McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from October 2007

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from October 2007

Veto waiting for SCHIP bill.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] President Bush has renewed his threat to veto legislation that would substantially increase funds for a federal children's health insurance program. Nursing homes could benefit from a veto if final legislation...

Not guilty!(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nursing home owners Sal and Mabel Mangano were found not guilty on 35 counts of negligent homicide and 24 counts of cruelty to the infirm in a case stemming from Hurricane Katrina that attracted worldwide attention...

Pay for aides rises slightly.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Nursing aides last month received some mixed news regarding their salaries from the government. On the positive side, the average hourly earnings of aides, orderlies and attendants rose 31% from 1997 to 2005. That elevated their salaries...

Supplements cut bone risk.(NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Yet another study points to the benefits of taking calcium and vitamin D to reduce bone fracture risk. A review of 29 randomized trials found that the risk of fracture could be cut by 12% with calcium and vitamin D supplements. The...

Alzheimer's, smoking link.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There is still another reason to stop smoking: Doing so could decrease your chances for developing Alzheimer's disease. In a seven-year study of 7,000 people, 706 participants developed dementia. People who were...

Group outlines roles of long-term care leaders.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Most long-term care professionals are generally aware of the role of medical director. Still, it is common to confuse the duties of the medical director with those of the attending physician. Nuances of the role of medical director, and...

Supervisor role defined in new bill.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... The House Education and Labor Committee recently approved legislation making it harder to classify workers as supervisors. The legislation, H.R. 1644, sponsored by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) says any worker who "assigns" another worker to...

When Wall Street investment firms purchase nursing homes, resident care suffers because they cut spending, according to a New York Times report.(At deadline)
October 1, 2007... When Wall Street investment firms purchase nursing homes, resident care suffers because they cut spending, according to a New York Times report. Industry officials challenged the paper's methods and conclusions.

CMS rules allowing feeding assistants to work in nursing homes do not violate the federal nursing home law.(At deadline)
October 1, 2007... CMS rules allowing feeding assistants to work in nursing homes do not violate the federal nursing home law, a U.S. appellate court ruled.

Black residents are throe times as likely to receive care in a facility with low quality ratings, according to a Health Affairs study.(At deadline)
October 1, 2007... Black residents are throe times as likely to receive care in a facility with low quality ratings, according to a Health Affairs study. Such a disparity is "wrong and unacceptable," said Alan Rosenbtoom, president of The Alliance for Quality...

Hospice care use cuts Medicare costs during a resident's last year of life by about $2,300.(At deadline)
October 1, 2007... Hospice care use cuts Medicare costs during a resident's last year of life by about $2.300, according to a study in the October issue of Social Science & Medicine.

60 seconds with ... Beth Baker.(NEWS)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: What impressed you most after visiting 24 nursing homes around the country? A: It was fascinating that people, independent of one another, were coming up with very similar ways to transform nursing homes....

NADONA founder's lawsuit ends in secret settlement.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... The leading association for long-term care nursing directors is searching for yet another executive director. Just weeks after settling a lawsuit filed by its deposed founder, officers of the National Association Directors of Nursing...

Best yet to come for e-prescribing: Spiro.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Prescription drug hurdles in long-term care include safety, cost, waste and paperwork challenges. But an ongoing pilot project is documenting improvements in these and other areas, said Shelly Spiro, the president of Spiro Consulting. ...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released guidance on tamper-proof prescription pads.(Regulatory Update)
October 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released guidance on tamper-proof prescription pads. Long-term care providers were pleased that the policy does not apply to prescriptions that are electronic, faxed or verbal.

CMS issued new guidance on paid feeding assistants.(Regulatory Update)
October 1, 2007... CMS issued new guidance on paid feeding assistants. F-373, which includes interpretive guidelines and severity guidance, went into effect on Sept. 28.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation designed to reduce the nation's nursing shortage.(Bill Watch)
October 1, 2007... Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation designed to reduce the nation's nursing shortage. Among other provisions, the Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2007 would help ancillary healthcare workers become nurses.

