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

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

A high-profile worker crisis.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The woman who has created a media empire from her homemaking expertise testified at a hearing last month on the long-term care workforce shortage. Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, spoke...

Lawmakers take aim at arbitration pacts.
May 1, 2008... A new Senate bill seeks to eliminate providers' ability to bind residents to pre-dispute arbitration agreements. The bill does not target all arbitration clauses, just those that are sought before admission. Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Mel...

NIC: Sector holds steady.(National Investment Center for the Senior Housing and Care Industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... While the nation's economy may be in a funk, eldercare communities are generally doing well, according to the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing & Care Industry. "The percentage of performing loans during the fourth quarter...

Gloom tied to dementia.(NEWS)
May 1, 2008... Depression may more than double the risk of Alzheimer's, according to a new Dutch study. Researchers collected data on 486 older adults who did not have dementia. Those who had had an episode of depression were 2.5 times more likely to...

Aging brain affects gait.(NEWS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Know someone having trouble walking and holding steady in her old age? She can blame the white matter in her brain, a recent study found. Changes in the white matter affect how well older adults can move and keep...

Lawmakers seek delay for new Medicaid rules.(NEWS)
May 1, 2008... The House Energy and Commerce Committee has voted 46-0 to delay imminent Medicaid-rule changes that would cut payments and services in the long-term care sector. Most notably, the pending reductions would curtail a major source of indirect...

Kuhn tapped to oversee Medicaid.(NEWS)
May 1, 2008... Just four years into his Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services career, Herb Kuhn has been put in charge of the Medicaid program. Kuhn officially was named acting director of the Medicaid program, taking over for Dennis Smith, who had...

A federal judge has rejected an association's challenge to a section of a lobbying disclosure law.(At deadline)
May 1, 2008... A federal judge has rejected an association's challenge to a section of a lobbying disclosure law. The organization must disclose the identity of members who pay more than $5,000 each quarter for the organization's lobbying help and "actively...

HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson issued changes to the provider self-disclosure protocol.(At deadline)
May 1, 2008... HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson issued changes to the provider self-disclosure protocol, which can be used to voluntarily disclose self-discovered evidence of potential fraud. A fuller explanation of what's being disclosed will be...

The Safety of Seniors Act, a bipartisan bill designed to expand research into, and raise awareness of falls in the elderly population, cleared the House and was headed to the president for his approval, as of press time.(At deadline)
May 1, 2008... The Safety of Seniors Act, a bipartisan bill designed to expand research into, and raise awareness of falls in the elderly population, cleared the House and was headed to the president for his approval, as of press time. Education was a key...

60 seconds with ... Anna Ortigara Communications director, Green House[R] Project.(NEWS)(Interview)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: How successful has growth been under the five-year Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant? A: Right now, 34 projects are in the process, 14 are in operation. Our goal is 50 opened projects by November 2010. We...

Correction.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2008... Last month, we misnamed the type d dog owned by Profile subject, Diane Rowland on page 70. It is a cairn terrier.

Arbitration bill draws angst from provider association.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... One group was notably absent when the cheering erupted over the introduction of a bill that would ban arbitration agreements from nursing home admission contracts: providers. "We feel this bill is misguided and we strongly disagree with...

Report: specialist shortage in LTC is dire.(NEWS)
May 1, 2008... The U.S. healthcare system does not have enough geriatric specialists to care for the 78 million baby boomers about to turn 65, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine released last month. Related problems include insufficient...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently proposed a rule that would funnel more Medicaid beneficiaries.(Regulatory Update)
May 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently proposed a rule that would funnel more Medicaid beneficiaries to home- and community-based care settings and away from institutions.

Dialysis centers must meet new minimum standards to be certified under the Medicare program.(Regulatory Update)
May 1, 2008... Dialysis centers must meet new minimum standards to be certified under the Medicare program, according to a rule finalized last month by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) recently introduced Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008.(Bill Watch)
May 1, 2008... Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) recently introduced Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 (S. 2708). The bill seeks to improve recruitment and retention of direct care workers in long-term care settings with specialty training in geriatrics and...

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
May 1, 2008... I do the CNA training, and help with checking certifications. Are there standard requirements for CNAs? Federal regulations (42 CFR 483.152) require that a state-approved nurse-aide training program consist of a minimum of 75 hours of...

