Articles
Skilled Nursing Articles
Strict New Hazardous Drug Disposal Rules Now Affect Nursing Homes
It’s been estimated by University of Chicago researchers and others that more than $2 billion a year in drugs are being wasted in nursing homes.
Healthy Holidays – 6 Tips for Safer Celebrations
With the worst of the pandemic behind us, the 2022 holiday season is shaping up to be a happy one. This is especially true for residents in nursing homes or assisted living communities who missed out on family celebrations in past years.
Combatting Polypharmacy at Discharge: Ensuring Appropriate Use of Complex Regimens
As population age and the number of individuals with long-term conditions increase, so does the incidence of polypharmacy.
Standing Up Against Medication Mismanagement to Prevent Falls
Falls are a common cause of injury in seniors, and medications can increase risk.
Navigating The Minefields Of Regulation: Welcome To Skilled Nursing Care
To understand the regulatory polypheme that is long-term care, consider the assessment of Jindou Lee, CEO of HappyCo, a San Francisco-based technology-driven property management company.
Mega Rule: How A Massive Pharmacy Regulation Is Shaping Healthcare
The Mega Rule deconstructed. Find out the key issues for long-term care facilities and how PharMerica consultant pharmacists can aid in compliance.
PDPM Article 10: Monitor And Maintain
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 9: Game Day Plan
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM: Article 8 Test Your PDPM Readiness – It’s All About The Data
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 7: Beyond Implementation; Enhancing Efficiencies
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 6: It’s Time To Pull In Partners
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
The New Patient Driven Payment Model – An Overview For Nursing Homes
There’s no topic garnering more buzz in SNF circles than the fast-approaching PDPM reimbursement system. What do SNFs need to know and do to be prepared?
PDPM Article 5: Documentation Demands And How To Meet Them
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 4: It’s Time to Audit Your Coding Practices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) signals a total change in the payment process for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).
PDPM Article 3: Building Staff Competencies: Training Tips for Your Team
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 2: Preparing for the Patient Driven Payment Model In Five Steps
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
PDPM Article 1: The Impact of Patient Driven Payment Model on Your Business: What You Need to Know
Get ready for the October implementation date of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) with our informative series of articles authored by Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA, founder and director of The Alliance Training Center.
Preventing Adverse Drug Events With DNA
To maximize the value of drug treatments while preventing harm, some facilities are looking to a novel approach: pharmacogenomics.
Reducing Skilled Nursing Facility Rehospitalizations With Effective Pharmacy Intervention
With one in five Medicare beneficiaries readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of release, hospitals are increasingly looking to enhance their discharge management.
Addressing Top Medication Safety Issues In Long-Term Care Facilities
There are numerous factors to consider when evaluating medication safety in long-term care facilities.
Reducing Medication Errors Starts at Admission
Errors during medication administration can pose as a significant risk for the elderly, with the risk being especially high during transitions between care settings where record discrepancies are common.
Top Skilled Nursing Facility Trends for 2019
Like recent eventful years, 2019 presents new challenges for skilled nursing facilities. And to succeed in this era of disruption, skilled nursing facilities need to transform their operations in response.
Addressing Short-Stay Challenges With Effective Medication Management
About 40 percent of Medicare patients are admitted to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or rehabilitation facility after being discharged from a hospital.
Communication Is Key To Consultant Pharmacist Effectiveness – by T.J. Griffin, RPh., Chief Pharmacy Officer
Consultant pharmacists bring extraordinary – and well-established – value to long-term care communities. As external pressure rises to contain the costly rehospitalizations that adverse drug events cause, consultant pharmacists provide an even more vital resource.
Improved Patient Discharge Practices Reduce Fines
Recent data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicates that despite increased pressures to lower rehospitalizations, the overall Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) rehospitalization rate rose to 19.4 percent in 2017, up from 19 percent just two years earlier.
Reducing Medication Errors and Improving Patient Outcomes
With Americans living longer, the average stay in a long-term care facility has increased up to 835 days, per the CDC.
Leveraging Technology to Reduce Dose Omissions
Care in long-term care environments is increasingly complex. And one of the most significant contributors to the challenges of resident care is medication administration, especially when complicated treatment regimens are required that increase the risk of errors.
Emergency Preparedness in Long Term Care Pharmacy
Extreme weather, man-made threats and other emergencies can cause long-term care facilities to lose power, shelter in place or even evacuate.
Improving Occupancy Through Improved Medication Management
Residency numbers continue to decline in skilled nursing, with recent reports citing occupancy as low as 81.7 percent.
Addressing Staffing Challenges Organization-Wide
Staffing at skilled nursing facilities across the U.S. continues to be a challenge. In fact, recent payroll data analyzed by Kaiser Health News shows that most nursing homes had fewer nurses and caretaking staff than they reported to the government.