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

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

In search of 'excellence'.(providing better services at nursing homes)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... A new coalition of stakeholders is urging nursing homes to voluntarily focus on at least three of eight quality measures. The federal government, consumer groups and provider associations were among those kicking off a participation drive...

Unions howling over NLRB nurses rulings.
November 1, 2006... An anxious nursing community erupted in protests recently when the National Labor Relations Board ruled that some charge nurses should be classified as supervisors. That distinction makes them ineligible for union membership. Lost on many,...

Room costs rise slightly.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
November 1, 2006... The average daily cost for a private room in a nursing home in the United States rose 1.5% from last year to $206 a day, according to an annual survey. The average daily cost projects to $75,190 annually. Alaska reported the highest rates...

Depression after stroke.(NEWS)
November 1, 2006... Stroke survivors, their families and their physicians should be on the lookout for depression, even years after an incident occurs, a new study suggests. Many long-term survivors suffer from this problem but few actually receive treatment,...

Alzheimer's drugs failing.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Most Alzheimer's patients will not benefit from the drugs most commonly used to treat their agitation and aggression, a new major study has found. The drugs, Zyprexa, Seroquel and Risperdal, are no more effective than placebos, according...

Providers are warned to prepare for battles.(NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... While 2006 has been a good year for providers, threats loom in the post-election horizon. Providers should brace for difficult political, regulatory and legal battles in 2007, according to the leader of America's largest nursing home...

Norwalk assumes top CMS post.(NEWS)
November 1, 2006... Leslie V. Norwalk has taken the reins as interim administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. A former deputy administrator with the agency, Norwalk assumed the new position on Oct. 15. Nursing home providers expressed...

Government officials and consumer groups have lauded an increased emphasis on home- and community-based services.(At deadline)
November 1, 2006... Government officials and consumer groups have lauded an increased emphasis on home- and community-based services. However. the shift has not yet shown that it helps improve care or reduce costs, according to a Congressional Quarterly report.

There was only one geriatrician for every 5,000 U.S. residents older than age 65 last year, according to a report in The New York Times.(At deadline)
November 1, 2006... There was only one geriatrician for every 5,000 U.S. residents older than age 65 last year, according t a report in The New York Times. Experts linked the shortage to relatively low pay and prestige. One recommended solution: Teach basic...

Older people who are violent crime victims face a higher risk for nursing home placement.(At deadline)
November 1, 2006... Older people who are violent crime victims face a higher risk for nursing home placement. according the October issue of The Gerontologist. Authors called for more research on the phenomenon and possible interventions.

60 seconds with ... Kevin Troutman.(NEWS)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... Q: What does the most recent batch of National Labor Relations Board rulings regarding charge nurses mean for long-term care providers? A: When you talk about union organizing, it really means the door is wide open to all the (nursing home)...

Revenues increase, while occupancy takes slight dip.
November 1, 2006... Rates paid to nursing facilities rose 1.8% in the second quarter, while average occupancy dropped by 0.2%. The findings were revealed in data released by the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC). The...

Nursing schools reject more applicants.(NEWS)
November 1, 2006... Nursing schools have had to turn away a significant number of qualified applicants, once again in large part because of a shortage of faculty members. That is the finding of an annual survey conducted by the American Association of...

Nursing homes and other healthcare facilities can install alcohol-based hand rub dispensers in entryways, as a result of a rule that took effect last month from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2006... Nursing homes and other healthcare facilities can install alcohol-based hand rub dispensers in entryways, as a result of a rule that took effect last month from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It also requires some nursing homes...

Revised guidance for the new survey tag.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2006... Revised guidance for the new survey tag, 1:-334, Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations, took effect Oct. 15.

A House committee approved the Lifespan Respite Care Act (H.R. 3248).(Bill Watch)
November 1, 2006... A House committee approved the Lifespan Respite Care Act (H.R. 3248). The legislation would help families locate, train and pay respite care providers.

U.S. Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Dave Camp (R-MI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Long Term Care Quality and Modernization Act of 2006.(Bill Watch)
November 1, 2006... U.S. Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Dave Camp (R-MI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Long Term Care Quality and Modernization Act of 2006. A similar bill was introduced earlier in the Senate.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
November 1, 2006... As a dedicated caregiver, what can I do--beyond providing the prescribed meds and therapy--to help one of my residents who experiences chronic pain? If you know your resident is having pain certain times of the day, arrange for care to be...

