Kindred's partnership with Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital is indicative of how IRFs can operate profitably while meeting the Triple Aim goals of reducing costs, improving the patient experience, and producing better outcomes.

Recently, Kindred announced its strategic exit from the Skilled Nursing Facility business as an owner and an operator. This difficult decision represents an important step forward for the Kindred enterprise. The company is confident the right home can be found for all patients, employees and facilities, and believes these and other nursing centers will continue to be an important part of the Kindred continuum of care for years to come.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a major new rule approximately one month ago to make significant changes to improve patient care and safety. The new rule’s compliance obligations, which will be implemented in three phases that begin this year and extend through 2019, represent the largest update the industry has seen since 1991. The “megarule" as some in the industry are calling it sets high standards for care and targets infections, hospital readmissions, staffing practices and resident safety among other areas.

To all of our highly trained PTs and PTAs leading our clinical programs, we say thank you and happy PT Month!

"Occupational therapy places a unique and immediate focus on patients’ functional and social needs, which can be important drivers of readmission if left unaddressed." - Study authors Rogers, Bai, Lavin, and Anderson

CMS releases QRP provider questions and feedback on MDS 3.0.

The updated language in Section GG requires some new reporting on quality measures beginning October 1, 2016, and getting ready for the change can be overwhelming. Follow these tips so your facility can be as prepared as possible.

Participants of this year's Florida Health Care Association Annual Conference will be able to hear Elizabeth Barlow, Senior Director of Quality, and Matt Sivret, Division Vice President of Clinical Services discuss how therapy can affect facilities' five star ratings with CMS.

Research scientists at the University of Granada and the Virgen de las Nieves Hospital in Granada showed that a brief physical therapy program (between seven and 10 days) can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Over the last several years, CMS has issued Survey and Certification letters regarding specialized surveys with a focus on these areas: 1) MDS and Staffing 2) Dementia 3) Medication Related Events 4) Infection Control (in pilot phase).