Dementia program focuses on multisensory stimulation.(NEWS: Resident Care)
May 1, 2008... A group of Pennsylvania providers are gearing up to launch an unconventional program that promises to unlock wide-ranging resident benefits. These include reduced wandering, agitation and medication use, along with higher levels of...

The use of physical restraints on nursing home residents has fallen 40% in recent years.(Caregiving Update)
May 1, 2008... The use of physical restraints on nursing home residents has fallen 40% in recent years, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Overall, about 5.9% of 1.5 million (or roughly 89,000) long-term residents were...

Women over 65 who practice yoga may be able to reduce their risk of falling.(Caregiving Update)
May 1, 2008... Women over 65 who practice yoga may be able to reduce their risk of falling, a new study from Norway found. lyengar yoga, with its use of standing poses and props, helped 24 elderly women improve flexibility and confidence in walking and...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2008... Is it a realistic care plan goal to heal a diabetic foot ulcer that has been present for two years? Yes. However, four key areas must be addressed for diabetic wound healing to occur: bacteria levels, pressure distribution, presence of...

Mayo Clinic offers thorough approach to bedsore healing.(NEWS: Wound Care)
May 1, 2008... To put it mildly, treating pressure ulcers is a difficult challenge. Now, one of the nation's most recognized care providers, the Mayo Clinic, is posting information about them its Web site, www.mayoclinic.com. Both providers and patients are...

Johnson &Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development announced that it obtained an approvable letter from the Food and Drug Administration regarding its new drug application for ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections.(Treatment Update)
May 1, 2008... Johnson &Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development announced that it obtained an approvable letter from the Food and Drug Administration regarding its new drug application for ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated skin and skin...

Targanta Therapeutics Corp. announced that the Food and Drug Administration had accepted the application for its drug oritavancin for standard review.(Treatment Update)
May 1, 2008... Targanta Therapeutics Corp. announced that the Food and Drug Administration had accepted the application for its drug oritavancin for standard review. The company wants to use the medication to treat complicated skin infections. The FDA can opt...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
May 1, 2008... Any suggestions as to how to follow up in an efficient manner after I delegate duties? Sit down with the staff member who you plan to designate a task to, explain the task and mutually agree on a time for its completion. Write the expected...

Group wants Bush to boost funding for nurse education.(NEWS: Nursing)
May 1, 2008... An independent group of healthcare leaders isn't merely wringing its hands over the fact that there haven't been enough nursing students graduating or enough gerontologists entering the profession recently. The group has asked the Bush...

Workplace bullying rampant, study finds.(NEWS: Nursing)
May 1, 2008... As many as 90% of surveyed nurses say they were either the subject of or witnessed bullying at work, according to a new study from the Joint Commission. "The workplace culture fosters a cut-throat competition," said Gary Namie, Ph.D.,...

The continuing use of antipsychotic drugs offers no cognitive or neuropsychiatric benefit for those with Alzheimer's, a study in PLoS Medicine found.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2008... The continuing use of antipsychotic drugs offers no cognitive or neuropsychiatric benefit for those with Alzheimer's, a study in PLoS Medicine found. Antipsychotics are often used to manage symptoms of aggression and agitation in Alzheimer's...

Drug maker Eli Lilly agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the state of Alaska.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2008... Drug maker Eli Lilly agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the state of Alaska. The suit alleged the company hid data about the side effects, including diabetes, of Zyprexa, a schizophrenia and bipolar disorder medication.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) is probing the decision by Merck and Schering-Plough to delay releasing the results of a study on Vytorin.(Medication Update)
May 1, 2008... Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) is probing the decision by Merck and Schering-Plough to delay releasing the results of a study on Vytorin. The cholesterol drug is no more effective than a generic in preventing the accumulation of plaque on artery...

More than half of all states are allowing or studying unused-drug recycling programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.(Medication Update)(Conference news)
May 1, 2008... More than half of all states are allowing or studying unused-drug recycling programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A main reason is to offset growing medical costs.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2008... >I understand that many facilities are being cited during state surveys for not following standards of clinical practice. That citation is frequently cross-referenced to the assessment process. What can we do to meet this challenge? You...

OIG issues draft compliance document for resident care.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2008... Expectations will soon be raised for nursing homes' compliance programs, thanks to a new draft guidance from the Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General. The document addresses what providers should do to avert fraud and...

