Nov 11, 2012
Low staffing levels in nursing homes have long been linked to adverse outcomes such as pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections (UTIs), weight loss, dehydration, and deterioration in ADL’s, but new research published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American...
Aug 16, 2010
Last week I presented at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS) Train-the-Trainer program in Las Vegas for the introduction of Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 which will go into effect October 1, 2010. This assessment tool will impact 17,000 nursing homes...
Aug 3, 2010
Hear ye! Hear Ye! RAPs are out! CATs and CAAs are in! I chuckle as I write this blog post knowing that few of my regular readers will understand, and have probably clicked off by now. But the few of you who remain know how important this topic is to long-term...
Jul 22, 2010
Another guest blog post by Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWON, MAPWCA, FAAN Good news! Since the educational training programs held last March and April, CMS has reconsidered its original guidance regarding how to code blister pressure ulcers on the revised...
Jun 7, 2010
Guest Post by Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWON, MAPWCA, FAAN. Are you ready for the changes in MDS 3.0, Section M: Skin Condition? Having just developed the slide materials and provided the instruction on this for the CMS “Train the Trainer” programs in...
Feb 15, 2010
I recently spoke on geriatrics, humanistic medicine, and art at The International Arts and Health Conference in Port Macquarie, Australia. Because I spent so much of my medical career in long-term care, I sought out the opportunity to visit a nursing home to speak...