Hospital Home Health articles from July 2002

Hospital Home Health archives from July 2002

Can your agency survive a 15% cut in Medicare home health payments? Options include copays, decrease in market updates.
July 1, 2002... The Balance Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 turned reimbursement for home health agencies upside down and sideways. The interim payment system (IPS) that was in place from July 1998 to October 2000 reduced Medicare spending on home health from $16...

CE questions.(continuing medical education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Please save your monthly issues with the CE questions in order to take the two semester tests in the March and September issues. A Scantron sheet will be inserted in those issues, but the questions will not be repeated. 13. Which agencies...

Study identifies traits of successful agencies: therapy services linked to success.
July 1, 2002... In a study of 42 clients representing all areas of the country and different types of agencies, Lewis Computer Services in Baton Rouge, LA, discovered that it is impossible to say that providing home health services in one particular way is the...

Rural agency cost-saving tips apply to everyone: check leases, ask for supply discounts.
July 1, 2002... (Editors note: In this first part of a two-part series, we discuss cost-savings tips from small and rural agencies. In next month's issue, we'll give you tips on how to reduce costs related to travel and staff.) The interim payment system...

Gotta go: are patients running to the bathroom? Good assessment improves incontinence.
July 1, 2002... More than 25 million Americans experience urinary incontinence, according to the Spartanburg, SC-based National Association for Continence. Thirty-one percent are women ages 42-50, and 38% are 60 or older. (1) Many home health patients...

Choose products based on cost and effectiveness: keep up to date to educate patients.
July 1, 2002... Although the patient is responsible for providing day-to-day products related to incontinence, it is important for home health clinicians to be aware of products and educate patients about their proper use and good choices, says Gloria...

4 types of incontinence need different treatments: understand patient's lifestyle to make assessment.
July 1, 2002... One of the results of a good assessment for incontinence and a patient's bladder diary is that you can more accurately identify which type or types of incontinence your patient is experiencing, says Carolyn Crumley, RN, MSN, CWOCN, wound,...

Home care services and disaster planning. (LegalEase: understanding laws, rules, regulations).
July 1, 2002... The efforts of home care providers to make visits according to patients' plans of treatment are legendary. Recent natural disasters and terrorist attacks have reminded providers that they must be prepared to face limits on their abilities to...

Pocket-size IC handbook is now available.(Home Care Handbook of Infection Control)
July 1, 2002... The Home Care Handbook of Infection Control, a home care-specific quick reference is now available from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) in Washington DC. The comprehensive, pocket-size...

OTC drug ingredient increases confusion.(diphenhydramine hydrochloride)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Caregivers for older patients should take note of a study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, that found medications containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride increased the risk for symptoms such as inattention,...

Home health patients expect, accept less care.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Elderly people receiving home care may lower their standards of acceptability for meal preparation, bathing, and housekeeping when faced with their available resources, according to a study conducted by a group of researchers from Washington...

There's little evidence of garlic's health benefits.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... While a necklace of garlic may ward off vampires, a report issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in Rockville, MD, says studies that show reduced low-density lipids (LDL) after regular dietary use of garlic do not...

Justice Department joins suit against HealthSouth.
July 1, 2002... In late May, the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) served HealthSouth Corp., of Birmingham, AL, with a complaint, intervening in a pending civil suit in Texas. The suit was filed by a HealthSouth patient under the False...

HCA of Nashville. (Corporate Ladder).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... HCA of Nashville, TN, which operates hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, has elected Charles O. Holliday Jr. director of the company. He replaces Thomas S. Murphy, who retired from the board. Holliday became chairman of the DuPont Corp....

The Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University awarded Brian Anderson its inaugural Chicago Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year Award. (Corporate Ladder).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University awarded Brian Anderson its inaugural Chicago Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year Award. Anderson is CFO of...

