McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from September 2004

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from September 2004

Deadly fire sparks push for sprinklers.
September 13, 2004... U.S. Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT) launched a campaign to rally support for a federal bill that would require nursing homes to install automatic sprinkler systems over the next five years. His bill would provide federal funding under Medicare and...

Family caregivers get little relief and suffer more emotional duress when putting a relative with dementia in a long-term care facility.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... Family caregivers get little relief and suffer more emotional duress when putting a relative with dementia in a long-term care facility, according to a four-year study of 1,200 caregiver pairs by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh...

Omnicare of Maine, a branch of the nation's largest institutional pharmacy.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... Omnicare of Maine, a branch of the nation's largest institutional pharmacy, agreed to a $1 million settlement over charges that it dispensed a more expensive, unauthorized form of a drug to the state's Medicaid beneficiaries.

Two workers at Care Initiative's Sioux City, IA.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... Two workers at Care Initiative's Sioux City, IA, nursing home face up to 50 years in prison and heavy fines after an investigation showed that they conspired to hide a resident's injury during a 1999 facility inspection.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson unveiled a large-scale plan Aug. 25 for national.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson unveiled a large scale plan Aug. 25 for national, state and local policy makers and health departments to respond effectively in the event of a possible influenza pandemic in the...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in an August 18 letter to state Medicaid directors that they need to capitalize on ways to redirect or "rebalance" Medicaid funds so the elderly can stay at home and out of nursing homes.

With regular exercise, men over age 70 can develop an immune response equal to that of younger men.(Late Breaking News)
September 13, 2004... With regular exercise, men over age 70 can develop an immune response equal to that of younger men, according to a study by University of Colorado-Boulder researchers who examined the living cell responses in humans to reach their conclusions.

Databank ... national health expenditures.
September 13, 2004... DATABANK... NATIONAL HEALTH EXPENDITURES Nursing home expenditures are predicted to be 6.4% of a projected $1.779 trillion in health expenditures in 2004. Hospital care $542 billion Physician/clinical...

Fines fall vs. facilities, CMS reports.
September 13, 2004... Fewer nursing homes are being punished for violating federal standards, according to a governmental report, though there still may be serious deficiencies in the quality of care. The number of nursing homes facing fines fell by more than...

Hard data.(News)
September 13, 2004... 18 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who have diabetes, though they account for 32% of Medicare spending, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 35.3 Millions of people 65 and over in the United States, according to...

As more residents lash out, providers seek interventions.(Workplace)
September 13, 2004... Long-term care nurses have always had astronomical injury rates. That holds true today more than ever--but with a twist. The cause of many injuries has changed. Combative behavior has become so common that many caregivers are analyzing the...

Survey shows least, most costly care areas.(Payment)
September 13, 2004... A private room in a nursing home costs an average of $96 daily in Shreveport, LA, making it the least expensive city in the nation, according to a study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute for AARP Health Care Options. Alaska has the highest...

Protests about new federal.(Regulatory update)
September 13, 2004... Protests about new federal regulations governing overtime drew AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, union members and their families outside the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, and in several other cities. The FairPay overtime initiative is...

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.(Regulatory update)
September 13, 2004... Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in a letter to state Medicaid directors in mid-August they need to capitalize on ways to redirect or "rebalance" Medicaid funds so the elderly can stay at home and out of nursing homes. The letter...

Seeking sprinkler support: in the wake of deadly tragedies and tougher policies, providers and advocates are on a quest for fire-fighting funding.(Cover Story)
September 13, 2004... Charlotte Burns runs a 73-bed nursing home in Savannagh, TN, built in the 1960s. It's attached to a 58-bed county hospital. When hundreds of sick patients flocked the emergency room over the last decade, doubling the volume to 1,000 patients a...

Admit dangerous resident? Answer not always obvious.(Policy)
September 13, 2004... Mainstream news accounts and the campaign of a consumer advocate have recently highlighted an uncomfortable situation in which numerous long-term care providers have found themselves. Violent, sometimes sexually deviate, predators continue to...

Staff turnover, wrong medications, vitamin E.(Nursing News)
September 13, 2004... Staff turnover is lower at nursing homes with stable nursing leadership, according to a Duke University School of Nursing study. Researchers surveyed the staff from 164 nursing homes in Texas and found for each year the director of nursing...