President Bush was expected to sign a bill that would grant more funding and power to the Food and Drug Administration for drug safety.(Bill Watch)
October 1, 2007... President Bush was expected to sign a bill that would grant more funding and power to the Food and Drug Administration for drug safety, largely through payments from drug makers.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
October 1, 2007... We want to give the residents of our 30-bed unit something special for the holidays. What can you recommend? Since residents love home-cooked meals, why not prepare a holiday dinner for them? Have the staff ask their particular residents...

Guidance focuses on patient in end-of-life dementia care.(NEWS: Resident Care)
October 1, 2007... The latest evidence in dementia care research as well as the experience of care experts nationwide form the basis of new guidance for caregivers on appropriate end-of-life care for people with Alzheimer's disease. The recommended...

Study questions records on incontinence.(NEWS: Resident Care)
October 1, 2007... Although medical records might indicate a small percentage of female nursing home residents suffer symptoms of urinary incontinence, the reality may be that nearly half do, according to researchers at the University of California in Los...

Individuals with diabetes are 70% more likely to fracture a hip than the general population.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2007... Individuals with diabetes are 70% more likely to fracture a hip than the general population. Impaired bone quality among diabetics, as well as related complications that affect vision and balance, may increase the risk of falls and fractures,...

Simple training for caregivers can keep their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease out of nursing homes for more than a year, according to a new study by investigators at New York University's School of Medicine.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2007... Simple training for caregivers can keep their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease out of nursing homes for more than a year, according to a new study by investigators at New York University's School of Medicine. Half of the participants in the...

Elderly patients with age-related macular degeneration who are taught problem-solving skills are less likely to become depressed, according to a study of 206 patients in the Archives of General Psychiatry.(Caregiving Update)
October 1, 2007... Elderly patients with age-related macular degeneration who are taught problem-solving skills are less likely to become depressed, according to a study of 206 patients in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Investigators theorized that the...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
October 1, 2007... We have seen an increased number of bariatric patient admissions to our facility, What are some key issues we should consider in our care planning for skin integrity? Bariatric or obese residents are not only subject to pressure ulcer...

Serial debridement may help chronic wounds heal: study.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Serial debridement of lower extremity wounds appears to help them heal quickly, according to a new study. "The value of serial debridement has been a somewhat controversial topic throughout the years," said David Armstrong, DPM, Ph.D.,...

Diseased cells getting a much closer look.(NEWS: Wound Care)
October 1, 2007... In a development that could lead to significantly better wound treatments, scientists have learned how to perform a complete genome-wide screening of diseased blood vessel cells. The technique advances the potential for delivering nourishment...

The effectiveness of negative pressure therapy came under scrutiny in the August issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.(Treatment Update)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The effectiveness of negative pressure therapy came under scrutiny in the August issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. Authors noted that "the clinical effectiveness of this therapy is unclear." They added that several studies done on the...

Pressure ulcers may be reduced or prevented by adding key supplements to a resident's diet, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.(Treatment Update)
October 1, 2007... Pressure ulcers may be reduced or prevented by adding key supplements to a resident's diet, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. The fatty acids eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and vitamins...

Demographic shifts and new tools will drive continued growth in pressure ulcer treatments over the next four years.(Treatment Update)
October 1, 2007... Demographic shifts and new tools will drive continued growth in pressure ulcer treatments over the next four years. In fact, the market will likely hit $6.2 billion by 2011, according to the third edition of Wound Care Markets: Volume 1: Skin...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
October 1, 2007... How do you compel your staff to come to work on time?! This is a real problem. I recently had to meet with my evening staff about this issue. I explained to them that they were hired for the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift and that they were...

Newly licensed nurses seek better supervisors, training.(NEWS: Nursing)
October 1, 2007... What would keep more newly licensed nurses on the job? Better orientation and managers, according to a new study. A survey of the work experience of new nurses from 35 states found that new nurses "felt they had inadequate support from...

Nursing group reaches out to larger base.(NEWS: Nursing)
October 1, 2007... Two veteran leaders in the long-term care nursing field have announced the creation of a new professional association for nurses at all levels in senior care. The American Association for Long Term Care Nursing (AALTCN) "intends to unite...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month tentatively approved the generic version of the dementia treatment Razadyne.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2007... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month tentatively approved the generic version of the dementia treatment Razadyne. The drug has been proven in drug trials to improve the long-term functional abilities of people with mild to moderate...