Apria Healthcare Group Inc. of Lake Forest, CA, which provides home respiratory therapy, infusion, and medical equipment in all 50 states, appointed Lawrence A. Mastrovich chief operating officer (COO). (Corporate Ladder).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Apria Healthcare Group Inc. of Lake Forest, CA, which provides home respiratory therapy, infusion, and medical equipment in all 50 states, appointed Lawrence A. Mastrovich chief operating officer (COO). Mastrovich has more than 17 years of home...

Almost Family lets go of Arthur Andersen. (Companies In The News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Almost Family of Louisville, KY, which provides adult day health care services and operates the Caretenders chain of Medicare-certified home health agencies, dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP and appointed Ernst & Young LLP as its independent...

Chemed agrees to sell Patient Care Inc. (Companies In The News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Chemed Corp. of Cincinnati has entered an agreement to sell its Patient Care Inc. subsidiary to an investor group led by Schroder Ventures Life Sciences Group for a cash payment of about $70 million. Patient Care delivers home health care...

Lincare to buy back $100 million in shares. (Companies In The News).(Lincare Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The board of Lincare Holdings, of Clearwater, FL, which provides home oxygen and other respiratory therapy services, has authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million in common shares outstanding to be made through open market or privately...

MAMSI listed on Chicago options exchange. (Companies In The News).(Mid Atlantic Medical Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Mid Atlantic Medical Services Inc. (MAMSI), of Rockville, MD, announced that options on the company's stock have been listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. MAMSI's subsidiaries operate in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,...

Matria Healthcare makes move with three deals. (Companies In The News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Matria Healthcare Inc. of Marietta, GA, which provides comprehensive disease management programs to health plans and employers for women's health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders, has signed a contract to provide...

Transworld reorganizes and changes name. (Companies In The News).(Transworld Healthcare Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Transworld Healthcare Inc., of New York City, which provides alternate-site health care services and flexible health care staffing services in the United Kingdom through its subsidiary, Allied Healthcare Group Ltd., has entered an agreement...

ResMed acquires Servo Magnetics Inc. (Companies In The News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... ResMed Inc. of San Diego, which develops, manufactures, and markets medical equipment to diagnose and treat sleep-disordered breathing, has acquired all outstanding shares of Servo Magnetics Inc. (SMI) of Canoga Park, CA, for approximately $32...

Respironics buys Japanese company. (Companies In The News).(Fuji RC Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Pittsburgh-based Respironics Inc. acquired controlling interest in Fuji, RC Co., which provides home care and hospital products and services for respiratory-impaired patients in Japan and has annual revenues of approximately $32 million. ...

Balanced Care enters merger agreement. (Assisted Living Update).(with IPC Advisors and IPBC Acquisition Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Balanced Care Corp. of Mechanicsburg, PA, which operates 53 facilities providing preventive and wellness, Alzheimer's/dementia, and extended care services, has entered a merger plan with IPC Advisors, which holds 53% of its outstanding common...

Emeritus to lease 24 communities. (Assisted Living Update).(Emeritus Assisted Living)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Emeritus Assisted Living of Seattle, has signed a letter of intent to lease 24 assisted-living communities currently owned by Marriott International Inc. The communities, operated as Village Oaks, comprise 1,651 units in six states. The 10-year...

Almost Family Inc. (Financial Results).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Almost Family Inc., of Louisville, KY, announced first-quarter net revenues of $20.5 million, compared with $19.5 million for the previous first quarter. Net income was $100,318 or 4 cents per basic and 3 cents per diluted share after a...

American Retirement Corp. (Financial Results).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... American Retirement Corp., of Nashville, TN, announced first-quarter revenues of $75.3 million, compared with $60.4 million for the first quarter 2001. Net operating income from consolidated communities was $21.6 million in the first quarter,...

Manor Care Inc. (Financial Results).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Manor Care Inc. in Toledo, OH, announced first-quarter net revenues of $716 million, compared with $638 million for the previous first quarter. Net income was $34 million or 33 cents per diluted share, compared with $25 million or 24 cents per...