Demand for Geriatricians on the Rise

In a hearing by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Aging, Senator Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., reported that more geriatricians are needed to accommodate the growing elderly population, which will more than double by 2030. Currently, there is less than half of the number of geriatricians deemed necessary to accommodate the senior population. He adds that only three out of 125 medical schools nationwide have geriatric departments, which leaves few options for those wanting to treat the elderly.

Hutchinson is working on federal programs under the Public Health Service Act that will entice physicians to go into the geriatric field. Since only 4 percent of practicing doctors have attended a geriatric class, Congress has created Geriatric Education Centers and training programs to educate healthcare professionals in this specialized area. At the hearing, Senators asked for $20 million to fund geriatric-faculty fellowships, the Geriatric Academic Career Award program, which promotes careers in this field and education programs to train faculty.

For more information, a full report of the hearing can be viewed at www.senate.gov/~labor.

DuPont Teams With Humantech

DuPont Safety Resources, a unit of DuPont that provides safety consulting services, announced a partnership with Humantech to create ergonomic solutions. As part of its "Building a Safer World" campaign, these services and products will help companies address employee Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD). Humantech provides ergonomic consulting, training and engineering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34 percent of all reported workplace injuries and illnesses are due to WMSDs. The disorders cost businesses more than $15-20 billion annually in workers' compensation.

For more information, visit www.dupont.com/safety.

Hawthorn Court Wins National Design Award

Hawthorn Court at Ahwatukee won a 2001 Best of Seniors Housing Design Award in the special-needs category. The National Association of Homebuilders recognized this 44-unit dementia-care community in Phoenix for its architectural and interior design. Senior Resource Group, developer and manager of the community, said years of research went into planning the facility. Todd and Associates were the architects for the center.

Recently, ALS had the chance to tour Hawthorn Court. Special, detailed attention was given to the design of the units to decrease confusion for the dementia patients. All personnel offices are kept separate from the two residential wings. Aviaries, aquariums, memory boxes, natural light and large open areas facilitate improving resident well-being.

For more information, call (480) 598-1224.

Pfizer Develops Innovative Program in Florida

Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, is teaming with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to initiate a program to aid adult Medicaid patients. The partnership is aimed at improving disease management for chronic conditions including congestive heart failure, diabetes, asthma and hypertension. In this new program developed by Gov. Jeb Bush, approximately 60 nurses will educate and monitor patients at early stages of the diseases. A health literary education program will aid in understanding the diseases and the treatments. As part of this effort, Pfizer will also donate medicine to an estimated 30 community healthcare facilities in Florida. Over the next two years, the program is expected to save the state agency more than $30 million and improve care for an estimated 50,000 Medicaid patients. For more information, visit www.pfizer.com.

Marriott Introduces Temporary Care

Marriott Senior Living Services announced the arrival of its new Short Stay Program for 150 of its locations nationwide. The program, with minimum rates of $100 per day, provides temporary residential care and shelter for seniors. The specific daily rate depends on location of the facility and the acuity levels of the resident. Older adults can stay at Marriott's communities for a week or several months under this new program. Assisted-living facilities range from $100 to $160 per day and special needs programs, such as Alzheimer's care, range from $160 to $185 per day. Marriott Senior Living is a division of Marriott International Inc. and provides independent, assisted-living, nursing, rehabilitation, and special-needs care.

For more information, visit www.marriottseniorliving.com or call (800) 880-3131.

MED-PASS Attains New Product Line

MED-PASS, dedicated to the creation of healthcare documentation and reference solutions, introduced its latest acquisition: Heaton Publications product line, called Heaton Resources. For more than 30 years, Heaton has created and maintained reference and training products for healthcare workers, which meet industry standards and federal healthcare regulations. Employers can use the products to help guide their staff toward continuous regulatory compliance.

For more information, call (800) 438-8884 or visit www.med-pass.com.

Must See Sites

www.medhealthjobs.com
Employers can post their job openings on this healthcare career website that reaches more than 1 million possible applicants. The site will match the listings with the best available candidate and then the employer can directly contact the candidate.

www.ccsos.com
Owner Services Group developed this site's help desk for owners to use as a resource for their construction questions. The information covers all phases of design and project-specific questions can be sent to a group of experts.

www.hcpro.com/bal/index.cfm
This site provides the latest news affecting the assisted-living industry through its newsletter, Briefings on Assisted Living Weekly. Get up-to-date on pertinent issues and sign up for BAL Weekly at this web address.

Industry Events

Health Industry Distributors Association
Oct. 4-6; San Diego Convention Center;
San Diego; (972) 509-8893

American Health Care Association
Oct. 16-18; Hynes Convention Center;
Boston; (202) 842-4444

ALFA Fall Conference
Oct. 20-23; Washington Hilton;
Washington, D.C.; (703) 691-8100

Fun in the Sun Conference 2001
Oct. 22-25; Maui, Hawaii; (888) 923-2332

Medtrade Expo and Conference
Oct. 23-25; Ernest Morial Convention Center;
New Orleans; (877) 693-1013

AAHSA Fall Conference
Nov. 4-7; San Diego Convention Center;
San Diego; (202) 508-9475

Florida Assisted Living Association
Nov. 6-8; Hyatt Orlando;
Kissimmee, Fla.; (850) 906-0099

Gerontological Society of America
Nov. 15-18; Hilton Chicago and Towers;
Chicago; (202) 842-1275

People on the Move

Steiner

Hiser

Dorsky Hodgson + Partners have made some new additions to its staff. Architect Frederick Allen Hiser, AIA, is the new senior designer at the firm's Washington D.C. office. Hiser will work closely in the commercial and senior-living studios. And architect Gary D. Steiner joined the firm as a principal at the same office focusing on its senior-living design division. Formerly, Steiner worked as the head of Marriott International's senior-living services design team.

