Insights and Trends
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Understanding the New Long Term Care Facilities “Megarule” Conditions of Participation Regulation and Phase 1
February 28, 2017The 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.
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Freezing Nerves Before Knee Replacement Improves Recovery, According to Study
February 28, 2017The results of a recent study at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine found that freezing nerves through cryoneurolysis before knee replacement surgery led to better outcomes.
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At 66, Pat Conroy Turns His Health Around
February 28, 2017Pat Conroy makes no bones about it in a recent Washington Post article – his road to recovery, which began three years ago after a failing liver and Type 2 diabetes landed him in the hospital, has not been easy.
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Moving Forward After Lower Extremity Amputation
February 28, 2017Each year, approximately 30,000–40,000 lower extremity amputations are performed in the United States. 30% of lower extremity amputations are performed above the knee (AKA), and 70% are performed below the knee (BKA). In every instance, intensive and specialized rehabilitation is required to adjust to a prosthesis and adapt in order to return to activities of daily living and the hobbies a patient enjoyed prior to surgery.
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Pain Management and the Consequences of Unrelieved Pain
February 28, 2017The consequences of chronic pain are far-reaching and go beyond physical sensations of ongoing discomfort. Research shows that unrelieved pain negatively impacts patients in every way – socially, physically and financially.
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Moving Forward After Hip Replacement Surgery
February 28, 2017Approximately 332,000 total hip replacements are performed in the United States each year. Hip replacements are among the most common and effective surgeries in orthopedics, and quality rehabilitation following surgery returns restores function for patients whose activities have become limited by difficulties with walking.
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12 Things It Takes to Be A Speech-Language Pathologist
February 28, 2017What is required to be a great speech therapist? Above-average intelligence, kindness and a team spirit – to name a few. As we honor speech-language pathologists in May for Better Hearing and Speech Month, we reflect on 12 qualities SLPs possess and use in their delivery of care.
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What You Need to Know About Aphasia
February 28, 2017Aphasia is a language disorder that affects nearly one-third of stroke victims. Aphasia occurs when there is damage to the communications hub in the left side of the brain. While aphasia disrupts communication skills, it does not affect a person’s thinking skills. It is critical to watch for signs and symptoms of aphasia following a stroke, and during Aphasia Awareness Month we want to remind people what to look for if a patient or loved one is at increased risk for the disorder.
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Moving Forward After Knee Replacement Surgery
February 28, 2017Total knee replacement can be a good option for individuals with a deteriorating knee joint and progressive pain. Learn exactly what knee replacement entails and what to expect following surgery.
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Action-Observation for Stroke Patients
February 28, 2017New research shows that merely observing others perform physical tasks can activate the damaged regions of stroke patients’ brains. Through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers at the University of Southern California found that the activity was strongest when stroke patient
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