A decades-old drug named Gammagard is commonly used to treat malfunctioning immune systems.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2007... A decades-old drug named Gammagard is commonly used to treat malfunctioning immune systems. Cornell University researchers believe the drug may be able to replenish natural antibodies to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

An antidepressant might be as effective as antipsychotic drugs for controlling dementia-related agitation and psychotic symptoms, a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry finds.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2007... An antidepressant might be as effective as antipsychotic drugs for controlling dementia-related agitation and psychotic symptoms, a study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry finds. Citalopram (Celexa) had a similar effect as...

The amount of five major painkillers sold at retail establishments soared by 88% in the United States between 1997 and 2005.(Medication Update)
October 1, 2007... The amount of five major painkillers sold at retail establishments soared by 88% in the United States between 1997 and 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Daily drug for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Janumet Company: Merck Rx Pharmacologic class: Antihyperglycemic (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4) + biguanide) Active ingredients: Sitagliptin 50mg, metformin (as HCl) 500mg; tabs. Also:...

Tablets for advanced breast cancer, follow other therapies.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tykerb Company: GlaxoSmithKline Rx Pharmacologic class: Antineoplastic (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) Active ingredient: Lapatinib 250mg; tabs. Indication: In combination with capecitabine, for the...

Ointment treats skin disease due to Staph, Strep infections.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Altabax Company: GlaxoSmithKline Rx Pharmacologic class: Antibacterial (pleuromutilin) Active ingredient: Retapamulin 1%; oint. Indication: Topical treatment of impetigo due to Staphylococcus aureus...

Breathing maintenance solution for COPD-related constriction.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brovana Company: Sepracor Rx Pharmacologic class: Bronchodilator (long-acting [beta]2-agonist) Active ingredient: Arformoterol 15micrograms/2mL; soln for inh. Indication: Long-term maintenance...

Orally active, potent direct renin inhibitor treats hypertension.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tekturna Company: Novartis Rx Antihypertensive agent (direct renin inhibitor) Active ingredient: Aliskiren 150mg, 300mg; tabs. Indication: Treatment of hypertension, as monotherapy or combined with...

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2007... With staff turnover, what can we do to ensure accuracy of the MDS? We have been reimbursed for Medicare A and in many states for Medicaid under the RUGs system for awhile. Accuracy of data to optimize reimbursement is vital. In...

Providers cry foul over new CMS surveyor 'revisit' fees.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2007... Industry officials are blasting a new federal policy to charge surveyor "revisit user fees." The new levies will undermine care and add unnecessary costs, critics charge. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services put the new fees into...

Weems slips in back door.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
October 1, 2007... When new bosses are nominated to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Senate confirmation hearings typically ensue. But it appears that the White House has found a creative way to avoid such often-testy encounters. President...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 77.9 The average U.S. life expectancy rose to a record 77.9 years in 2005. That's a 2.1-year rise in 12 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 80.4 A baby girl born today can expect to live to an average age of...

The Service Employees International Union.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Service Employees International Union last month staged a demonstration to protest the pending acquisition of Manor Care Inc. by the Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. The union fears that the $6.3 billion takeover will lead to...

Advocat Inc. is facing increased criticism from a company that was spurned in its attempt to take over the Brentwood, TN-based nursing home chain.(Business Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Advocat Inc. is facing increased criticism from a company that was spurned in its attempt to take over the Brentwood, TN-based nursing home chain. Bristol Capital Advisors LLC accused Advocat of failing to act in the best interest of...

Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. last month completed the acquisition of 10 skilled nursing facilities for approximately $51.5 million.(Business Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. last month completed the acquisition of 10 skilled nursing facilities for approximately $51.5 million. The facilities, based primarily in and around the Albuquerque, NM, area, have 1,180 beds collectively, along...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... MetroMonitor Top and bottom major metropolitan areas, as ranked by number of skilled-nursing beds (as of second quarter 2007). Leaders Rank Metro Nursing Care 1 New York 91,486 2...

