​Many stories are told of how individuals began their careers in the long term/post-acute care field, whether they were “meant to be” from the start or decisions arrived at serendipitously. Managing Editor Amy Mendoza follows two of them, detailing how each got started; the hardships they faced at each step; the help they got from employers, families, and friends along the way; and how they ultimately achieved their goals.

In Caregiving, respiratory therapist Peter Lerman challenges providers to pay a little more attention to the “informed” part of “informed consent” when it comes to CPR. Providers are now asking residents at admission to decide whether or not they want staff to attempt to resuscitate them if their heart stops beating. The big problem is the general public’s misconception, through exposure to medical dramas on TV, that CPR efforts achieve a high rate of success, Lerman says. Therefore, it’s critical that providers educate residents not only on the true odds but also on the injuries that can result from the process.

Maintaining an adequate staffing level today is a challenge. Many employers are creating incentive packages for key workers that may include bonuses and shift differentials, among other inducements. However, calculating wages with these subtleties, plus overtime, can be tricky, say attorneys Michaelle Baumert and Catherine Cano in Legal Advisor. They remind employers who rely on payroll companies for wage calculations that they retain responsibility, laying out the basic Fair Labor Standards Act rules to keep in mind.

In Medical Director Focus, Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, emphasizes the importance of the teaching role a facility’s medical leaders must assume to guide pharmacists and attending physicians in sorting through and eliminating some of the inappropriately prescribed medications patients coming from the hospital may be taking.
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