CMS proposes certification for SNF outpatient therapy.(NEWS: Resident Care)
November 1, 2006... The issue of certification for skilled nursing facilities providing outpatient therapy to non-residents has surfaced again. Most recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services floated a proposal that would require nursing homes to...

Flex those muscles, arthritis sufferers.(Caregiving Update)
November 1, 2006... Flex those muscles, arthritis sufferers. That's the advice from a new study that indicates strength training for the legs may slow knee arthritis. Researchers found that older adults with knee osteoarthritis who underwent lower-body strength...

Seniors who received two small doses of behavioral therapy two weeks apart recorded notable improvement in sleep-quality measurers, compared with peers who only received information on insomnia, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found.(Caregiving Update)
November 1, 2006... Seniors who received two small doses of behavioral therapy two weeks apart recorded notable improvement in sleep-quality measurers, compared with peers who only received information on insomnia, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh...

The incidence of Alzheimer's disease in older people who drank fruit or vegetable juices three or more times a week was 76% lower than those who did not, a 10-year study showed.(Caregiving Update)
November 1, 2006... The incidence of Alzheimer's disease in older people who drank fruit or vegetable juices three or more times a week was 76% lower than those who did not, a 10-year study showed. It was 16% lower in those who drank juice once or twice a week,...

Ask: the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
November 1, 2006... Our DON is thinking that if a blister forms under an incontinence brief, it should not be coded as a pressure ulcer. We're not so sure. Can you please clarify? Classification of skin breakdown under incontinence briefs is not always an...

Older people are more prone to skin tears, report states.(NEWS: Wound Care)
November 1, 2006... People over 65 experience about 90% of all skin tears, according to a recent study of nearly 3,000 incident reports in Pennsylvania. While most skin tears are not serious enough to extend a hospital stay, they represent painful and...

Skin ages faster in women than in men, according to a German study.(Treatment Update)
November 1, 2006... Skin ages faster in women than in men, according to a German study. The report, appearing in Optics Letters, a journal of the Optical Society of America, was based on a new technique in which doctors shine pulses of infrared laser light to look...

Researchers have found that dust mites can disrupt the protective function of residents' skin.(Treatment Update)
November 1, 2006... Researchers have found that dust mites can disrupt the protective function of residents' skin. As a result, residents may be more vulnerable to other allergens and irritants. In a paper to be published in the Journal of Investigative...

Researchers suggest a short-term application of topical corticosteroids and maintenance with a less potent agent.(Treatment Update)
November 1, 2006... Researchers suggest a short-term application of topical corticosteroids and maintenance with a less potent agent for patients with intertriginous psoriasis, according to a study in the September issue of Archives of Dermatology.

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
November 1, 2006... Is a nursing director expected to be a best friend to all of her nursing staff? The most important role of the DON is building a trusting relationship with the nursing staff. Being everyone's best friend would entail taking "sides"...

NLRB: charge nurses aren't supervisors, can unionize.(NEWS: Nursing)
November 1, 2006... In a landmark decision, the National Labor Relations Board ruled 3-0 that charge nurses in long-term care settings are not supervisors. The ruling could make it legal for hundreds of thousands of charge nurses to unionize. The charge...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine for the upcoming flu season.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine for the upcoming flu season. FluLaval, which is made by ID Biomedical Corp. of Quebec, Canada, has been available in Canada since 2001.

It turns out pot could be, like, good for the brain.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... It turns out pot could be, like, good for the brain. A main ingredient in marijuana, THC, appears to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to a research team at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.

A new treatment involving monthly eye injections of an antibody may help prevent blindness associated with "wet" age-related macular degeneration.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... A new treatment involving monthly eye injections of an antibody may help prevent blindness associated with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, according to studies in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Treating dementia patients with cholinesterase inhibitors, or ChE-IS, may help delay their placement into nursing homes, according to a study in the journal, Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... Treating dementia patients with cholinesterase inhibitors, or ChE-IS, may help delay their placement into nursing homes, according to a study in the journal, Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders. The drug is also known as Aricept,...

Manufacturer prices for the most commonly prescribed drugs for people 50 and older increased by an average of 6.3% during the 12-month period ending in June, according to a recently released AARP survey.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... Manufacturer prices for the most commonly prescribed drugs for people 50 and older increased by an average of 6.3% during the 12-month period ending in June, according to a recently released AARP survey. The rise outpaced inflation.

