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BLTCR helps you negotiate the maze of regulations and reimbursement, staffing, and quality issues affecting the long-term care industry.

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Briefings on Long-Term Care

Issue 12, December 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Top 10 ways to make your facility a homier dwelling

  Buy versus build: Those aren't your only options to bring your skilled nursing facility (SNF) into...

• Develop a companywide strategy for EHR goals

  In addition to putting together the appropriate proposal to garner support from upper management...

• Tougher CMS survey process to hit nursing homes in 2007

  Nursing home administrators need to stay on their toes with survey readiness, because CMS plans to...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's column was written by Julian Rich, president and CEO of Penacook Place...

Issue 11, November 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Invest in people by making changes to your leadership

  Savvy nursing home administrators know that staff retention costs facilities a lot less than staff...

• Polish up your drug and pharmacy services policies

  CMS releases new medication management requirements effective December 18 Overly or improperly...

• Don't miss your shot to stay deficiency-free during survey

  CMS released a new immunizations F-Tag in September that took effect October 1-just in time for flu...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's column was written by Kitt Wakeley, MPA, MHA, LNHA, owner and cofounder...

Issue 10, October 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Reduce nonsalary expenses by saving on vendor goods

  It takes a lot to run a nursing home. Beyond dealing with staffing issues and following federal...

• Tips to build a strong board of directors for your facility

  Find the best skill set to execute the best strategy for the financial health of your skilled...

• Take necessary steps to prevent resident suicide

  Nursing home resident depression can lead to thoughts of dying, attempts at self harm, and, in some...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's column was written by Julian Rich, president and CEO of Penacook Place...

Issue 9, September 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Get your NPI now; avoid reimbursement delays

  Has your nursing home signed up for its National Provider Identifier (NPI) yet? Has it implemented...

• Find your nursing home's niche for success

  One facility discovers resident/community harmony in music therapy program Create a culture of...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's column was written by Kitt Wakeley, MPA, MHA, LNHA, owner and cofounder...

Issue 8, August 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Retain CNAs to save money

  Certified nursing assistants (CNA) make up a large portion of your staff, and the money spent on...

• Follow OSHA's plan to nix workplace hazards in your SNF

  Look out, nursing homes-the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has you in its...

• BLTCR Q&A

  This month's column was written by Julian Rich, president and CEO of Penacook Place Nursing and...

Issue 7, July 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Get empowered to receive the best insurance rates

  One of the least pleasant tasks of a nursing home manager is engaging in policy discussions with...

• Save money by encouraging employees to get the flu vaccine

  A few court battles have taken place recently in Washington over the legality of healthcare...

• Polish up your SNF's quality assurance and assessment

  Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series about meeting CMS' new quality assurance and...

Issue 6, June 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Save money by bringing back your employees from workers' comp

  Do you know the true cost to a facility when an employee is out on workers' compensation? A...

• A medical director's new role

  If you haven't already experienced it, expect a growing interest in your nursing home's medical...

• Nursing strategies that will help RUG reimbursement

  Do you think that Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators are the only staff who have control over your...

• Keep your facility out of immediate jeopardy standing

  How many times has your facility admitted a new resident, and staff were unaware of that person's...

• BLTCR Q&A

  This month's column was written by Julian Rich, president and CEO of Penacook Place Nursing and...

Issue 5, May 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New F-Tag coming to CMS surveys

  SNFs must address residents' psychosocial outcomes CMS released the psychosocial outcomes...

• Adult day: A reimbursement challenge

  A recent study estimated that 4,700 adult day centers existed nationwide in 2005-but the number of...

• Let expedited determination Q&As guide your processes

  Make sure that your skilled nursing facility (SNF) doesn't get stuck with unnecessary bills by...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's column was written by Kitt Wakeley, MPA, MHA, LNHA, owner and cofounder...

Issue 4, April 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New F-Tags require nursing homes give more resident-specific care

  CMS releases new and revised guidelines F-Tag changes released last month indicate that...

• Invest in no-lift programs and get great returns for your facility

  Increase staff safety, decrease workers' compensation costs Is it possible to reduce your...

• Learn how to make the 75% rule work in your SNF's favor

  Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) need to keep their censuses up to bring in top Medicare...

• EHR: Don't get behind the oncoming technology wave

  You know how much information is gathered when a resident goes from your skilled nursing facility...

Issue 3, March 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Despite oversight process problems, SNFs can have successful surveys

  The federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study from 1999 to 2005 to assess...

• Show your appreciation every day

  Small incentives will make a big difference What has your skilled nursing facility (SNF) done...

• Use state resources to break free from restraint usage

  Nursing homes and industry advocates were alarmed when the state of Texas reached an unfortunate...

• Under RUGs 53, strategic ARD selection brings in more Medicare reimbursement

  The new Resource Utilization Group (RUG) payment system presents challenges for you to grapple with...

• BLTCR Q&A

  Editor’s note: This month’s column was written by Kitt Wakeley, MPA, MHA, LNHA, owner...

Issue 2, February 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Let your quality shine through the STAR program for nursing homes

  As a nursing home leader, you're continuously looking for ways to improve quality. Don't forget to...

• Protect your SNF from Legionella

  Before you write off Legionnaire’s disease as improbable at your nursing home, take heed that...

• Checklist: Is your facility up to speed with Part D?

  With so much information available about Medicare Part D, it’s difficult to narrow it down to...

• BLTCR Q&A: Trends for the new year

  This month’s column was written by Julian Rich, president and CEO of Penacook Place Nursing...

Issue 1, January 6, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Education is the best help you can provide for your Part D residents

  By the time you read this newsletter, the benefits of the Medicare Part D drug program will have...

• Staff grocery store makes a difference at nursing home

  One weekend a couple of years ago, Barry Berman ’s children were coming home from college. In...

• CMS to begin national nursing home time study

  CMS is conducting a national time study to measure nursing home resource expenditures, called the...

• What in the world of CMS . . .

  CMS shared several agency updates and then opened the floor for questions from listeners during the...

Issue 1, October 11, 2006

• Turnover replacement cost form

  Turnover replacement cost form