Cannon Design hired Joseph Kopec, AIA, as associate vice president. Kopec brings 20 years experience to the firm. He will be responsible for projects focused on primary/secondary and healthcare markets.

Attorney Richard Prebil joined the law firm Foley & Lardner. He will be working in the health-law department in its Chicago office. The firm's health-law practice is the largest in the nation.

Mintz

Bienek

LASCO Bathware, manufacturer of bath fixtures, has made several changes in personnel. Morris Mintz, former vice president of sales and marketing, was promoted to senior vice president. A 10-year veteran with the company, Mintz will focus on strategic planning for LASCO. Vince Bienek was also promoted to vice president of wholesale sales. Bienek was LASCO's national sales manager for wholesale. Martin Joines will move into the position of vice president of retail sales.

The Wartburg Adult Care Community in Mount Vernon, N.Y., appointed Gwyneth Blackwell to the position of admissions coordinator. She will oversee admissions for the rehabilitation unit in addition to conducting referrals at the community.

Focus on Finance

Transamerica Sells its Senior-Living Assets

In a signed definitive agreement, Kisco Retirement Communities will acquire Transamerica Corp.'s senior- living assets. The deal is expected to close after the licensure transfers have been secured sometime in the fall. The transaction involves 11 properties located in California and Nevada. The purchase price has not been disclosed. Currently, Kisco owns and manages 13 communities but once the purchase is complete, it will almost double its portfolio. Transamerica is a subsidiary of an international insurance group, AEGON N.V.

For more information, visit www.kiscoretirement.com.

Nonprofit Organization Attains Sizeable Grant

Assisted Living Center Inc. (ALCI) of Salisbury received a $13,000 grant from Harpley Foundation of Newburyport. The money was awarded because of ALCI's quality of care to seniors, many of whom aren't financial independent. The grant will go toward a new automatic-door opener, an enclosure for an outside wheelchair ramp and raised gardens for the residents to care for. ALCI is the only assisted-living community in Massachusetts to accept Medicaid/MassHealth or privately-funded methods of payment for any unit.

For more information, call Assisted Living Center in Salisbury at (978) 463-9809.

Outsourcing May Provide Significant Savings

Beverly Enterprises, a provider of healthcare services, signed a five-year agreement with Service Resources Inc. that may prove monetarily beneficial. Service Resources will manage the energy and facility expenditures for more than 500 skilled-nursing homes and assisted-living locations. The company will also provide strategic plans and budget controls, in addition to routine maintenance and repair for buildings to aid Beverly's efficiency. Service Resources is an outsourcing company dedicated to integrating facility management.

For more information, visit www.serviceresources.com.

Health Highlights

More Screening Needed for Disease That Targets Older Adults

In a survey conducted by the National Council on the Aging, two-thirds of those age 50 and over are unaware of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is prevalent among older adults. More than half of the participants in the survey who had symptoms of the disease had not been screened for PAD.

The disease, also known as atherosclerosis, is a common disorder that can become serious by putting patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, one of the most common symptoms is painful leg cramps while walking, however the pain usually subsides after rest. When a patient has PAD, the arterial walls become narrow and allow clots to form, which decreases blood flow. The Foundation cites smoking, diabetes and old age as risk factors. Comparing blood pressure readings from a patient's arm and ankle identifies PAD.

For more information, visit www.ncoa.org or www.vdf.org.

Products

Emergency-Call System Offers Options

Jeron Electronic Systems Inc. offers a complete line of UL-listed emergency-call systems for the healthcare industry. Jeron master stations are available in tone-visual and audio-visual and are designed to meet the needs of assisted- and independent-living facilities. Jeron call systems feature three options. The Personal Mobile Master is a compact, lightweight-cordless handset that functions as a portable master providing caregivers freedom and flexibility. The Radio Pocket Page Interface allows silent, customized messages to be sent to staff. And the Telephone Interface connects the emergency-call system to any phone in the facility.

For more information, call (800) 621-1903 or visit www.jeron.com.

Wireless Incontinence Detecting System Introduced

Code Alert announced the introduction of DriTec, an incontinence monitoring system. This new product is completely wireless and pages a caregiver when a resident has incontinence problems. DriTec also has a recording feature that can aid caregivers in adjusting toileting schedules to fit a particular resident. The system's wetness-sensor strip works with radio-frequency transmitters to monitor moisture. Code Alert provides electronic and wireless monitoring systems for healthcare settings.

For more information, call (800) 669-9946 or visit www.codealert.com.

Training Program Provides Cleaning Solutions

In order for long-term-care facilities to operate as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to have standardized, simplified and consistent employee training. Buckeye International Inc., a manufacturer of maintenance products, offers training resources tailored to its products. Its newest program, Insight, helps long-term-care facilities obtain cleaning/maintenance procedures. Insight includes five step-by-step instructional videos, a detailed, procedure manual and an easy-to-follow instructional flip-chart. The following sections are included in the program: safety instructions, basic cleaning procedures, hard floor-care procedures, carpet-care instructions and resident-room cleaning with a special focus on dementia and odor control.

For more information, call (800) 321-2583 or visit www.buckeyeinternational.com.

Advanced Nurse-Call System Released

TekTone introduced its most advanced nurse-call system, Tek-MICRO II. Designed for use by nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, long-term-care facilities, hospitals and medical centers, Tek-MICRO II is fully integrated with SpectraLink wireless-telephone systems, onsite UHF-radio pocket pagers and PBX/analog telephone systems. In the future, it will communicate with tracking systems--such as waterproof pendants and belt-clip transmitters for facility staff and residents.

For more information, call (800) 327-8466 or visit www.TekTone.net.

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