Seniors inappropriately prescribed medications.(Nursing News)
September 13, 2004... Seniors are often prescribed medications that are inappropriate and may be harmful to them, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers analyzed 765,423 outpatient prescription claims of a large, national...

Beverly launches 'University' for nurses.(Nursing News)
September 13, 2004... Beverly Healthcare has launched Beverly University, an online continuing education program for its nursing home administrators and nurses. The Fort Smith, AR-based company teamed up with Care2Learn, an online continuing education company, so...

Study: vitamin E thwarts the common cold.(Nursing News)
September 13, 2004... Nursing home residents who take vitamin E daily are less likely to develop upper respiratory infections, like the common cold, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers studied 617 people aged 65 and...

Study says sedatives endanger seniors' hips.(Pharmacy News)
September 13, 2004... A Harvard Medical School researcher, along with colleagues, has identified the use of benzodiazepine sedatives and sleeping aids as leading to an increased risk of broken hips in the elderly. The report appeared in the Archives of Internal...

FDA approves new anti-depressant.(Pharmacy News)
September 13, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new Eli Lilly antidepressant for adults, Cymbalta. It hit pharmacy shelves in late August. Notably, Lilly is studying the drug as a possible treatment for stress urinary incontinence. Cymbalta,...

Security rule takes HIPAA costs, concerns to new level.(Regulatory)
September 13, 2004... For nearly a decade, the long-term care industry has wrestled with meeting one of the most sweeping set of regulations since the Medicare program came into being--the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. ...

Provider razing urban SNF to erect 'home-like' settings.(Marketplace)
September 13, 2004... By 2008, Village Care of New York's aging nursing home will be little more than a memory. Instead, the facility's 200 residents will live in smaller, home-like settings that are integrated with the surrounding community. The shift is part...

Accrediting organization to expand scope and standards.(CCRCs)
September 13, 2004... When the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) was acquired by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), some long-term care observers quietly questioned the future of the organization. A year and a...

Florida: state relaxes capacity requirements in wake of hurricane.(State News)
September 13, 2004... Florida permitted some nursing homes to accommodate numbers above the level they are licensed for in the wake of the devastation imparted by Hurricane Charley in August. Hurricane Charley, the strongest storm that has hit Florida in 12 years,...

Alabama: county facility cited for civil rights violations.(State News)
September 13, 2004... "Significant civil rights violations," including the use of restraints, were found at a county-run nursing home in Alabama, the U,S. Justice Department announced Monday. The agency said it conducted a four-month investigation before...

North Carolina: state passes liability protection law.(State News)
September 13, 2004... Medical directors of licensed nursing homes cannot be held liable in medical malpractice lawsuits unless the patient involved was under their direct care or suffered from willful or negligent conduct, under a new bill (H.B. 669) passed in North...

Louisiana: water should be withheld from resident--court.(State News)
September 13, 2004... The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that a family may withhold food and water from an 89-year-old comatose woman in a nursing home because she chose it in her will, according to the Associated Press. Doris Smith suffered massive brain damage...

Mississippi: governor seeks Medicaid waiver criticized in report.(State News)
September 13, 2004... Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is seeking a Medicaid waiver from the Department of Health & Human Services to offer limited coverage to some low-income seniors, but the plan could create serious problems, according to a report from the Center on Budget...

Georgia: abusive facility deals net big IRS settlement.(State News)
September 13, 2004... The Greenbriar Corp. reached a $216,000 settlement with the Internal Revenue Service following a probe into questionable financing deals. The IRS investigated four zero-coupon bond deals in the early 1990s that allegedly financed the sale...

Kentucky: Ventas accuses prestigious law firm of malpractice.(State News)
September 13, 2004... Ventas Inc. alleges healthcare real estate company Sullivan & Cromwell committed legal malpractice more than six years ago, and is seeking $186 million from the firm. The New York firm consulted the former Vencor Inc. through its 1998...

California: workers, residents stage statewide walkout to protest funding.(West)
September 13, 2004... To protest trader funding of California nursing home care, residents and caregivers at more than 100 facilities simultaneously sounded alarms and filed out of their facilities in mid-August. The California Senate Health and Human Services...

