The long-term care field is experiencing fundamental changes in medical knowledge, clinical complexity, social and legal requirements, demographics and patient mix, reimbursement policies, and care settings. There are over 17,000 nursing homes across the United States, with approximately 1.5 million Americans residing in a nursing home on an average day. Of the nursing home population, 192 out of 1000 residents are 85 years and older, have 3 to 5 medical diagnoses, take 7 medications, and require assistance with 3 or more activities of daily living.

This is THE book for medical directors and nursing home clinical staff, on the clinical, administrative, and regulatory issues that arise virtually every day in nursing homes and hospices.

Jeffrey B. Halter, MD

Professor of Internal Medicine

Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine

Director, Geriatrics Center and Institute of Gerontology

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

Joseph G. Ouslander, MD

Professor and Associate Dean for Geriatric Programs

Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science

Professor (Courtesy), Christine E. Lyon College of Nursing

Florida Atlantic University

Professor of Medicine (Voluntary)

Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Boca Raton, FL

Mary E. Tinetti, MD

Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health

Director, Program on Aging

Yale University School of Medicine

New Haven, CT

Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH

Professor, Department of Medicine (Geriatrics)

University of Pittsburgh

Staff Physician, VA Pittsburgh GRECC

Pittsburgh, PA

Kevin P. High, MD, MS

Chief, Section on Infectious Diseases

Professor of Medicine, Sections on Infectious Diseases,

Hematology/Oncology, and Molecular Medicine

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, NC

Sanjay Asthana, MD

Duncan G. and Lottie H. Ballantine Chair in Geriatrics

Professor and Head, Section of Geriatrics & Gerontology

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Director, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital

Associate Director, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

Madison, WI

EDITOR EMERITUS AND SENIOR ADVISOR:

William R. Hazzard, MD

Professor of Medicine

University of Washington

Director, Geriatrics and Extended Care

VA Puget Sound Health Care System

Seattle, WA

Senior Editorial Assistant:

Nancy Woolard, MD

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, NC