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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, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• MRSA in nursing homes hits the headlines

  A study published October 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests...

• Making the most of Medicare

  Medicare Part A coverage poses many challenges for skilled nursing facilities (SNF). And two of the...

• As nursing home populations change, activities must also

  The participation of nursing home residents in social activities has long been recognized as a...

• Enhance employee motivation through play at work

  Keeping your staff members motivated on a daily basis can prove to be challenging with all the...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 11, November 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Bridge the gap to reach consultant pharmacists

  In 1974, the Health Care Financing Administration, now CMS, officially announced that consultant...

• Case study: The abilities of your restraint QM

  The quality indicator/quality measure (QI/QM) reports that derive from Minimum Data Set (MDS...

• Take practical steps to protect your nursing home's staff members and residents from the flu

  Between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide die annually from seasonal influenza. The most...

• Implement the necessary components to create successful collections to keep the cash flowing in your nursing home

  Many business offices in long-term care facilities experience significant backlogs of aging...

Issue 10, October 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS releases new F-tag guidance for paid feeding assistance for SNFs

  CMS released guidance in mid-August for F-tag #373, which covers paid feeding assistants. The final...

• Success against incontinence is restoring bladder function

  CMS released revisions to F-tag #315 nearly three years ago in hopes that nursing homes could use...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 9, September 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• PAC-CARE data collection is four months away

  You've been hearing for years now about the Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0 (MDS 3.0). CMS has waited...

• Managing falls means changing your environment of care

  What was it legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said? "Perfection is unattainable. But if we...

• Don't roll the dice with your database

  The importance of your nursing home's database is tough to overstate: It controls the success of...

Issue 8, August 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS revises survey guidance for accidents and supervision

  On July 7, CMS issued revised guidance to its accidents and supervision F-tags (#323 and #324...

• Manage medications with a primer on gradual dose reduction

  Staff vigilance is a critical component to gradual dose reductions, which under the revised...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 7, July 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• No kinder, gentler survey process in your future

  CMS' Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) is in effect in several states already, and the feedback...

• The right culture change can improve staff retention

  Many skilled nursing facility (SNF) managers suspect that their staff turnover is due to employees...

• Foster resident function through cognitive stimulation

  Top-notch nursing homes are always looking for ways to enhance their activity offerings-especially...

• Bill for Part B ancillaries and avoid the trouble hot spots

  Editor's note: The following article is adapted from the book Part B Billing 1, 2, 3: Proven...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 6, June 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS plans to release new regulation this month

  When CMS announces the pending release of new or revised regulations, it can be a guessing game as...

• Revisit your nursing home's hiring and firing policies

  A couple of years ago, a young woman filled out an application at a skilled nursing facility (SNF...

• Being both DON and financial manager: It's a balancing act

  More than 60% of your long-term care facility's expenses come from your nursing department, says...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 5, May 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS initiatives demand quality of care focus

  CMS officials discussed how nursing homes can begin to implement components of two of the agency's...

• CMS gives guidelines for using photographic evidence

  You're probably aware by now that CMS surveyors are allowed to use a camera during surveys to...

• BLTC Q&A

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

Issue 4, April 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Use philanthropy to help your SNF's revenue stream

  It may come as a surprise to know that of all the financial gifts given in the United States, 75...

• Successful benefits exhaust and no-pay billing requires the entire clinical team

  Submitting benefits exhaust and no-pay bills isn't only the billing department's responsibility...

• Dementia care standards designed to educate providers

  One night a few years ago, Eric J. Hall, CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA), was...

• BLTCR Q&A

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

Issue 3, March 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Remodel meals to make the dining experience great

  Making well-thought-out tweaks to the current dining practices in your skilled nursing facility...

• Brush up on how to care for your residents' oral health

  Throughout our lives, we try to get to the dentist a couple of times per year for professional...

• Residents get 'Second Wind' to make their dreams a reality

  How far does your skilled nursing facility (SNF) go to ensure the individual happiness of your...

• BLTCR Q&A

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

Issue 2, February 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Train like the surveyors to meet new drugs guidance

  CMS is teaching its surveyors how to score skilled nursing facilities' (SNF) performance in meeting...

• CMS gets specific with how to taper residents' medications

  Since CMS released the final unnecessary drugs guidance in mid-December 2006, skilled nursing...

• Understand CMS' guide on psychosocial outcomes

  Editor's note: The following book excerpt comes from HCPro's new publication Complying with CMS...

• BLTCR Q&A

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

Issue 1, January 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Arbitration could save your SNF in high legal expenses

  Nearly half of the total amount of legal claim costs in the long-term care industry goes directly...

• Revisit the basic concepts of SNF coverage and admissions

  Give pertinent staff members a quick training course on the following Medicare basics, as presented...

• BLTCR Q&A

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