheese,"...

More healthcare companies are deploying open-source software, according to a recent survey by Forrester Research Inc.(IT Update)
May 1, 2006... More healthcare companies are deploying open-source software, according to a recent survey by Forrester Research Inc. Lower acquisition costs, lower total cost of ownership and greater flexibility in choosing hardware and software were the top...

Unlikely poster 'boy' found for information technology.(NEWS: Technology)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Meet Ernesto. He's 78 years old. He worked hard his whole life before settling into a comfortable retirement. But like most people, he's found that staying healthy in old age can be a job in itself. He had a heart attack last year. While he...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
May 1, 2006... Good wound-care products are not cheap, but Arthur Schachter is betting they eventually will pay for themselves. "We feel that, in the overall picture, it's worth it, says the CFO and former assistant administrator of Tallwoods Care Center...

Expanding community-based care.(SOUTHEAST)
May 1, 2006... TENNESSEE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) has requested a waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand funding for home and community-based care for the elderly and disabled. The governor is asking CMS to approve a plan...

Long-term care insurance law.(SOUTHEAST)
May 1, 2006... FLORIDA -- A new bill in Florida would hold down long-term care insurance costs, which can rise more than 200% during the 20-to 30-year life of a contract. The bill would require that current policyholders' rates be no more than the cost of any...

Who makes evac call?(LOUISIANA)
May 1, 2006... With another hurricane season fast approaching, debate continues over whether the state or operators should be in charge of evacuating nursing homes during a disaster. Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) wants nursing homes to continue carrying out...

Storm-related fallout.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... LOUISIANA -- Seven months after Hurricane Katrina, only one nursing home in New Orleans has faced disciplinary action for its conduct related to the storm, according to a news report. The Department of Health and Hospitals revoked Ferncrest...

Malpractice caps approved.(MIDWEST)
May 1, 2006... WISCONSIN -- Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has signed a bill reinstating medical malpractice caps 11/2 years after the state Supreme Court struck down the caps as unconstitutional. The measure limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases...

Criminal check charges.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MICHIGAN -- State Attorney General Mike Cox already has levied charges against numerous nursing home employees in the wake of a new background check law. The Nursing Home Criminal Background Check law, which went into effect April 1, was...

More funds for nursing homes.(MIDWEST)
May 1, 2006... WISCONSIN -- Gov. Jim Doyle (D) recently signed a bill into law that increases funding by $26.8 million for nursing homes that accept Medicaid patients. Although Doyle had vetoed a similar increase in the state budget in 2005 as part of...

Nursing home citations up.(NORTHEAST)
May 1, 2006... DELAWARE -- The state has been reporting more harmful deficiencies in nursing home facilities to federal authorities since a former state inspector complained that reports were being watered down by the state Division of Long Term Care...

Emergency planning lacking?(NORTHEAST)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The Gulf Coast region's hurricane woes have sparked emergency planning in the state, where lawmakers are calling for better preparation in the event of a disaster. For the first time ever, the state health department has ordered...

Transfer committees mandated.(WEST)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) has signed into law a bill that aims to reduce healthcare worker injuries by requiring hospitals and healthcare providers to establish safe patient-handling committees. Although the law does not...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
May 1, 2006... What are policy essentials for avoiding monetary penalties regarding "do not resuscitate" orders? Facilities use different procedures to distinguish between DNR and "full code" residents. No doubt, some have proved inadequate. Every DNR...

Labor board ruling may trim unionizine rights of nurses.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
May 1, 2006... Nurses could find their ability to unionize and engage in collective bargaining restricted, pending a decision from the National Labor Relations Board this year. Former NLRB General Counsel Fred Feinstein told attendees at a recent...

'Precedent setting' win over regulators.(NEWS: Legal Matters)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nearly 20 New York Department of Health officials and regulators are set to stand trial in 2007 on charges of civil fights violations relating to the forced foreclosure and shuttering of a nursing facility. The owners of the now empty...

How to do it ... securing capital.(Business & Marketing)
May 1, 2006... Nursing homes need capital for various reasons--to refurbish a wing, to purchase equipment or even to buy other facilities. But often the hardest part about embarking on a new expenditure is securing the funds. Providers can quickly lose the...