Older patients experience a drug error rate nearly seven times greater than younger patients, according to an analysis by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription drug manager.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2006... Older patients experience a drug error rate nearly seven times greater than younger patients, according to an analysis by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription drug manager. Patients over 65 faced the greatest risk of errors.

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2006... We are a hospital-based facility and seem to have difficulty getting our physicians to understand the RUG system and how the reimbursement system works. Do you have any suggestions on how we can educate them? It is important for physicians...

CMS: Part D plan offerings will expand, but costs won't.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2006... Medicare Part D drug plan beneficiaries will have access to more options next year--at this year's prices, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. As previously predicted, average premiums will remain virtually unchanged...

State revenues rising, benefits will too.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2006... Medicaid spending grew just 2.6% for the 2006 fiscal year, according to results of a recently released 50-state survey. It was the first time in eight years that state revenues (3.7%) outpaced Medicaid spending. In addition, all but one...

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. and its venture.(Business Briefs)
November 1, 2006... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. and its venture partner completed the acquisition of six Florida senior living communities for $460 million. GE Healthcare Financial Services funded about $117 million of the purchase price, while Sunrise contributed...

Key industry metrics remained strong in the second quarter.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Key industry metrics remained strong in the second quarter, according to the National investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry. Loan volume, loan performance, occupancy and capitalization rates stayed robust, the NIC found. In...

SHG Holding Solutions Inc, announced plans to raise $175 million via an initial public offering.(Business Briefs)
November 1, 2006... SHG Holding Solutions Inc, announced plans to raise $175 million via an initial public offering. The California-based nursing home operator is the parent company of Skilled Healthcare Group, which runs more than 70 nursing and assisted-living...

Metro monitor.(Business Briefs)
November 1, 2006... MetroMonitor When the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry compares statistics for the top 30 metropolitan markets, here are the largest and smallest in terms of number of skilled nursing beds: The...

Ventas to hike Kindred rent by 33%, adjust annual rise.(NEWS: Companies)
November 1, 2006... Ventas Inc. last month elected to raise the rent on Kindred Healthcare Inc.'s 225 properties by $33.1 million. Its decision marks the end of a rent dispute that has lasted half a year. In hiking its tenant's annual rent, the real estate...

REIT closes on merger.(NEWS: Companies)
November 1, 2006... Health Care Property Investors Inc., the nation's largest real estate investment trust, announced the completion of a gargantuan merger. CNL Retirement Properties Inc. merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of HCP for approximately $5.3...

Legislation aimed at expanding the use of electronic health records will not move forward until Congress returns after the November elections.(IT Update)
November 1, 2006... Legislation aimed at expanding the use of electronic health records will not move forward until Congress returns after the November elections. A House-Senate conference committee was unable to align differing measures. One of the bills sets a...

The Supreme Court.(IT Update)(rules regarding patient privacy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The Supreme Court has upheld the HIPAA privacy rule. The highest court in the nation did so by refusing to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the rule's patient-consent provisions. The lawsuit claimed the legislation...

Most physicians do not use inexpensive, widely accessible IT tools in their practice.(IT Update)
November 1, 2006... Most physicians do not use inexpensive, widely accessible IT tools in their practice, according to a study to be published this month in the Journal of General internal Medicine. Less than 4% of physicians e-mail their patients, about 30%...

The Department of Veterans Affairs is about to embark on an agency-wide information technology revamp.(IT Update)
November 1, 2006... The Department of Veterans Affairs is about to embark on an agency-wide information technology revamp. The VA has contracted IBM for the project, which is aimed at "delivering excellence in veterans' services and customer satisfaction:' IBM...

Medical data isn't always secure, GAO report alleges.(NEWS: Technology)
November 1, 2006... Computer systems used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are plagued by security challenges that could compromise health data, a federal watchdog organization has found. The Government Accountability Office said it discovered...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
November 1, 2006... Honoring the privacy and independence of the residents of St. Therese Homes is important, says CEO Barbara Rode. She says that's why she loves QuietCare. The remote monitoring system allows the facility's nursing staff to keep track of...

