Transfer Trauma & Preventing Hospitalizations in Skilled Nursing: What the Latest Evidence Says—and How Leaders Can Act Hospital transfers are sometimes necessary—but for many residents, they are harmful, preventable, and destabilizing. The cascade is familiar: unfamiliar environments, fragmented information, iatrogenic complications, and a resident who returns weaker than before. The good news: recent research sharpensContinue reading “Transfer Trauma”
Author Archives: nursechubb
The Role of EQ in Healthcare Leadership: Building Trust from the Top Down
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of skilled nursing, technical skills and regulatory knowledge are essential—but they’re not enough. True leadership is built on emotional intelligence (EQ): the ability to understand, manage, and respond to emotions—your own and others’. At EZ5Star, we believe that EQ is the secret ingredientContinue reading “The Role of EQ in Healthcare Leadership: Building Trust from the Top Down”
What a CMS 5-Star Rating Really Means—and How to Get There
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting For skilled nursing facilities, a CMS 5-Star Rating isn’t just a badge of honor—it’s a critical factor in building trust with residents, families, hospitals, and referral partners. But many leaders find the system confusing, frustrating, or out of reach. The truth is: you don’t need to guess yourContinue reading “What a CMS 5-Star Rating Really Means—and How to Get There”
Maximizing Clinical Reimbursement: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting In skilled nursing, clinical reimbursement is more than just billing—it’s a reflection of how well your documentation, assessments, and care delivery align with regulatory and payment expectations. Unfortunately, many facilities leave significant money on the table because they either under-document care or fail to capture the clinical complexityContinue reading “Maximizing Clinical Reimbursement: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?”
Mock Surveys: Your Best Defense Against Costly Deficiencies
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting In the world of skilled nursing, survey readiness isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical. With ever-evolving regulatory requirements and heightened scrutiny from CMS and state surveyors, your best defense is preparation. That’s where mock surveys come in. Mock surveys are not just a compliance exercise. When done right, they’re a powerfulContinue reading “Mock Surveys: Your Best Defense Against Costly Deficiencies”
Culture Drives Care: How to Assess and Transform Your Facility Culture
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting Culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the invisible force that shapes every interaction, every decision, and every outcome in your skilled nursing facility. A strong culture builds trust, improves retention, boosts resident satisfaction, and supports compliance. A toxic or disjointed culture, on the other hand, fuels turnover, undermines quality,Continue reading “Culture Drives Care: How to Assess and Transform Your Facility Culture”
Top 5 EHR Optimization Strategies to Improve Documentation and Reimbursement
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting In skilled nursing facilities, the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is the backbone of documentation, compliance, communication, and reimbursement. Yet too often, these powerful platforms are underutilized—or worse, misused—leading to missed revenue, survey citations, and clinician burnout. Optimizing your EHR is not just a tech upgrade—it’s a strategicContinue reading “Top 5 EHR Optimization Strategies to Improve Documentation and Reimbursement”
Leadership Development in Long-Term Care: A Game Changer for Outcomes
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting Leadership in long-term care isn’t just about holding a title—it’s about setting the tone for care quality, staff engagement, and overall operational excellence. Yet, far too often, nurse leaders are promoted into roles without the training, mentorship, or tools they need to thrive. The result? Burnout, turnover, surveyContinue reading “Leadership Development in Long-Term Care: A Game Changer for Outcomes”
Why Skilled Nursing Facilities Need Strategic Planning Now More Than Ever
By Lisa Chubb, MSN, RN—EZ5Star Clinical Consulting In today’s high-stakes healthcare environment, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are under more pressure than ever. Regulatory updates, staffing shortages, reimbursement changes, and increased scrutiny from CMS demand that leaders take a proactive and thoughtful approach to running their organizations. That’s where strategic planning comes in. It’s not justContinue reading “Why Skilled Nursing Facilities Need Strategic Planning Now More Than Ever”
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