Connecticut: long-lost brother found at nursing home.(Northeast)
September 13, 2004... Robert Guillemette, a 72-year-old Rocky Hill resident dying of cancer, had a last wish: to find his long-lost brother, Raymond, whom he had not seen since 1990. Family and friends scoured the nearby town Meriden for Raymond, who suffered from...

Pennsylvania: governor does not OK Medicaid rate increase.(Northeast)
September 13, 2004... Gov. Ed Rendell and his administration decided against approving a rate increase for nursing homes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services delayed the release of $344 million in supplemental Medicaid funding for elder care and other...

Pennsylvania: administrator indicted in wandering-death case.(Northeast)
September 13, 2004... The head of the now closed Ronald Reagan Atrium I Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in suburban Pittsburgh, where an Alzheimer's patient died after wandering outside into the cold, has been indicted on federal fraud charges. Former...

Texas: van driver charged in death of passenger left alone.(Southwest)
September 13, 2004... An 87-year-old woman died after she was left in a nursing-home shuttle van in Temple for about four hours as temperatures neared 100 degrees, according to police. State police arrested Coverson Bush Jr.,49,the driver of the vehicle from Sunrise...

South Dakota: government awards grant to tribe.(Plains)
September 13, 2004... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded a $270,000 grant to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to build a nursing home and assisted living facility on the tribe's reservation in Eagle Butte, SD. The nearest nursing home to the...

Washington: proposed suit targets feeding assistant rule.(West)
September 13, 2004... Nursing home residents in Washington and their advocate organizations filed a proposed class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington July 30 seeking an order requiring the Department of Health and Human...

Workers' comp boost: no-lift brings safety, lower costs.(Workforce)
September 13, 2004... Although no-lift programs do not promise absolutely no injuries, long-term care facilities can reduce lift-related injuries and subsequent workers compensations costs by more than 90% by virtually eliminating manual lifting and transferring of...

Misconceptions impede LTC infection control efforts.(Caregiving)
September 13, 2004... While infection control has long proved challenging for long-term care providers, the practice has become increasingly problematic in light of higher acuity levels, staff and resource constraints, and the increasing prevalence of multi-drug...

Awareness the key in pain management efforts.(Caregiving)
September 13, 2004... It's the new code for people who can't talk: Thumbs up means 'I feel good,' and thumbs down means 'I feel terrible.' After looking for the residents' wavering thumbs, nurses at the Voorhees Center in Voorhees, NJ, gauge each residents'...

Quality First at 2: ready to pick up speed or stumble?(Special report)
September 13, 2004... The Quality First initiative, now two years old, is taking many steps forward but it is not exactly running off like a typical toddler would. The voluntary program, which aims to boost consumer trust in nursing homes, promote self...

Consumer evaluations of LTC facilities to help caregivers.(Patient Care)
September 13, 2004... A trio of recent studies suggests that the public is being underserved when it comes to getting information for evaluating nursing home performance, a veteran long-term care researcher says. It is hoped the studies will ultimately enable...

Mariner Health Care posted profits.(Earnings)
September 13, 2004... Mariner Health Care posted profits of $3.4 million on revenue of $411.8 million in the second quarter of 2004, compared with a loss of $1.7 million on revenue of $425.6 million in the year ago quarter. National Senior Care Inc. and NCARE...

National HealthCare Corp.(Earnings)
September 13, 2004... National HealthCare Corp.'s earnings rose slightly to $4.8 million in the second quarter on revenue of $123 million, compared with $4.7 million on revenue of $116 million. NHC, based in Murfreesboro, TN, operates 74 long-term healthcare centers...

Advocat Inc. earned $2.5 million in the second quarter 2004, compared with a loss of $7.8 million in the year-ago quarter.(Earnings)
September 13, 2004... Advocat Inc. earned $2.5 million in the second quarter 2004, compared with a loss of $7.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly revenue increased 6% to $52 million, compared with $49 million in the year-ago quarter. The Franklin, TN based...

American Retirement Corp.(Earnings)
September 13, 2004... American Retirement Corp. reported a net loss of $2.5 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $9.5 million in the year-earlier period. Revenue increased 12% over the second quarter of 2003 to $110 million. Its retirement centers...