Malpractice cap ruled obsolete.(SOUTHEAST)
November 1, 2006... LOUISIANA -- An appeals court here ruled that the state's $500,000 cap on medical malpractice awards has become obsolete and, therefore, violates the state constitution. The cap, which was enacted in 1975, no longer provides sufficient...

Pain pilot project successful.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FLORIDA -- More than 20% of participants reported improvement in their physical condition as a result of a Medicaid pilot project that allows beneficiaries to seek alternative therapies for chronic pain. These options include massage therapy,...

Owners: 'not guilty'.(LOUISIANA)
November 1, 2006... The owners of the nursing home where 35 residents died in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent homicide and cruelty to the infirm. Salvador and Mabel Mangano, owners of St. Rita's, which was located...

Smoking ban snuffed out, partly.(SOUTHEAST)
November 1, 2006... NORTH CAROLINA -- Some residents at a Greensboro nursing home have the right to smoke again. The Moses Cone Memorial Health System outlawed smoking on its property, but a state inspection found the policy failed to meet federal regulations. ...

Candidates' facilities questioned.(MIDWEST)
November 1, 2006... MICHIGAN -- Democrats have accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and his family of controlling a nursing home cited for abuse of elderly residents. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer charged that the DeVos...

Payday loans under fire.(MIDWEST)
November 1, 2006... MISSOURI -- Nursing home operators no longer will be able to operate on-site payday loan operations that lend money to employees, according to a new state policy. Payday loans typically charge "exorbitant" amounts in interest to borrowers,...

Workers get 401(k) checks.(NORTHEAST)
November 1, 2006... MASSACHUSETTS -- More than 100 former nursing home workers whose retirement accounts allegedly were mishandled years ago received checks totaling $611,000. The 167 workers had not been able to access their 401(k) accounts since 2003, when...

Plan to curb Medicaid excess.(NORTHEAST)
November 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- The Department of Health and Human Services approved a new five-year, $1.5 billion plan to help reform the state's Medicaid program. The plan focuses on cutting nursing home and hospital beds, developing new care solutions in homes...

Facilities settle labor charges.(NORTHEAST)(Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center and South County Nursing and Subacute Center)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... RHODE ISLAND -- Two nursing homes here agreed to pay more than $135,000 in back wages over accusations of labor violations. Employees at Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center in Newport and South County Nursing and Subacute Center in North...

New discount drug plan.(WEST)
November 1, 2006... CALIFORNIA -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed into law a new prescription drug program that will discount drugs to low-income residents and others. Under the statute, pharmaceutical companies must begin offering lower-cost medicine within...

$1.9 million fraud settlement.(WEST)
November 1, 2006... COLORADO -- A closed long-term care facility has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle allegations it fraudulently billed the Medicaid and Medicare programs for nursing care it did not provide. State and federal prosecutors filed a civil...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
November 1, 2006... As an employer, can I reduce the hours worked by our registered nurses without violating existing wage and hour laws? Although specific requirements may vary from state to state, typically an employer may reduce any employee's hours without...

U.S. Attorney: CEO charges should be a warning sign.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
November 1, 2006... The successful criminal prosecution of a former nursing home CEO should send a "strong warning" to the rest of the industry and could lead to further prosecutions around the country, says the U.S. Attorney who successfully pressed charges. ...

Judge OKs nurse flu shot/face mask rule.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
November 1, 2006... An administrative law judge has ruled that nurses can be required to receive flu shots or antiviral medications, or wear face masks, without bargaining for permission through their union first. The case involved an acute-care hospital in...

Quality pursuit taken to a new level; providers join critics in coalition to show they can improve over the next two years.(NEWS: Analysis)
November 1, 2006... Sept. 29, 2008, is going to be a very interesting day for the nursing home profession. That might be putting it a bit too simply for some--especially providers--but whether they like it or not, the date is going to be a closely watched...

How to do it ... satisfaction surveys.(Business & Marketing)
November 1, 2006... The very fact that measuring resident--and employee--satisfaction levels has become an issue in long-term care is a sign of vast progress, experts point out. Now, however, the challenge is to get more providers to take part, while developing...

Here comes the sun: an aging community brightens up with a remodeled atrium that catches the natural light and warms the spirits of its residents.(Business & Marketing: Design)
November 1, 2006... Ask Ann Scallon what she likes best about the recent renovations at the Calvin Community in Des Moines and she is quick to respond. What thrills Scallon is an atrium that began as a remodeled registration area. It ultimately grew to become...