Panel offers new pay plan.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
May 1, 2008... Medicare reimbursements for nursing homes would be revamped under a set of recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. MedPAC Commissioners voted in mid-April to send the new plan to Congress. As federal lawmakers'...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... 39 The mortality rate from falls by older Americans rose 39% from 1999 to 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 45 The amount of new referral inquiries coming into responding continuing care providers that were...

National HealthCare Corp's profits for the fourth quarter of 2007 rose by 14% as revenues grew by 9%.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
May 1, 2008... National HealthCare Corp's profits for the fourth quarter of 2007 rose by 14% as revenues grew by 9%. Earnings at the Murfreesboro, TN-based nursing home chain increased for the quarter to about $14 million. Revenues climbed to $154 million....

Advocat Inc.'s earnings fell by 22% for the last quarter of 2007 as revenues grew to $71 million.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
May 1, 2008... Advocat Inc.'s earnings fell by 22% for the last quarter of 2007 as revenues grew to $71 million. Earnings at the Brentwood, TN-based chain decreased to about $2 million. A contributing factor was a decrease in net income from continuing...

Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. last month completed the $13.2 million acquisition of a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living facility.(Business Briefs)
May 1, 2008... Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. last month completed the $13.2 million acquisition of a skilled nursing facility and an assisted living facility in Wichita, KS.

Metro monitor.(Business Briefs)(Table)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... MetroMonitor Areas with the highest and lowest median ages of nursing-care properties (in years). Figures an for fourth-quarter 2007 Oldest Rank Metro Years 1 Minneapolis 41 2 San Francisco ...

Sunrise averts delisting, but founder leaves post as chair.(NEWS: Companies)(Financial report)
May 1, 2008... Ongoing accounting problems at Sunrise Senior Living Inc. forced CEO Paul Klaassen to step down from his chairmanship of the board in March. The founder of Sunrise also voluntarily repaid all his bonuses awarded from 2003 to 2005 as a...

Ensign Group's profits rise in 4th quarter.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The Ensign Group Inc.'s net income for fourth-quarter 2007 increased by 16% to $6 million on strong sales. "We believe that these results represent a strong validation of Ensign's business model and demonstrate robust momentum heading into...

Groups representing providers and others have sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach.(IT Update)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Groups representing providers and others have sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. The letter requests a timeline for when the agency will publish a rule to mandate a unique identification system for...

The iHealth Alliance plans to launch a Web site that will e-mail physicians to notify them of significant label changes, warnings and recalls related to medications.(IT Update)(Website overview)
May 1, 2008... The iHealth Alliance plans to launch a Web site that will e-mail physicians to notify them of significant label changes, warnings and recalls related to medications. Drug companies will pay to use the network, which will not include any...

The Advancing Patient Safety Coalition has called on the FDA to quickly promulgate regulations to develop a unique-device identification system for medical devices.(IT Update)
May 1, 2008... The Advancing Patient Safety Coalition has called on the FDA to quickly promulgate regulations to develop a unique-device identification system for medical devices. The enactment of such a system is mandated in the 2007 Food and Drug...

The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has amassed comments on proposed consensus definitions for five common health information technology terms.(IT Update)
May 1, 2008... The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has amassed comments on proposed consensus definitions for five common health information technology terms. The terms are electronic health record, electronic medical record, personal...

The 12-member California State Board of Pharmacy unanimously voted to postpone for a second time implementation of a mandatory electronic tracking system for prescription drugs.(IT Update)
May 1, 2008... The 12-member California State Board of Pharmacy unanimously voted to postpone for a second time implementation of a mandatory electronic tracking system for prescription drugs. The tracking requirement, developed to help weed out counterfeit...

Seniors will try tech tools, but entry barriers persist.(NEWS: Technology)
May 1, 2008... Older adults want to use technology so they can age safely in their home for as long as possible, according to two new studies. But concerns such as the cost of installing and maintaining equipment remain usage barriers, investigators found....

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bridget Gibson had a payroll problem. As controller for Augustana Care Corporation in Minneapolis, she oversaw a payroll of $35 million that was paid out to more than 1,500 employees in 13 different locations. Until...

