Here is a round-up of some of the most interesting news in Long-Term Care from AHCA/NCAL Gazette. 

At the End, Offering Not a Cure but Comfort

By Anemona Hartocollis

New York Times

Article Date: 8/20/2009

Defining the lines between prolonging life and prolonging death, palliative care doctors explain the difference between sedation, patient refusal of treatment and euthanasia. Director of palliative care at the Weill Cornell Medical College of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Desiree Pardi, talked about refusal of treatment, saying, “So it’s not euthanasia. It’s just sort of letting them die completely naturally. It’s hard to explain to a lay person, because we know we need food and liquid to live. But we don’t need them to die. We’re just feeding whatever is killing them.”

In New Jersey, testing a new doctor-pay method

By Stacey Burling

Philadelphia Inquirer

Article Date: 8/20/2009

A three year “gainsharing” pilot program has been started at 12 New Jersey hospitals to establish whether the program will result in improved quality of care, better patient outcomes and lowered costs. Doctors participating in the program will receive $100 - $300 bonuses for each patient they can improve care for while lowering treatment costs. If the system works properly, the bonus money will come out of the hospital’s overall savings.

St. Gertrude’s wins highest national quality award

By Kristin Holtz

Valley News, Shakopee, Minnesota

Article Date: 8/20/2009

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living have awarded one of three prestigious Step III level National Quality Awards to St. Gertrude’s Health & Rehabilitation Center. Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL said, “The staff at St. Gertrude’s Health & Rehabilitation Center has set themselves apart by demonstrating that they can sustain a high level of performance across a broad spectrum of services. There are only nine long-term care service providers who have achieved our highest level award.”

U.S. grants $1.2 billion for electronic health records

ReutersArticle Date: 8/20/2009

To help health care providers and hospitals set up electronic health record systems, the U.S. government has announced $1.2 in grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The plan also involves the implementation of a nationwide recordkeeping system.

U.S. Life Expectancy at All-Time High

By Tara Parker-Pope

New York Times

Article Date: 8/19/2009

Between 1997 and 2007, average American life expectancy rose from 76.5 years to 77.9 years. The newest life expectancy statistics suggest that since 2007, another 2.5 months had been added. Women still outlive men on by average of 5 years.

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