Mistakes and “near misses” can and will happen. But, how a facility discloses an error can affect everything from the CMS response to the family’s reaction.
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Nicole Stempak |
May 20, 2016 The long-term care industry is facing a workforce shortage. This Kentucky high school might be on to a solution, writes Senior Editor Nicole Stempak.
Read More » When family emotions and workplace stressors combine, long-term care communities can become powderkegs of conflict. Train staff how to spot conflict breweing and how to intervene.
Read More » To film or not to film—Two risk management experts discuss the pros and cons of cameras in senior living spaces.
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Pamela Tabar |
April 28, 2016 State labor citations at an Alaska assisted living home have other LTC operators checking the status of their staff training on workplace violence.
Read More » Being asked to give a deposition doesn’t have to be a scary experience with the right documentation skills and preparedness.
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Steve Wilder |
April 8, 2016 Safety training only goes so far unless you train employees’ hands as well as their heads, says safety training expert Steve Wilder.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
April 8, 2016 The Department of Justice announced the launch of 10 regional interagency task forces designed to protect seniors in nursing homes by holding operators accountable for the quality of care they provide.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
April 8, 2016 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has imposed steep fines and threatened to terminate Woodbriar Health Center from its programs if serious problems are not resolved by next week.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
April 5, 2016 Employees at Woodbriar Health Center were retrained on falls-related injuries following the death of a resident, according to a revised plan submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Helath. The department says the second fall-related resident death is the result of deficient care.
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Kathleen Mears |
March 28, 2016 Workers who drink or use drugs may be able to hide their impairment from the boss, but sometimes the residents can tell right away, explains SNF resident blogger Kathleen Mears.
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Alan C. Horowitz |
March 25, 2016 Residents have a right to visitors, but SNFs must maintain safety and the rights of others. Long-Term Living's Legal expert Alan C. Horowitz shares some complicated cases and offers intervention strategies from chief medical directors.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
March 25, 2016 In the course of an investigation of a resident's death, state regulators determined substandard care resulted in a second resident death and resident fall at Woodbriar Health Center, the latest in a mounting citation list for owner Synergy Health Centers.
Read More » Pamela Tabar |
March 24, 2016 UPDATED: Police are investigating the incident, which appears to have involved three staff members from the community and no residents.
Read More » As OSHA rules become more stringent, senior living organizations are giving more attention to healthy habits to avoid staff back injuries—and not just when lifting a resident.
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Stan Szpytek |
March 23, 2016 All long-term living communities need protocols for managing a wide range of incidents whether the law requires it or not, and residents need to be part of the annual practice drills, says safety expert Stan Szpytek.
Read More » Alan C. Horowitz |
February 17, 2016 Legal advertisements that aim to exploit nursing homes often hit way below the belt, and nursing homes have the right to challenge them. Legal expert Alan C. Horowitz, JD, RN, explains what nursing homes can do to fight back against misleading and deceptive legal advertisements.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
February 12, 2016 A judge rules physicians are no longer able to make end-of-life decisions for nursing home residents, citing the 1992 state law violates residents' constitutional rights.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
February 11, 2016 Connecticut has launched a new background check portal to allow employers to screen potential employees, contractors and volunteers who have direct contact with residents.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
February 10, 2016 Nursing home workers are more likely to be fired within six months of being injured, a new study finds. Workers are more likely to quit within six months of being injured multiple times.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
February 4, 2016 State and federal investigators shut down multiple nursing homes operated by New Beginnings Care, LLC. The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Read More » Stan Szpytek |
February 1, 2016 Upcoming code compliance regs are about to take a fresh look at fire doors, says Long-Term Living's fire safety experty Stan Szpytek. Here's what your facility ops and risk management teams need to know.
Read More » Pamela Tabar |
January 26, 2016 St. Louis-based Centene Corp, a Medicaid health plan manager, can’t seem to find six hard drives containing personal information on about 950,000 beneficiaries.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
January 15, 2016 Nursing home and memory care residents were moved to another facility until repairs can be made. Both facilities are owned by the same company but operate under different state regulations. The facility accepting evacuees doesn’t accept Medicaid, causing a major snag in the disaster preparedness plan.
Read More » Pamela Tabar |
January 13, 2016 A state survey of Ohio's nursing homes holds lessons for others on disaster preparedness—including practicing what's on paper.
Read More » Nicole Stempak |
December 23, 2015 Taking a picture in long-term care facilities is more complicated than pressing the shutter button. Reduce concerns for privacy violations, HIPAA compliance and potential lawsuits by drafting, enforcing and updating policies that will make everyone smile.
Read More » Stan Szpytek |
December 22, 2015 There's more to fires than just putting them out. Fire protection systems need to be properly installed and maintained, and staff needs to be properly trained in emergency procedures.
Read More » Pamela Tabar |
December 19, 2015 Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have different skills and work processes when it comes to medication reconciliation, say researchers at the University of Missouri.
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