Contemporary Long Term Care articles from August 2001

Contemporary Long Term Care archives from August 2001

Healing all wounds.
August 1, 2001... MY TWO-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD, Isabelle is half girl, half spider monkey. She is absolutely incredible when it comes to gymnastics. Parents flock around her, concerned for her safety when she pulls herself up on the parallel bars and starts...

A question of quality.
August 1, 2001... I must take issue with the April 2001 "Legal Briefs" column that examined the link between accreditation and quality of care. (See "New QC research refutes some common notions," page 45.) To the millions of Americans seeking long term care...

HCFA isn't HCFA anymore.
August 1, 2001... Name change symbolizes reform THE FEDERAL AGENCY FORMERLY KNOWN as HCFA is now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Its new acronym is CMS. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson and HCFA Administrator Thomas Scully unveiled the new...

Opportunity for professional growth.
August 1, 2001... The Second Conference: Pioneer Network '01. Aug. 16-17, 2001, Rochester, N.Y. The sponsors intend this conference to be a forum for sharing skills and experiences of serving our elders through special-interest group meetings, plenaries,...

SUPREME COURT REFUSES BEVERLY APPEAL.
August 1, 2001... The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal filed by Fort Smith, Ark.-based Beverly Enterprises in a labor-law dispute, returning the case to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) without comment. In September 2000, the Seventh...

HIGHER PAYMENT RATES FOR HOME CARE.
August 1, 2001... According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, formerly HCFA), Medicare payment rates for a 60-day period of home health care will increase to $2,274 in fiscal 2002, representing a 6.4 percent hike over fiscal 2001 rates. In...

New Yorkers debate staffing law.
August 1, 2001... Ratios could force SNFs to curb admissions LEGISLATION APPROVED JUNE 21 BY THE New York State Assembly establishes mandatory staffing ratios for the state's 667 nursing homes. According to the New York Association of Homes & Services for...

Preventing sick buildings.
August 1, 2001... IS INDOOR AIR CARRYING CARCINOGENS AND CONTAMINANTS throughout your facility poisoning your residents and staff? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an increasing amount of scientific evidence points to indoor air more...

Offsetting natural 'poisons'.
August 1, 2001... Incontinent residents require vigilant, gentle skin care FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MAY NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD AS MUCH about skin care as we, but she certainly knew the damaging effects of excretions on the skin. Not washing perspiration or...

Making a facility feel like home.
August 1, 2001... The right 'home' improvements will enhance quality of life for our residents AS WE LOOK AROUND, WE SEE A CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF ENVironmental politics. On the long term care front, interior environments have registered high on the consumer...

Comings and goings.
August 1, 2001... Transportation need not be the "T" word What's the one word guaranteed to elicit a groan from most health care providers, whether nursing home, assisted living, or adult day center? No, it's not reimbursement, not regulations, not...

Satisfaction guaranteed.
August 1, 2001... A refund for an unsatisfying meal can be very satisfying RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SUFFER SILENTLY IN THEIR displeasure about one facet of their facility while voicing dissention loudly about another. Some residents can be nothing if not...

Hidden costs--a real threat.
August 1, 2001... Operations analysis is an imperative MORE AND MORE BOARD MEMBERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS are asking their chief financial officers two penetrating questions: (1) Why are we having to spend a large percentage of our annual donations to cover...

Debriding ointment.
August 1, 2001... Ethex Corporation's Ethezyme ointment debrides necrotic tissue and liquifies slough in lesions.

Limb protection.
August 1, 2001... Classic Silosheath by Silopos is coated with medical grade mineral oil gel to condition and protect the residual limb.

Incontinence briefs.
August 1, 2001... SCA Hygiene Products' Tena briefs now have a nonwoven backsheet for increased wearer comfort and dignity.

Skin care spray.
August 1, 2001... Johnson & Johnson Medical's Prevacare Total Solution Skin Care Spray is designed for skin at risk for harmful irritants.

Skin damage prevention.
August 1, 2001... Geri-Sleeves from Skil-Care protects skin in contact with metal wheelchair parts.

Soap dispensers.
August 1, 2001... Direct Supply's NXT soap dispensing systems by GOJO hold twice the soap of traditional dispensers in the same amount of space.

Wound dressing.
August 1, 2001... Molnlycke Health Care's Mepilex wound dressings are designed to reduce skin damage on removal.

Care guidelines.
August 1, 2001... Briggs' Wound and Skin Documentation Management helps track resident skin care.

Washcloths.
August 1, 2001... At Ease Dry Disposable Washcloths from Hospital Specialty Company can be used dry or wet and are latex free.

Genesis and Multicare revise reorganization.
August 1, 2001... UNDER A REVISED JOINT REORGANIZATION plan filed July 3 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Genesis Health Ventures Inc. and the Multicare Companies Inc. plan to issue about 93 percent of the new common stock to their senior...

Advocat to sell Canadian subsidiary for $8 million.
August 1, 2001... Advocat Inc. has signed a letter of intent with Counsel Corp. for Counsel to acquire Diversicare Canada Management Services Inc., Advocat's Canadian subsidiary. Counsel, a Toronto-based investment firm, is to acquire 100 percent of Diversicare...

Active Services buys Michigan day centers.
August 1, 2001... Active Services Corp., a Birmingham, Ala-based provider of adult day health services, has acquired three adult day facilties in Michigan. The facilities, previously operated by Autumn House Inc., are located in Paw Paw, Three Rivers, and...

Apollo CEO Raymond Nass.
August 1, 2001... What are some of the major risks involved in bathing for nursing home residents? Nass: The transfer and the lifting are the most obvious hazards for residents and staff alike when it comes to bathing. We have also learned that bathing is...