They throw the book at LTC.(THE BIG PICTURE)
November 1, 2006... Short of an autopsy, we don't yet have a foolproof diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's disease. Our clues are usually the symptoms that residents reveal. But symptoms are just that, symptoms. And they can be easy to overlook, misinterpret or...

'AdvEx'--it's time for yet another high quality effort.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
November 1, 2006... Let's be honest. I wasn't the only one rolling my eyes or smirking upon hearing there was yet another nursing home "quality" push on its way. Couldn't get it right the first three or four times, so let's distract observers with another...

Reader poll: "how do you make residents and families feel at ease upon admission?".(Opinion)
November 1, 2006... "We have a card that is filled out by our receptionist. It lists the names and extensions of the unit manager, social worker, and Cummings others. This is left at the patient's bedside. It makes them feel like they have someone to go to if they...

Easing the transfer process has its benefits.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... We have a program we initiated to make the transition into a facility a little easier for the resident and their loved ones. We introduced a corporate program named the "Partner Program" in order to smooth the transition from home to our...

Younger residents pose new challenges to facilities.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Many younger residents have real issues being in a nursing home. Any extra attention or care is deeply appreciated. Recently, we had a 60-year-old resident named Resident of the Month, just because staff members thought he would enjoy the...

Late bloomers: educational institutions are courting long-term care students harder than ever, with an eye toward creating a better future.(Professional development)
November 1, 2006... You don't have to preach to Jolene Roberts about the state of professional development in long-term care. "It's behind," she says matter-of-factly. "The kinds of services and products an administrator has to deliver are much more complex...

Exit strategy: as providers begin to change their perception of elopement, technology is leading to more resident-centered monitoring.(Wandering care)
November 1, 2006... The Armed Forces Retirement Home sits on 272 lush acres in Washington, D.C. Natural attractions include a nine-hole golf course and two lakes. It's the type of setting that would inspire most people to roam. And they should, believes...

Vancare Inc.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Vander-Clips are the revolutionary safe and easy way of repositioning bedridden residents. Vander-Clips can be used with any total or overhead lift, securely hold any turning or repositioning sheet, and allow for efficient one-person operation....

American HealthTech.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... An industry leader and innovator for more than 30 years, American HealthTech provides today's solutions and tomorrow's innovations in clinical and financial software and technology to over 3,500 customers nationwide. FOR MORE INFO: (800)...

Dakim.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Dakim's [m]Power is the first interactive cognitive fitness system that provides both fun and challenging cognitive exercises for seniors with normal brain function and those at risk for, or suffering from, dementia or Alzheimer's disease. ...

Healthcare Services Group.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Operating since 1977, Healthcare Services Group is the largest provider of customized housekeeping/laundry services for the long-term care industry in the USA. The company services more than 1,750 facilities in the healthcare/long-term care...

Resource Systems.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... CareTracker by Resource Systems is an innovative CNA documentation system designed to improve reimbursement accuracy, reduce risk, and improve quality. CareTracker's wall-mounted touch screens incorporate a refreshing approach that makes...

Medi-Dose.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Announcing the availability of our new "32" Unit Dose Packaging System, a manual, unit dose packaging system. The "32" maintains the same rigorous tamper-evidence, U/V inhibitance and moisture resistance as our hospital-based "25." Our MILT32...

Bellevue University.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Bellevue University offers career-relevant healthcare degree programs that prepare you to lead in long-term care and move your career forward, Complete your bachelor's degree online in 15 months. Earn your master's degree online in 18 months....

Eldercare Interiors.(Showstoppers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Direct Supply's Eldercare Interiors division is dedicated to eldercare renovation and new construction, Professional designers and project consultants help plan your new project at a fraction of the traditional cost. Eldercare Interiors offers...

Optimus EMR, Inc.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... Optimus EMR, Inc. (formerly OneTouch Technologies) is the LTC industry leader in providing comprehensive EMR, eCharting, eMAR, and Point of Care clinical software solutions for LTC. Optimus EMR is again raising the bar and delivering our...

E-Health Data Solutions.(Showstoppers)
November 1, 2006... RiskWatch[R] and CareWatch[R] your facility can improve revenue and lower costs by percentile benchmarks for various quality indicators, MDS error and logic checks, and Web-based incident and occurrence reporting for the continuum of care. ...