Mealtime. Naptime. Bath time. Bedtime. Everything is on a schedule for residents in a traditional nursing home, leaving little flexibility for personal decision making. But LaVrene Norton is working to change that. Norton is founder and president of Action Pact, a national consulting firm. It specializes in helping retirement communities and nursing homes train staff […]
Federal efforts to strengthen inspections of the nation’s nursing homes are gaining momentum after a government probe uncovered instances of substandard care. The March 3 report by the HHS Inspector General found that an estimated one-third of residents suffered harm because of substandard care and that the chances of nursing home inspectors discovering these “adverse events” are […]
Employees who enjoy their benefits are more inclined to stay with their company. A 2025 Marsh McLennan Agency report said 73% of employees would remain if plan options were better.
Eight years ago, Dianne Timmering had no budget for her new department of spirituality at Signature HealthCARE. She now runs the largest for-profit department of spirituality in the country with a $4 million budget and full-time chaplains at all 87 facilities in Signature’s network. “We built it on an ROI model,” she said. “It is […]
There are just a few key reasons why Medicare has become inordinately expensive. There is no end in sight for cost escalation. But there are some obvious solutions and they all begin with chronic illnesses. Chronic illness – diabetes, heart failure, cancer, chronic lung disease, etc. – are increasing at exponential rates; are caused largely […]
Two years ago, Dorothy Holmes, then 75, was in the cozy pink bathroom of her mobile home getting ready to shower when she fell. It's the type of accident that's pervasive among older Americans - and it's often the very thing that triggers the end of in...
Big health spending variations throughout the country are largely driven by differences in the use of post-acute services such as skilled nursing homes and home health care by Medicare beneficiaries, and by higher prices that some hospitals and do...
Finding the best analytics tools for health care revenue management can revolutionize operational processes. Compare the leading software options to discover helpful team resources.
In an effort to move away from the traditional model of a nursing home, a nonprofit organization has developed an alternative — smaller scale housing for elderly residents. They’re referred to as Green Houses. The idea is that small homes of roughly 10 residents can improve social interaction and the quality of life and health […]
Hospitals don't have to tell patients they are under "observation" care and Medicare will not cover the costs of that care if the patient is not admitted. Patients who are not admitted for at least three consecutive days do not qualify Medicare's nursing home coverage. Advocates have filed a lawsuit to change these rules.
For those of us in healthcare, “going green” isn’t a fad; it’s a business reality. Conserving resources and taking advantage of new technologies not only improves the environment – it improves the bottom line as well. Most importantly, streamlined communication means better care for our patients and more peace of mind for their families. In […]
As the aging population creates more demand for long-term care and home health services, bringing down costs is a top priority. But another concern that should be top of mind, according to health IT company SafeCare LLC, is the safety of patients living in nursing homes or receiving home health care. The Cleveland-based startup works […]
Discover what tools are essential for efficient, safe surgical extractions in today’s health care landscape, from elevators to forceps and beyond.
Using partnerships, medication reconciliation, and discharge plans designed for individual patients will help hospitals keep patients from returning too soon.
Now here’s something you don’t hear every day: an innovation for the adult diaper. With a two-fold purpose of improving urinary incontinence care while standardizing data collection, Gweepi Medical Inc. is developing a wireless sensor and software system for nursing homes and other healthcare providers. Gweepi’s disposable sensor patch is applied to a diaper. When […]
For years, states have struggled to raise the quality of care in nursing homes using a regulatory stick – citations, fines and other sanctions when serious problems are discovered. Irene DuRell, 82, works on what she calls a German star by intricat...