[TammyArkansas]

I am wondering if any of you are actively involved in the legislative process to improve LTC? I researched just now on the net and saw two blurbs dated 1/24/07:
1) In England they are trying to mandate having an RN in the building 24 hrs/day.
2) In the US, Warren Stewart, AARP Virginia president, said reforms are needed in long-term care, because by 2020, more than 1.4 million Virginians will be 65 or older -- an increase of 77 percent from two years ago.
One bill pushed by AARP would streamline services by designating the secretary of health and human resources to coordinate the work of agencies providing long-term-care services. Another bill would expand the definition of long-term care to include transportation, education and housing services. Assoc Press
Two questions: 1) It seems like England has a better plan; which legislation do you think would help more - the US' or England's ?
2) Are there any other things that are going on to improve LTC in America?
I think the basic needs are: 1) a cap on CEO's salaries which filter down to competitive salaries for bedside help from LPNs and CNAs. 2) Federal staffing minimums based on acuities. And those #s should be decided by LTC staff with more than 5 yrs experience.
Please tell me your opinion. thanks.

[Nascar nurse]

Came to view this thread after reading your other thread . Anyways, as MDS coordinators we know that facility reimbursement is tied directly to the RUG scores. If your facility is like mine, coorporate pushes very hard to get the highest score possible. Seems like we should somehow be able to incorporate staffing ratios with RUG scores (the downside tho, is that the time it takes to care for an alzheimers resident is greatly undervalued in the RUG system). Just a thought

[TammyArkansas]

You're right Nascar. Good thinking. For Alzheimer's and /or those on the locked Neg Behavior Unit, there should be ways to capture all the time it takes to re-direct, talk to, and calm them down, etc. I'm sure there are procedures in the works. Keep on chugging along. God Bless.

[fultzymom]

I like #2. I think there should be more regulated and better ratios for staff et patients. It is hard to get good care when there is not enough care. Or how about staffing that matches the needs of the patients. It is hard when you have several acute patients and the same staffing ratios as the floors that are stable. (I work on a rehab unit). Patients that are on rehab have higher accuity. When this is brought up at work, staff from the other floors say, "Well, you do not have as many patients." My response is, "Yes, but my patients are not stable like yours are." I think there should be better staffing and that would improve LTC et rehab. I think that is the general consensus on our site.

Leslie

[Dixiecup]

A facility in my area doesn't staff by acuity but they do charge by acuity! It's privately owned.

When the resident's acuity goes up so does their fee.

We just received a transfer from that facility because his acuity level was increased to total care and the family didn't want to pay the increase.

[brendamyheart]

Originally Posted by Nascar nurse

Came to view this thread after reading your other thread . Anyways, as MDS coordinators we know that facility reimbursement is tied directly to the RUG scores. If your facility is like mine, coorporate pushes very hard to get the highest score possible. Seems like we should somehow be able to incorporate staffing ratios with RUG scores (the downside tho, is that the time it takes to care for an alzheimers resident is greatly undervalued in the RUG system). Just a thought

Amen on that !!!!!!!!!!!!!