Contemporary Long Term Care articles from May 2002

Contemporary Long Term Care archives from May 2002

Honor thy caregiver. (Editor's Notebook).
May 1, 2002... IT'S WIDELY UNDERSTOOD THAT FOR most of those who work on the frontlines in health care, the work is its own reward. Still, the allure of a higher-paying job down the block is a constant threat to getting and maintaining high-quality...

Blue-plate specialists: CMS proposes plan for "feeding assistants". (Newsfronts).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
May 1, 2002... A CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID Services (CMS) proposal announced March 28 by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson will allow nursing homes to employ trained "single-task" assistants to help residents eat and drink. "Allowing trained...

A week to remember. (In Brief).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... May 12-18, 2002, marks the 35th annual National Nursing Home Week. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) founded this week honoring nursing homes, their residents, and caregivers in 1967. In keeping with this year's theme-- "Celebrating...

OSHA to focus on SNF safety. (Under the Wire).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration; skilled nursing facility safety)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is launching a campaign to prevent workplace injuries in skilled nursing facilities. The initiative comes on the heels of a settlement between OHSA and Beverly Enterprises in which the...

Voodoo--who knew? (Under the Wire).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Union representatives have been accused of using voodoo tactics at Mount Sinai-St. Francis Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that CNAs, housekeeping, dietary, and laundry workers...

Legislation calls for survey reform: More carrot, less stick. (Newsfronts).(The Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Act of 2002)(nursing home care quality control)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN March by Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) is geared toward a more collaborative approach between nursing home operators and regulatory officials. The Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Act of 2002 (H.R....

CCRCS pay the highest rate for CNAs.(certified nurse aid salaries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... CCRCS PAY THE HIGHEST RATE FOR CNAs Job title CCRC (1) Home care (2) Nursing home (3) Certified nurse aide 9.65 9.61 9.18 Non-certified nurse aide 8.22 9.22 ...

N.J. SNF workers rally at State Capitol. (State News).(skilled nursing faclity)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... More than 300 nursing home workers, union representatives, residents, and policymakers gathered on the steps of the New Jersey State Capitol to call attention to the chronic staffing crisis in the state's nursing homes. During the March 25...

Of costs and caregivers: Analyzing the impact of staffing recommendations. (Finance).
May 1, 2002... LATELY, NURSING HOME COSTS, AND PARTICULARLY COSTS OF nursing labor, have been hot issues. Most recently, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services released its Phase Two report that outlined its minimum staffing recommendations, though not...

Home care comes of age: a place of its own in the continuum of long term care. (Home Care).
May 1, 2002... SIMPLY PUT, HOME CARE IS ASSISTED LIVING WITHOUT THE facility. But like any other aspect of long term care, it is a complex part of the continuum of care. It encompasses a range of services in three niches: therapy or durable medical equipment,...

Non-invasive method overcomes incontinence: Program retrains residents to recognize the urge to void. (Caregiving).
May 1, 2002... FEW ASPECTS OF THE AGING PROCESS CAUSE US MORE DIScomfort--physically and emotionally--than incontinency. Nationally, approximately 48 percent of all nursing home residents experience urinary incontinence and the number can be as high as 70...

He said, she said: Exucutive roundtable; Four providers and a federal administrator weigh in on topics ranging from home-based services to reimbursement and staffing. (Cover Story).
May 1, 2002... As CLTC editors listened to presidents and CEOs of companies whose services range from skilled nursing and assisted living to various degrees of home care, we formed a strong impression that the services available within the next decade will...

Let the healing begin. (Wound Care).
May 1, 2002... Joe Green, a 73-year--old widower who underwent a below-the-knee amputation three days ago, is being admitted to your unit tomorrow. Mr. Green's amputation was the result of severe peripheral vascular disease. The past few years have been...

Tame runaway cost creep: Eroding margins are a serious problem. (Assisted Living).
May 1, 2002... THE SOBERING EMPIRICAL RESULTS CONTINUE TO SHOW UP ON our radar screens. Assisted living resident acuity creep leading to cost creep is exceeding our ability to fully recognize and pass these costs on to seniors and their families. Achieving a...

Beverly launches CERES Strategies. (Corporate Accounts).(Beverly Enterprises Inc.)
May 1, 2002... CERES Strategies Inc., a new subsidiary of Fort Smith, Ark.-based Beverly Enterprises Inc., will operate a Web-based procurement system that will be marketed to long term care facilities outside the Beverly network. Lisa Huckelbury, Beverly's...

Shelter Group opens Park View at Taylor. (Expansions).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Baltimore-based Shelter Group has opened the Park View at Taylor in Baltimore County, Md. It is the newest of 22 Park View retirement communities targeted to seniors whose incomes are too high to qualify for government assistance, yet too...

Cambridge provides $16.6M for SNF purchases. (Financing).(Cambridge Realty Capital Companies to purchase skilled nursing facilities)
May 1, 2002... Chicago-based Cambridge Realty Capital Companies has provided more than $16.6 million in fixed-rate permanent mortgage financing to fund the acquisition of three 150-bed nursing and rehabilitation centers. According to Cambridge Chairman...

Therapy mattress system. (Editors Picks).(PressureGuard Easy Air mattress from SpanAmerica)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... SpanAmerica's PressureGuard Easy Air mattress features separate on/off buttons for control of air flow and therapeutic alternating pressure and Air Diffusion Matrix design to help ensure a surface that feels neither too hot nor too cold. Call...

The right size. (Editors Picks).(Appropriate Length Bed from NK Medical Products)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... NK Medical Products' Appropriate Length Bed #YB200E features a reduced length of 72 inches and incorporates standard side rails or crib rails. Call 800-274-2742. Circle No. 101

Free bed safety video. (Editors Picks).(Bed Safety video from Skil-Care)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... Skil-Care's Bed Safety video identifies and demonstrates products that help improve bed safety, increase resident comfort, and prevent pressure sores. Call 800-431-2972. Circle No. 102

Sleeper chair combines design and function. (Editors Picks).(Braytonspaces Patterson sleeper from Brayton International)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... Brayton International's Braytonspaces Patterson sleeper is designed with an attached back cushion and detailed stitching and unfolds from a lounge chair to a full-length bed. Call 800-627-6770. Circle No. 103

Electric hi-low bed. (Editors Picks).(Panacea Hi-Low Bed from Direct Supply)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... Direct Supply's Panacea Hi-Low Bed uses three DC motors to rise up to 26 inches. Call 800-634-7328. Circle No. 105

Low Air Loss Mattress. (Editors Picks).(Sof-Matt Low Air Loss Mattress Replacement from Gaymar Industries)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... Gaymar Industries' Sof-Matt RSM180S Low Air Loss Mattress Replacement features a one-piece integrated pump/mattress and a dual layer cell design for therapeutic pressure relief. Mattress can be quickly deflated for CPR and will maintain...

Prevent entrapment. (Editors Picks).(Cap-Guard from Skil-Care)(Advertising)
May 1, 2002... Skil-Care's Gap-Guard fills the space between mattress and side rails. Call 800-431-2972. Circle No. 106

It could happen to you. (Spotlight On).(disaster recovery)
May 1, 2002... CLTC: What is disaster recovery and why is it so important? Spence: The law mandates that you be computerized. Billing has to be submitted electronically, for instance. For these reasons, this information is an integral part of your...