July 2009 - Posts

Happy Birthday Medicare
July 30, 2009 2:09 PM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

Today, July 30th, Medicare celebrates its 44th birthday. In honor and support of Medicare, the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care is hosting a rally and lobby today in Washington, D.C. The group supports a national, single-payer healthcare Read More...

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Medicare Drug Program Three Years Later
July 29, 2009 5:40 PM by Maureen Salera

The Medicare Part D program implemented three years ago has largely met its primary goal of making critical medications more affordable for seniors, according to a report from the New England Journal of Medicine . The Kaiser Family Foundation analyzed Read More...

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Staying Cool
July 24, 2009 2:10 PM by Maureen Salera

Heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion are all forms of heat-related illness that can be dangerous, especially for older people, according to a news release from the National Read More...

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Is the Five-Star Rating System Effective?
July 16, 2009 2:12 PM by Maureen Salera

The debate about the effectiveness of the CMS Nursing Home Compare Web site--with its five-star rating system--rages on, according to an article that was posted on The Washington Post online. Industry experts suggest that the rating system doesn't accurately Read More...

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Employment Trends
July 15, 2009 9:37 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Many health care employers are working to improve their employer status to attract workers when the economy improves, according to a press release from Career Builder. 33 percent are outlining potential career paths for current and future employees 33 Read More...

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From the NADONA Conference, Part 3
July 14, 2009 2:10 PM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

Stressing Quality Improvement This morning I attended an interesting session on quality. Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes is just one of several national initiatives to improve the quality of care in long-term care facilities. Among the Read More...

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From the NADONA Conference, Part 2
July 13, 2009 5:11 PM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

After attending educational sessions that covered pressure ulcers and incontinence, NADONA-goers made their way to the exhibit hall. (Is it just me, or does four hours straight seem like a bit too much time to spend there in one day?) Infection control, Read More...

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From the NADONA Conference, Part 1
July 13, 2009 9:55 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

NADONA/LTC's 2009 Annual Conference officially kicked off Sunday morning with a warm welcome from President Sherrie Dornberger. When I say warm, I mean 114 degrees in Phoenix today, but 350+ attendees did their best to stay cool and hydrated in the convention Read More...

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Obama supports program that would cover long-term care costs
July 10, 2009 11:47 AM by Maureen Salera

This week, President Obama gave his support to creating a program to help families struggling with long-term care costs, the Associated Press reports. The voluntary insurance program, sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, would pay a daily Read More...

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Phoenix, Here I Come!
July 10, 2009 11:11 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

I'll be leaving tomorrow for Phoenix to cover the NADONA/LTC Annual Conference . (Weather forecast: 112 degrees!) I've never been to Arizona, so I'm looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon State (although I probably won't make it to the Grand Canyon Read More...

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Guest Blog: "CMS Five Star -- Friend or Foe?"
July 7, 2009 10:28 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

The following is a guest blog by Anthony Cirillo: There have been at least two studies recently looking at the Nursing Home Compare Five Star ranking. PentaStar Collaborative published a survey of 356 nursing home administrators on the CMS Five Star Rating Read More...

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FDA to Review Acetaminophen Changes
July 2, 2009 3:14 PM by Maureen Salera

The FDA is left to wonder what to do about acetaminophen after its panel urged it to reconsider dosing instructions, according to an article posted on the Washington Post's web site. While acetaminophen is generally safe and effective, it can cause liver Read More...

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