Compromises on tort reform bill.(SOUTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... Compromises on tort reform bill TENNESSEE -- Trial lawyers, AARP and other groups recently persuaded legislators to alter a state medical malpractice bill. A $500,000 limit on non-economic, or "pain and suffering" awards to nursing home...

Web site leads readers to 'star' care facilities.(OKLAHOMA)
May 1, 2008... The Oklahoma Health Care Authority last month unveiled a unique online "star rating" tool for consumers looking for long-term care facilities. The voluntary system, known as the Focus on Excellence program, provides information on nursing...

Residents sue to get home care.(SOUTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... FLORIDA -- A handful of nursing residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against the state to commit more Medicaid dollars to home-and community-based care. Backed by the AARP Foundation, the six residents allege that they could live...

Veterans could receive robotic care.(SOUTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... KENTUCKY -- Three veterans nursing homes soon may each receive a robot, courtesy of the University of Louisville, according to a report in The Courier-Journal newspaper. The robots, which are equipped with a camera, sound system and...

Proposal would lower nurse ratios.(NORTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... CONNECTICUT -- Legislative leaders recently presented a plan that would more than double the minimum hours of nursing care per resident as mandated by state law. The proposal would require nursing homes to provide at least 4.2 hours of...

State disburses EHR grants.(NORTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- The state has awarded $105 million in grants to organizations throughout the state to develop an electronic health record, Gov. David A. Paterson disclosed at the end of March. The projects are designed to meet four goals:...

Octogenarian to race in triathlon.(NORTHEAST)
May 1, 2008... MARYLAND -- This month, an 82-year-old seniors housing resident will compete in a triathlon. Bob Gralley, a resident of Oak Crest, a retirement community in Lutherville, will be the oldest participant ever in the Columbia Triathlon, which...

Medicaid shortfalls bring suit.(SOUTHWEST)
May 1, 2008... OKLAHOMA -- An appeals court recently granted class-action status to a lawsuit brought by nursing homes against the state. The facilities allege that Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes are inadequate and that rates have failed to...

Bill allows return of unused drugs.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
May 1, 2008... COLORADO -- A new state bill would allow nursing homes to return unused prescription drugs to pharmacies. Under the bill, nursing homes could return unopened pills, lotions and liquids bought by the state with Medicaid dollars. Pharmacies...

CMS promotes EMR demo.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
May 1, 2008... SOUTH DAKOTA -- Kerry Weems, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is encouraging medical providers in the Sioux Falls area to participate in a federal pilot program. The program essentially will pay providers to adopt...

Bill would expand abuse reporting.(WEST)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... CALIFORNIA -- The state Assembly Public Safety Committee in late March approved a bill that would increase the reporting of elder abuse in long-term care facilities. Local ombudsmen and law enforcement agencies would be required to report...

Voters: long-term care in crisis.(WEST)
May 1, 2008... HAWAII -- More than half of Hawaiian voters believe long-term care in the state has major problems or is experiencing a crisis, according to a report by AARP Hawaii. Among other survey results: 56% of voters say access and cost of care are...

Ask: the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
May 1, 2008... Some of our trustees are spooked by recent stories and warnings about board members being held liable for things that go wrong at nursing facilities. How do we help them get over their concerns? What are the liabilities of a corporate...

Class-action status granted in Medicaid funding suit.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
May 1, 2008... Oklahoma providers claiming they are collectively owed millions of dollars because of insufficient Medicaid funding can attach class-action status to their lawsuit against the state. The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruling enables more...

Supreme Court hears case on union law.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
May 1, 2008... The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a California law that prohibits employers from using state funds to influence union elections. The law's opponents include many healthcare providers who depend on state funds from Medicare and Medicaid to...

Vocollect Healthcare Systems and Answers on Demand have announced a partnership that will combine products from both firms.(Company Briefs)
May 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 with AOD's...

The National investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry released results of a study that examines how new market forces are shaping the future of long-term care.(Company Briefs)
May 1, 2008... The National investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry released results of a study that examines how new market forces are shaping the future of long-term care. "The NIC Compendium Project: A Guide to Long-Term Care Projection...

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions.(Company Briefs)
May 1, 2008... Allscripts Healthcare Solutions announced a deal to purchase the healthcare business of Misys. The companies stated that the combination of Allscripts and Misys' Healthcare unit is expected to establish a leader in the US Electronic Health...

