As collaborative groups of physicians, hospitals and other health care providers voluntarily working together, accountable care organizations (ACOs) deliver well-coordinated, high-quality care to patients and represent a shift toward a more integrated and efficient health care system. With ACOs becoming important allies for many clinicians, it’s no surprise that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid […]
The post-acute care landscape is evolving, redefining the role of medical directors. Increased regulatory measures and heightened expectations of post-acute facilities have raised the importance of, and attention on, medical directors, placing them in an even greater position of organizational influence. Post-acute medical directors must bring a high level of knowledge to meet the clinical […]
For most nursing home residents, the time they spend in the skilled nursing facility falls at the end of their lives. This time is usually filled with stress, uncertainty and frustration. Skilled nursing providers have the job of giving patients the care they need along with the even greater role and responsibility to prioritize patients’ […]
Patients in skilled nursing facilities need more than just physical care — and SNFs are wisely delivering it. The inclusion of behavioral care with primary care in the skilled nursing setting is an essential development for SNFs. The question, of course, is how best to integrate behavioral health into the care continuum. According to one […]
Seniors who are discharged from a post-acute care facility often need to receive their post-stay rehabilitation therapy at a place that suits them, not a place that suits their care provider. For many, that place is their home. The question is whether the provider can deliver that care and meet their patients where they are. […]
November is National Palliative Care and Hospice Month, and the 2023 theme of “Courageous Conversations” is a fitting one. Considering that nearly 95 percent of older adults are affected by at least one chronic condition, according to the National Council on Aging, the problem is widespread to say the least. The earlier someone and their […]
Home is where the heart is. It’s also where health is. And no matter where a senior calls home, that’s exactly where health care providers want to help them remain — including skilled nursing facilities. For SNF operators, a resident having to leave early, unexpectedly or unnecessarily is exactly what they want to avoid. A […]
In the fast-paced world of skilled nursing, technology continues to redefine the way skilled nursing facilities approach patient care. One of their most important partners for any SNF is its electronic health record (EHR) provider, as that system drives care management, which drives outcomes. EHR connectivity platform Rosie stands at the epicenter of this transformation, […]
It’s easy to forget this now, but when COVID-19 first swept its way into disrupting and forever changing American life, the city that felt the largest initial impact was New York. And as Vice President and Medical Director of NewYork-Presbyterian’s Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Queens, New York, Dr. Lucan Rodrigues was among […]
State surveys are coming. The question for SNFs is simple: Will your facility be ready? The key to navigating the state survey process is knowing what areas are most commonly explored. Here is a look at the top three areas most cited amongst surveyors, with insight from experts at Real Time Medical Systems, who discuss […]
Schizophrenia, a long-term mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly and manage their emotions, normally presents at adolescence. However, data from the National Institute of Health show that at least 20% of patients do not show symptoms until they are older. And by “older,” NIH means 40 to 60 years of […]
Dysphagia. It’s a growing problem in skilled nursing care, and an urgent one, as the condition, in which a person has deep difficulty swallowing, can lead to serious complications including malnutrition, dehydration or even death. As of 2020, studies showed global rates of dysphagia among nursing home residents as high as 70%. These swallowing problems […]
A skilled nursing facility nurse is dressing a patient’s complex wound and notices a change in the wound’s condition. In the past, documenting that change and determining next steps required a combination of writing a report, taking a photo that then had to be uploaded and stored and then calling around to find the appropriate […]
As CMS continues to enforce the regulatory process around infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, there is an increased focus on the long-term care phase 3 Requirements of Participation (RoP). With ongoing efforts to address COVID-19, the spotlight remains on Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) and, specifically, on the role of the Infection Preventionist (IP) […]
More than half of nursing home residents suffer from chronic pain1, yet multiple studies indicate it remains largely undertreated2. The reasons are multifactorial and complex. Challenges include: identifying if residents are experiencing pain, identifying the source and severity of pain and identifying the risks and benefits associated with the use of many medications used in […]
For a technology to be effective, it must be used. And in skilled nursing facilities, the question of ease of use — and, with it, the changing of habits — was always central with telemedicine. But those days of reluctance look like they’re over. Sound Physicians has seen a 200% increase in utilization of its […]
The right care level. The right care management. The right care transitions. Although those three areas of skilled nursing have continuously been central to patient success, in a value-based landscape, they are vital. SNF operators must be able to stay one step ahead of their patients’ care needs so they can anticipate change in conditions […]
Before David Dunn joined Shannon Gray Rehabilitation & Recovery Center, he’d never worked in a senior community that used an institutional special needs plan, or I-SNP, to deliver extra levels of personalized care to residents suffering from complex and chronic conditions. Now, after 10 years of working in partnership with the Optum care model, he […]
For family members of long-term care residents, nothing is more important than trusting that their loved ones are safe. And for these operators, few relationships are more valuable, or potentially vulnerable, than those with the families of their residents. These hidden stakeholders are integral to many decisions about care delivery, and their trust and satisfaction […]
The check-in kiosk is only the beginning. In 2023, skilled nursing operators continue to have one challenge higher than all others: staffing. Operators are working hard to attract and retain the best staff, often engaging staffing agencies to fill shifts. That brings additional challenges of both cost — including agency price gouging — and maintaining […]
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