Negative publicity precedes Sunrise's annual meeting.(NEWS: Companies)
October 1, 2007... As Sunrise Senior Living Inc. prepares for its annual meeting this month, leaders should brace for an audience of concerned and discontented shareholders. Accounting problems, investigations and lawsuits dog the largest assisted living...

Clear outlook for Sun chain.(NEWS: Companies)
October 1, 2007... The sun appears to be shining on Sun Healthcare Group Inc. Shares rose one day last month for the top-10 chain by 4.3% after a UBS analyst upgraded his rating to "Buy" from "Neutral." Sun's price has hovered around $15 a share. Changes...

Facilites may soon be able to go online to bid on the temporary services of nurses.(IT Update)
October 1, 2007... Facilites may soon be able to go online to bid on the temporary services of nurses. NurseBid Online LLC tested the concept in September in the Phoenix market, and soon plans to make the option available across the United States. The new Web...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently unveiled an online option that helps small healthcare employers better understand and meet regulations.(IT Update)
October 1, 2007... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently unveiled an online option that helps small healthcare employers better understand and meet regulations. The Compliance Assistance Quick Start tool helps users identify requirements and...

Intel Corp., along with two major physician organizations and two large national insurers, recently announced they will jointly create a think tank in Washington to develop programs that will recommend how providers and patients can best use technology.(IT Update)
October 1, 2007... Intel Corp., along with two major physician organizations and two large national insurers, recently announced they will jointly create a think tank in Washington to develop programs that will recommend how providers and patients can best use...

The State Alliance.(IT Update)
October 1, 2007... The State Alliance for eHealth, a National Governors Association unit, recently agreed to urge state lawmakers and regulators to narrow or eliminate differences in state rules regarding privacy protections for patient medical records.

David McClure, president and CEO of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, has recommended several legislative and regulatory changes the nation must adopt before e-health services can reach their full potential.(IT Update)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... David McClure, president and CEO of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, has recommended several legislative and regulatory changes the nation must adopt before e-health services can reach their full potential. They include: more...

About 60% of U.S. adults used the Internet for health information in 2005, up from 50% in 2003.(IT Update)
October 1, 2007... About 60% of U.S. adults used the Internet for health information in 2005, up from 50% in 2003, according to a new study on health information trends from the National Cancer Institute.

Privacy, security challenges delay growth of IT networks.(NEWS: Technology)
October 1, 2007... Only half of all states' Medicaid agencies are planning and developing statewide health information exchange networks, according to a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Of these, only a...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(MindFit)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Residents at the largest long-term care facility in the Southeast are hitting the gym for about 20 minutes at least twice a week and coming away with better memory retention. That's because they are using the...

Regrouping in budget aftermath.(WEST)
October 1, 2007... CALIFORNIA -- Nursing homes are still in recovery mode after losing millions of dollars during a two-month budget impasse. Lawmakers in late August finally ended the stalemate that began with the July i start of the fiscal year. The...

A slow recovery for New Orleans homes.(LOUISIANA)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Just like the city's population, nursing homes are gradually making a comeback to areas of New Orleans paralyzed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. St. Margaret's Nursing Home was expecting some former residents this month in a new facility....

New infection control laws.(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2007... ILLINOIS -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) signed two laws that are expected to help prevent the spread of drug-resistant staph infections. One of the laws (S.B. 233) calls for hospitals to screen intensive-care and other patients at risk for...

State to forge Medicaid plan.(MIDWEST)
October 1, 2007... OHIO -- The state is looking to home- and community-based services for seniors to help control Medicaid costs. A group of long-term care consumers, providers, advocates and others is expected to devise a plan that will reveal how much...

Moratorium under debate.(PLAINS/MOUNTAIN)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... NORTH DAKOTA -- The Legislature's Long Term Care Committee this month will begin studying the effect of a moratorium on new nursing home beds that has been in effect for more than a decade. Currently, the state is 517 beds short of meeting...

State bars spouses from program.(NORTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... MASSACHUSETTS -- Eldercare advocates are protesting new state rules that bar spouses from receiving funds to care for their elderly or disabled mates. In December, rules from the state's Executive Office of Elder Affairs freed up about...

Blacks' health worse than whites.(NORTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... CONNECTICUT -- Blacks and Hispanics in the state are disproportionately sicker compared to whites, a new report finds. The report from NAACP Connecticut State Conference of Branches examined the health conditions among state residents ages...