When is a $26 million loss not so bad?(Worth Watching)
September 13, 2004... When is a $26 million loss not so bad? When the reasons behind it are reassuring At least that's the spin from Beverly Enterprises Inc. The firm reported a quarterly loss of $25.9 million, or 24 cents per share diluted, for the second quarter...

Another new movie is using a nursing home setting.(Worth Watching)
September 13, 2004... Another new movie is using a nursing home setting. In The Notebook, two nursing home residents (Nicholas James Garner and Gena Rowlands) contemplate the story of a forbidden, post-World War II love between young people (Ryan Gosling and Rachel...

'Big' laundry challenges persist.(Operations)
September 13, 2004... Sandy Fredrickson is like a lot of long-term care laundry managers. She figures her facility's equipment is fine. It's the human element she has to keep an eye on, particularly when it comes to infection control and various cleanliness issues....

PACE conversion can be a test of faith.(Executive Decisions)
September 13, 2004... Q Can you tell us about the PACE renovation at St. Cecilia in New Orleans: why It's being done aim what you hope to accomplish? A We re renovating a 1920s era Catholic Church into an adult day healthcare facility, This is the first PACE...

Market monitor.(Business)
September 13, 2004... MARKET MONITOR Facilities by bed size, 2002 (Most recent statistics available) 120 Beds United States 4,183 7,440 4,868 Alabama 28 110...

State law largely influences validity of arbitration.(Legal Matters)
September 13, 2004... Q Arbitration is relatively new to healthcare professionals trying to manage risk. Are you in favor of arbitration agreements In the admission process? A The question of whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable is governed by both...

Grassley's comments, validity are worrisome.(Regulations/Compliance)
September 13, 2004... Q What is your reaction to Sen. Grassley's comments about the survey system being 'corrupted' and in need of changes? A The nursing home survey process has received much attention in the past several years. The Office of the Inspector...

Don't make your new hires a gamble.(Staffing Concerns)
September 13, 2004... Q What is the most common mistake long-term care managers make when hiring new aides, which we need to do so often, yet quickly? A The most common mistakes are not knowing the skills and traits you should be looking for (what will make this...

Controlling expenses the key to bottom line.(Payment Answers)
September 13, 2004... Q Do you have any suggestions on operational controls that I can utilize to improve my bottom line? A No matter how much time you devote to improving your systems and optimizing your reimbursement, it will not help your bottom line if you...

Feds' buying clout may push digital transition.(Managing Technology)
September 13, 2004... The Bush administration plans to use the government's formidable buying power as the largest purchaser of healthcare--via the Medicare and Medicaid programs--to accelerate a nation wide transition to electronic patient records. The tactic is...

ACHA/NCAL annual meeting headed to the Beach.(Business)
September 13, 2004... Nationally known keynote speakers and more than 300 exhibitors will be just some of the highlights of the 55th annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Exhibition Oct. 3-6 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Attendees can look forward to talks by...

Butterball Turkey Gift Checks.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... This holiday season show your appreciation to employees and clients with the gift that has become a tradition... a Butterball[R] Turkey! And, you can do it without the inconvenience and expense of handling fresh or frozen turkeys by giving...

3M Skin Health.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... The 3M Skin Health program helps you optimize skin health through the efficient use of resources and provides a single source for all your skin health needs, We cover a continuum of care, from healthy skin maintenance and prevention for at risk...

Pellerin Milnor.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Milnor has introduced a new line or washer-extractors with 35-60 lb. (16-27 kg) capacities. These machines--called the T-Series line--offer durable construction and a choice of two, easy-to-use controls. All four of these models have rugged...

Invacare.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Invacare Continuing Care Group is North America's No. 1 manufacturer of long-term care products. Our product offering includes a full range of beds, resident room furnishings, and bathing systems: transfer and transport products, mobility and...

Secure Care Products.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Secure Care Products, Inc., designs and manufactures electronic monitoring/security systems for use in the healthcare industry. Products include: Access Control, Wandering Resident Systems, and Emergency Response System. Visit us at...

QuickCARE Software Service, LP.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... QuickCARE's integrated Clinical, Accounts Receivable, Billing and Financial Software provides complete solutions aligned with your unique multi-facility, multi state needs. We are an extension of your business operations team, We listen and...

