Author: Blake Caldwell

New York, NY—A rising wave of lawsuits across the country is challenging the use of arbitration clauses in the contracts of skilled nursing facilities, spotlighting the struggles of families who seek accountability through the legal system. These clauses, often buried in the fine print of admittance paperwork, require disputes to be resolved outside of court, a practice that critics argue diminishes transparency and can disadvantage patients and their families. At the heart of the pushback is a coalition of affected family members, legal advocates, and consumer rights organizations, who argue that arbitration clauses shield nursing homes from public scrutiny and…

New York, NY—Amidst a backdrop of staffing shortages that have plagued nursing homes nationwide, a novel approach named “Float Pools” has emerged, aiming to offer respite to the beleaguered sector. While on the surface, this strategy appears as an ingenious solution to address the chronic shortage of nurses and caregivers, it’s becoming evident that this quick fix might be doing more harm than good to nursing homes and the quality of care they provide. Float Pools, essentially, are a system where a group of nurses and healthcare workers are employed on a flexible basis by a staffing agency or a…

New York, NY—In skilled nursing facilities across the nation, a critical debate is intensifying between the need to protect patients from harm and the imperative to respect their rights and autonomy. At the heart of this contentious issue is the use of physical and chemical restraints, practices that have long been controversial in elder care settings. Recent statistics from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicate that, on average, 4.6% of long-term nursing home residents were subjected to physical restraint in the past year. This practice, intended to prevent falls or self-harm, has sparked a fierce dialogue about…

New York, NY— As the healthcare sector continues to grapple with staffing shortages, particularly within nursing homes, a burgeoning discourse around the notion of wage parity emerges as a critical pivot point. The concept, advocating for equal pay for workers performing the same roles, regardless of the setting, is increasingly viewed through a bifurcated lens. While aimed at stabilizing the workforce, the unintended repercussions threaten to further destabilize already fragile nursing home ecosystems. A recent survey by the National Healthcare Workers Association highlights a stark reality: nursing homes are already operating on razor-thin margins, with approximately 70% reporting staffing shortages…

New York, NY—The Antibiotic Overuse Crisis: Skilled Nursing’s Superbug Dilemma In the quiet halls of skilled nursing facilities across the country, a stealthy crisis is burgeoning, which health experts are calling the superbug dilemma, stemming from the overuse of antibiotics. This alarming trend not only poses a serious threat to the elderly and immuno-compromised patients in these facilities but also contributes to a larger, global health menace. Antibiotics, once hailed as miracle drugs, are increasingly losing their efficacy due to their widespread and often unnecessary use. This misuse accelerates the creation and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” which are…

New York, NY—As healthcare facilities, particularly nursing homes, struggle to balance quality care with budget constraints, the trend of relying on staffing agencies for nursing staff has been under the microscope. A recent shift towards investing in permanent staff is emerging as not just a financially sound strategy but a cure for the long-standing staffing agency headache. This move, however, has raised concerns and challenges, particularly for nursing homes grappling with its implications. The crux of the issue lies in the precarious balance between cost and care quality. Staffing agencies, often seen as a quick fix for filling vacancies, come…

New York, NY—The healthcare industry is embroiled in controversy following emerging reports of what is being labeled as “patient dumping,” a practice where hospitals and skilled nursing facilities are accused of transferring patients to one another to avoid costly or difficult cases. This scandal has prompted a fierce blame game between the two sides, each pointing fingers at the other for ethical breaches and failure to provide adequate care to those in need. Amid heightened scrutiny, recent investigations have uncovered that an alarming number of patients, particularly those who are homeless, mentally ill, or possessing complex medical needs, are being…

New York, NY—The growing reliance on temp agencies to staff nursing homes has become a critical issue, spotlighting the urgent need for more sustainable, long-term staffing solutions in the healthcare sector. Industry insiders and experts are calling for a comprehensive reevaluation of staffing practices, advocating for innovative alternatives that promise not only to enhance the quality of care for residents but also to foster a more stable working environment for healthcare professionals. The over-dependence on temp agencies to fill staffing gaps has been linked to several negative outcomes, including decreased continuity of care, increased costs, and a higher likelihood of…

New York, NY—The nation’s skilled nursing facilities are ramping up a pivotal lobbying effort in Washington, aiming to sway lawmakers amid growing concerns over funding, staffing shortages, and regulatory challenges that could reshape the future of long-term care in America. In the heart of this lobbying blitz, industry leaders, spearheaded by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), are pressing for significant policy reforms. These reforms include increased Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, relaxed regulatory standards, and broader support for workforce development to address the chronic staffing issues plaguing the sector. A recent report released by the AHCA underscores the dire…

New York, NY—As the healthcare industry grapples with an unprecedented workforce crisis, especially within the nursing home sector, a new trend is emerging: moving away from traditional staffing agencies towards a model aimed at building a sustainable workforce. While this shift may appear as a beacon of progress and innovation on the surface, it raises alarming concerns about the potential detrimental effects on nursing homes and their ability to provide consistent, quality care to residents. The pivot from reliance on staffing agencies, which have historically played a critical role in filling immediate labor gaps in nursing homes, to investing in…