NURSING HOMES: Operators Meet to Discuss Year’s Changes

      Following a year of "sweeping changes" in the nursing home industry, members of the California Association of Health Facilities are meeting this week to discuss the implications for state nursing homes, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports. "There has been a lot of pressure at the state and federal level ... to ensure that patients are getting better care," said CAHF Vice President Peggy Goldstein. The nursing home industry "welcomes the changes," she said, even though some will require increased administrative work and more staff. For example, CAHF this month began annual surveys, which will focus on 24 clinical areas. The surveys' findings will help the industry respond to weak areas and "change its poor image." At the same time, however, the increased staff diverted to such projects may exacerbate the staff shortages in California's nursing homes. "We've met with state administrators of the Department of Health Services and Office of Statewide Health Planning to try to create some partnerships to address the need for training and new staff," Goldstein said. Noting that they may not be able to draw enough workers from the pool of welfare-to-work participants, she said the state may need to consider higher Medi-Cal reimbursements. Goldstein said the industry hopes to fill 30,000 positions by January 2000 (Prendez, 8/17).