Medical device companies spent.(Company Briefs)
May 1, 2008... Medical device companies spent more than $28 million on lobbying the federal government in 2007, compared with $26.5 million the year before, according to a preliminary analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. Top issues included...

Eli Lilly and Company.(Company Briefs)
May 1, 2008... Eli Lilly and Company has unveiled a small tool aimed at battling a big problem--chronic disease. Lilly's free pocket-sized health book, A Healthy You!--America's Guide to Healthy Living puts useful tips and resources in the hands of seniors to...

Google.(Company Briefs)
May 1, 2008... Google has unveiled a password-protected Web service that stores health records on Google computers, with a medical services directory that lets users import doctors' records, drug history and test results.

Layoffs hit drug makers as generics, delays take a toll.(NEWS: Vendors)
May 1, 2008... Add Wyeth to the growing list of drug companies eliminating positions. The firm announced that about 1,200 sales people will lose their jobs. The move is part of a major companywide program announced two months ago to cut staff and other...

Program to start despite vendors' concerns.(NEWS: Vendors)
May 1, 2008... Small suppliers are receiving about two-thirds of Medicare and Medicaid contracts for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies, under a new competitive bidding program, said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting...

How to do it ... financing.(Business & Marketing)
May 1, 2008... Lenders say they are often still surprised by the lack of preparation they see from providers seeking capital. Part of the problem, lenders acknowledge, could be that providers have had it relatively easy lately. Lenders have basically fought...

Growth in a Green House.(LEADING BY EXAMPLE)
May 1, 2008... The nursing home industry isn't known for setting trends, but that landscape may be changing. The Green House Project, which reinvents traditional nursing home environments, is setting the standard for skilled nursing homes that cater to...

En route to recovery: Rehab Road is the jewel of a Ohio facility's progressive therapy environment that helps prepare residents for their trip back home.(Business & Marketing: Design)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sometimes the road to recovery can be long and difficult. But if you happen to be taking Rehab Road, the crown jewel of a recently finished renovation project at Montefiore Care Center, OH, it can be a breeze. ...

Finding long-term solutions.(THE BIG PICTURE)
May 1, 2008... It's hardly a secret that eldercare services in this nation are in a state of flux. The average age of nursing homes in most metro markets has surpassed 30 years. Assisted living operators are mixing and matching non-traditional services...

Go ahead and tune out the upcoming blather.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... Stop what you're doing for a moment and just listen. Yes, that is gentle quacking you hear in the distance. Spreading from the White House to the marbled halls of Congress, lameduck status is about to overcome Washington. Forget about other...

Reader poll: "how do you stay on top of new regulations?".(Opinion)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Mississippi Health Care Association relies on state and national alliances as well as our own staff's eyes and ears to keep up-to date. We maintain open communications with the state survey agency through regular...

Care not same as caring.(HAVING MY SAY)
May 1, 2008... When "Dianne Butler's" mother was rushed to the emergency room with signs of a heart attack, the ER nurses quickly cut away her snug, pullover silk shift. Hurrying to do CPR and start IVs, that dress was the last thing they were worried about....

McKnight's Online Expo was 'a wish granted'.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... The McKnight's Online Expo (held March 26-27) solved one of healthcare's major dilemmas... There is never enough time in one day. All healthcare workers wish for new and innovative ways to do their job in a quicker and more efficient manner....

Feeling enriched by expo's look to the future.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I thought the speaker that I listened to was incredible. I thought the format was fantastic and perfect for those who can't afford the cost of a conference or the time away. I applaud you for offering such a rich conference to everyone. Thanks!...

Quality presentations, questions bring comfort.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Thank you, McKnight's, for the opportunity to grow in learning. I found the online conference to be well done. Good quality in sound projection and information, with good questions. It was comforting to know that what we are doing here was...

Liked investigating booths at own pace, at own office.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I certainly enjoyed the online expo format. It gave me a chance to review quickly vendors' services and provided me the opportunity to further investigate those of my choosing. And this was all done in the comfort of my office, at my pace....

Searching for hiding places to take part.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... The Web site was done superbly. I have mixed emotions on the Web expo concept. The fact that it involved zero dollars from my travel expense was great and sitting in the comfort of my chair was also a plus. On the other hand, I was interrupted...