Linking mind, body, spirit: to help meet the needs of an aging population, A.T. Still University embraces an approach that incorporates design, health and housing.(Business & Marketing: Design)
May 1, 2006... At a time when many universities have not yet considered the consequences of an aging society, one school is blazing a trail--literally and figuratively--for others to follow. If you did not grow up in Missouri, chances are good you have...

Deliver us not into temptation.(THE BIG PICTURE)(using new technology to care for the elderly)(Viewpoint essay)
May 1, 2006... There's a rough patch of winter in Chicago that covers January through St. Patrick's Day. Before then, the holidays are in full swing. Afterward, winter begins losing its grip. But those 75 days or so in between can be a real character...

Psssst! Here's a story you shouldn't ignore any more.(Editor's DESK)
May 1, 2006... As journalists for a long-term care trade magazine, colleagues and I often kid that we can't run stories about facilities' Bingo games. The implication, of course, is that we need to run items that touch a broad range of readers. That's...

Reader Poll: what is the most outrageous or ridiculous citation you have heard of?(Opinion)
May 1, 2006... "I was given the most popular F-371 in Wisconsin years ago for a couple of water spots on two knives. This year the citation seems to be related to dented cans received from food vendors. Even if the can is not 'violated,' they will still cite...

Cultural change a thrill that grows each day.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... As our baby boomers reach the point of requiring skilled nursing care, adaptations to suit their lifestyles become imminent. Cultural change has become a necessary step in addressing the ever-evolving needs and desires of our aging population....

March 15 info technology Webcast a great source.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... The presenter (Steve Chies, at the McKnight's March 15, 2006, Webcast) was an excellent speaker and offered a great source of information. In speaking from an IT level, he was very informative, and on cue within our organization. We...

Letter keeps her going after all these years.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... A nursing home patient named Mr. Corsi was my inspiration for working in long-term care. I met him when I was about 15 by coming to his smelly, old, hot, ugly nursing home as a youth group volunteer. Our task was to gather patients for...

Thinking big: nursing homes are bracing for a new population: the morbidly obese. Heftier equipment is just the beginning of their caregiving needs.(Lifts/bathing)
May 1, 2006... The "horror" stories were the trigger: Tales of hospitals without the wherewithal to deal with 800- and 900-pound patients. After more than 20 years in business, Denmark-based Guldmann decided two years ago to venture into a new U.S....

Overexposed? Recent risk management developments have raised the ante for providers. Answers may lie in mastering basic practices.(Risk management)
May 1, 2006... When talk of risk management comes up among long-term care providers, you might as well be discussing juggling oily bowling balls. The topics are heavy, very slippery and can cause severe damage if mishandled. A provider takes his or her...

Bathing/lifts: help make the workday easier.(Product Focus)
May 1, 2006... T.H.E. MEDICAL The new Niagara bathing system features a reservoir tank that allows it to fill in only 90 seconds. The variable height bath lift means that residents can be raised and lowered during the bathing process. An end-entry door...

Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully.(New Products)
May 1, 2006... (1) Electric profiling bed Huntleigh Healthcare, a world leader in the design and manufacture of healthcare equipment, has launched a brand new Enterprise[TM] hospital bed. It has many unique features designed to improve efficiency...

A day in the life: John Partridge, director of nursing.(Careers)
May 1, 2006... EVERY DAY director of nursing John Partridge comes to work, he believes he must defend his position as a nurse. "I'm looked at differently because I'm a man," says Partridge, who is just one of five male DONs in the entire Genesis...

Salary snapshot: maintenance supervisor.(Careers)
May 1, 2006... Salary Snapshot: Maintenance Supervisor Median salaries (all facilities) REGION SALARY($) REGION SALARY($) 1 43,212 6 29,250 2 40,560 7 31,439 3 37,887...

Transportation.(Buyer's Guide)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2006... Atlantic Turtle Top (800) 636-8267 www.atlanticturtletop.com Carpenter Bus Sales (800) 370-6180 www.carpenterbus.com ElDorado National (800) 850-1BUS www.enconline.com Glaval Bus (800) 445-2858 ...

Correction.(Buyer's Guide)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... Last month's Buyer's Guide contained an incorrect Web address for Healthcare Services Group. The line should have read: www.hcsgcorp.com.

Doubting Thomas.(Profile)(William H. Thomas)
May 1, 2006... William H. Thomas, M.D., founder and president, The Eden Alternative WILLIAM THOMAS may pride himself on living a simple life and promoting a more simplified approach to eldercare. But make no mistake--he's one complex character. How...