Medicaid costs to shift to states.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... FLORIDA -- The state's counties could be saddled with $75 million in Medicaid costs for nursing homes and other facilities, under a state proposal. In reaction to declining state revenues, Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has asked all state...

Industry lobbyist pleads guilty.(SOUTHEAST)(Stacy Hahn Flannery)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... NORTH CAROLINA -- A nursing home lobbyist admitted embezzling more than $200,000 from a political action committee. Stacy Hahn Flannery was sentenced to 60 days in jail and will be on probation for 30 months for the felony. She served as...

Atlanta focuses on CPR.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... GEORGIA -- Atlanta's emphasis on cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become a model for the rest of the country. Several cities, among them Houston; Anchorage, AK; Austin, TX; Cincinnati; Kansas City, MO; Raleigh, NC; and Tucson, AZ, have...

E-prescribing saves millions.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... MISSISSIPPI -- Equipping 225 doctors with handheld e-prescribing devices has saved the state's Medicaid program about $1.2 million per month in prescription costs, according to state officials. Besides reducing medication costs, it also...

Committee calls for LTC reform.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... VIRGINIA -- The Health Reform Commission, a panel appointed last year by Gov. Tim Kaine (D) recently issued a healthcare proposal that addresses long-term care. The proposal focuses on four areas: advancing long-term care, enhancing the...

Lawmaker wants focus on seniors.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... SOUTH CAROLINA -- Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R) last month urged presidential candidates to address issues that affect seniors. Speaking to the Silver-Haired Legislature, a group that represents voters over age 60, he said that people age 65 or...

$1.4 million award in death suit.(SOUTHEAST)
October 1, 2007... ARKANSAS -- A jury has ordered the company formerly known as Beverly Enterprises Inc. to pay $1.4 million in damages in a wrongful death case. Two weeks after his admission to a Camden facility, Herman Johnson was found unresponsive in his...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
October 1, 2007... We heard we can now legally help our residents understand/choose their Part D drug benefit plans. Is this true? While many nursing home providers are eager to assist their residents in choosing drug plans most fitting to their individual...

Feeding assistants are OK, appellate court ruling says.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
October 1, 2007... Medicaid rules allowing paid feeding assistants to help residents do not violate a law designed to improve care in nursing homes, a federal appeals court has ruled. The decision comes as a major victory for facility operators. The feeding...

Texas is model for federal tort-reform bill.(NEWS: Legal Matters)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) has introduced federal tort-reform legislation that's modeled after a four-year-old Texas law. The measure would cap non-economic damages against any single healthcare provider at $250,000 and wrongful death...

Homicide verdict hinged on caregiving: operators' concern for welfare of residents influenced outcome of high-profile case.(NEWS: Analysis)
October 1, 2007... For three weeks, spanning August and September, much of the national nursing home community was glued to goings-on in a place they had never heard of before: St. Francisville, LA. Or at least they should have been. Hiring bodies might want...

PharMerica Corp.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... PharMerica Corp. is officially open for business. The new public company was formed through the merger of the pharmacy units of Kindred Healthcare Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. PharMerica will distribute patient medications for nursing...

Cardinal Health.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Cardinal Health will set aside $1 million to fund new and innovative healthcare programs. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to providers that establish or implement creative and replicable ways to address challenges in providing quality...

Sodexho.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Sodexho has been recognized as one of the "15 Best Companies for Workforce Diversity" by Black Enterprise magazine. Sodexho is a leading provider of integrated food and facilities management. Entrants were judged in four categories: supplier...

Briggs Corporation.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Briggs Corporation signed a three-year agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services. Under the deal, Briggs will provide charting systems and staff education.

Bruce Vladeck.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Bruce Vladeck a former boss at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has been named executive director for Ernst & Young. Vladeck led the Health Care Financing Administration (now called CMS), between 1993 and 1997.

Medline Industries Inc.(Company Briefs)
October 1, 2007... Medline Industries Inc. announced that the odor-absorbing hydrocolloid technology in Exuderm[R] Odorshield[TM] received recent recognition. Specifically, it was awarded the notable Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA) 2007 in the category...