Risk Management

Rehab center sued for failure to report sex abuse

A former nursing assistant is in all kinds of trouble over sexual abuse and harassment, and the provider that hired him is feeling the pain, too. Read More »

Top 10 patient safety concerns for 2017: ECRI Institute

Electronic Health Record information management tops the list of this year's key patient safety issues across all healthcare sectors, but assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are directly involved in three other items on the list. Read More »

CMS’ new emergency preparedness rules

The clock is ticking on compliance with the new CMS emergency preparedness requirements. Safety expert Stan Szpytek breaks down the new regs and explains why your current assessments and training probably aren't going to be enough. Read More »

ECRI launches remote patient monitoring consulting service

The new service can help providers with everything from determining which patients will benefit most from monitoring to choosing the best technology tools. Read More »

Guarded purse strings

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears manages her money with a close eye to keep track of her own spending and to make sure someone isn’t spending her money.  Read More »

Caregiver fired for behavior toward resident with dementia

A nursing home employee was fired and faces criminal charges for a sexually provocative dance directed at a resident with dementia. Read More »

TX hospice indicted for $60M fraud, overmedicating

Sixteen people are mired in a $60 million scheme to rip off Medicare for false hospice services, including giving Schedule II controlled pain medication to patients who didn’t need them. Read More »

Senior living community kitchen closed following health inspection

Florida state food safety inspectors shut down a Brookdale facility’s kitchen after finding roaches, flies and improper food storage techniques.  Read More »

California considers senior LGBT Bill of Rights

The California State Legislature will consider a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors living in long-term care from gender-based discrimination.  Read More »

Avoiding legal claims in assisted living

Assisted living facilities can get in hot water legally if they provide care that exceeds the assisted living level. Read More »

Domestic dispute unfolds at nursing home

Nursing home staff and law enforcement put training into practice and followed procedures after a man entered the secured facility and threatened violence.  Read More »

Therapy billing fraud: When will LTC learn?

Providers who overbill or fudge their therapy services are on the DOJ’s radar more than ever. So why is there still so much therapy billing fraud? Read More »

Two SNF residents died from neglect

State investigations on two resident deaths highlight the importance of proper procedures and intervention documentation. Read More »

Bacteria identified in deadly Calif. holiday meal

the CDC has pinpointed the pathogen responsible for sickening 21 people at a community meal—including three assisted living residents who died. Read More »

OSHA issues rule to continue recordkeeping

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule upholding the agency’s longstanding position that it’s an employer’s duty to record any injury or illness continues for the full five-year record-retention period. Read More »

Compliance and litigation in 2016

Long-Term Living’s legal expert Alan C. Horowitz, esq, RN, led readers through complex issues in risk management and compliance this year, including new mandates from CMS and new documentation regs. Read More »

Safety shines in 2016

OSHA rules, Life Safety Code compliance and anti-retaliation, oh my! 2016 was a busy year for new regs and documentation changes. Check out our top five safety stories of the year. Read More »

SNF liability rates could rise in 2017

Claims are growing in severity and frequency, according to an annual actuarial report. Read More »

Employee drug testing under the new OSHA rules

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has new rules about discrimination and retaliation, and your organization's employee drug-testing policies may need to be revised to stay in compliance. Read More »

Nursing home faces $100,000 fine for heroin overdose

State and federal health officials seek fines for more than $100,000 at a Chicago nursing home after five residents overdosed on heroin inside the facility.  Read More »

Federal judge blocks CMS ban on arbitration

A federal judge has issued a temporary halt on CMS’ final rule ordering LTC facilities to remove all arbitration agreements from their admissions materials. Read More »

Six keys to an effective infection preventionist

Set your infection preventionist up for success by understanding the role and responsiblities beyond what's mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  Read More »

Omnicare to pay $28M to settle allegations of kickbacks

Omnicare will pay more than $28 million to resolve allegations it solicited and received kickbacks from pharmaceutical manufacturer Abbott Laboratories in exchange for promoting the anti-epileptic Depakote. Read More »

Should you allow employees to carry concealed weapons at work?

"My employees want to carry a concealed weapon to work." The decision to allow or prohibit "concealed carry" on your premises is a lot more complicated than you think, even if state law allows it. Read More »

Genesis Healthcare reaches $52.7 million settlement

Genesis Healthcare has reached an agreement in principal on settlement terms for four separate U.S. Department of Justice investigations in the amount of $52.7 million, to be paid in a five-year period.  Read More »

Resident death shines spotlight on shift changes

A resident death at a five-star facility shows that accidents can happen anywhere—and serves as a reminder to shore up documentation and diligence during shift changes. Read More »

Brookdale resident found dead on bus

A resident boarded a bus for a weekly ride around town. She was found dead on the bus more than 29 hours later.  Read More »

LTC organizations secure discount for movie night licenses

The old reel-to-reel movies may have given way to DVDs and streaming videos, but keeping your “movie night” legal still requires public performance license. Luckily, there's a sale on licenses for the rest of 2016. Read More »