Wescom.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Wescom's PointClickCare Multi-Site Edition is specifically designed to meet the needs of larger, mere complex providers, With Multi-Site Edition, you get the best of both worlds: the power to support large organizations, with the ease of use...

Arjo height adjustable hygiene chair.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... The Carino is a unique hygiene solution with features and functions for showering and toileting. The patented arch shaped reclining design gives the caregiver easy access to the resident's body while showering, as well as provides comfort and...

RehabWorks.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... At RehabWorks, we provide the right people, the right training, the right resources and the right direction to deliver your facility the right results, Contact us at (888) 281-2289 or www.rehabworks.com and find out for yourself: we're not only...

Maxwell Thomas eldercare furnishings line.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Maxwell Thomas[TM] eldercare furnishings, available exclusively from Direct Supply, are durable, safe and stylish. These attractive upholstered goods and resident room furniture collections offer a variety of fabrics, plus coordinating overbed...

SCA.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Find a more natural skin environment with TENA skin products. Look at our free brochure and skin-friendly demonstration and find out how you can keep your residents drier, cooler and more comfortable with TENA[R] products featuring the Air Dry...

Bellevue University.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Be prepared to lead in long-term care with your Master of Science in Healthcare Administration with emphasis in lone term care. I his new master's degree delivers today's most current and relevant learning on the business of healthcare--what...

Health-o-meter electronic chair scale.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Health-o-meter's electronic chaff scale is ideal for those who cannot stand on a scale and do not use a wheelchair. Durable and accurate, it also offers swing-away arms and a fold-up footrest to facilitate safe patient entry and exit. Go to...

LaSalle.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Every business has special issues. Luckily, that's our specialty. At LaSalle, our healthcare experts are here to provide financing options that accommodate your unique situation and help you defy the obstacles. To learn more about the...

OneTouch Technologies System.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... The OneTouch Technologies System is the only complete electronic medical record system for LTC, and is setting the standard for clinical software in long-term care. The OneTouch System is the complete clinical software solution for LTC and is...

Xmark WatchMate System.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Thousands of long term care facilities rely on the WatchMate wander prevention system to protect Alzheimer's residents at risk of wandering. No matter the facility size or budget, Xmark has the right wander solution. Call (800) 267-9111 or...

Space tables.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Space tables are height adjustable for dining and activities. The top tilts for storage and portability, plus the CenterTransport System provides a foolproof way for one person to be able to move tables with no leg drag. Space tables meet the...

Maytag Commercial laundry.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Nursing homes and assisted living facilities will find that the Maytag[R] Commercial Soft-Mount High Speed Extractors feature 20 programmable cycles to customize for each load type. Floor bolting is not necessary, so installation is flexible...

Sauder's Wedgewood Motion Chair.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Featuring the relaxing, therapeutic comfort of gentle rocking action, Sauder Wedgewood Motion Chairs provide practical, durable seating options for residents and patients. The Wedgewood chair family also includes Special Edition Seating...

Antron carpet fiber.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... At Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. specific focus was given to carpet throughout the healthcare facility. With carpet and healing at the forefront of design, Antron[R] carpet provides an unparalleled solution with a soft,...

GE Healthcare Financial Services.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... GE Healthcare Financial Services is the premier provider of capital, financial solutions and related services for the global healthcare market, offering a full range of financing capabilities from equipment leasing and real estate financing to...

Heelift[R] Smooth Suspension Boot.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... DM Systems introduces Heelift[R] Smooth Suspension Boot for the prevention and treatment of heel pressure sores. Heelift[R] Smooth is specially designed for edematous legs or patients with very sensitive skin, utilizing a smooth foam which will...

Healthcare Services Group, Inc.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Healthcare Services Group, Inc. is a cost-effective management of housekeeping, laundry and food services customized per long term care or healthcare facility, designed to reduce expenses and improve productivity while enhancing the facility's...

American Healthtech Smart Charting.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Smart Charting closes the gaps between care planned, care provided and care recorded, it orchestrates and documents the care process and unleashes your potential to create more efficient staff, provide better resident care, improve regulatory...

Boise Office Solutions & OfficeMax.(Show Stoppers)
September 13, 2004... Boise Office Solutions & 0fficeMax have merged to become the premier multinational distributor of office supplies, technology products, office furniture and paper, with annual sales exceeding $8.6 billion. Boise has long been a significant...