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We talked briefly about setting goals for the new year.  Remember, goals are a valuable tool which help you focus.  But for them to be effective, they must be:

Specific – Clearly define your goal.  Do not be vague or general.  Give your goal a what, a why and a how.

Measurable – How will you know you have reached your goal? Give it a number; a total, a percentage, an amount.

Achievable -Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing.

Realistic – This is not a synonym for easy. Realistic, in this case, means do-able. Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable.

Timely – Set a time limit for the goal: for next week, in three months, by Jan 2014. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

Now that you have set your SMART goals, the fun has just begun.  To reach your goals, you now must have a plan and some follow through.  Be sure to clearly delegate tasks, conduct follow up and evaluate both individual and overall performance.

Start today and take that first step towards reaching our goals and improving your business and your community.

MDS would like to announce that Jim Moore, President Moore Diversified Services, Inc.  will be moderating/speaking at an upcoming Senior Living Business Interactive webcast, Acute Care and Post-Acute Care Integration: What Does It Mean For You?  It takes place on February 7 at 1:00 PM ET, hosted by Irving Levin Associates. 

Effective January 3, 2013, the Affordable Care Act requires doctors, hospitals and other health care providers – including long-term care facilities – to coordinate care provided to Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). In return, incentives reward ACOs based on lowering the cost of providing health care services and meeting benchmark levels for quality care. Our expert panelists will share their advice on how post-acute care specialists can best integrate with acute-care providers.

This expert panel will be addressing topics such as:

• The opportunity for providers as the nation moves towards a managed-care model.
• The readiness/willingness of hospitals to participate in ACOs.
• The likelihood that these new business relationships will enhance revenue and occupancy.
• The risks or challenges of participation in an ACO.

They will also share their advice on how post-acute care specialists should position themselves to partner with acute-care providers.

More information about this webcast and purchasing options can be found through the following link:

http://www.levinassociates.com/conferences/1302-online-conference

February 7, 2013, 1-2:30 pm ET (12-1:30 CT)

Senior Living Business – Interactive Webcast            

“Acute Care and Post-Acute Care Integration: What Does It Mean For You?”

Moderator:

• Jim Moore, President, Moore Diversified Services

Panelists:

• Rebecca Neff Townsend, Senior Vice President, Ziegler

• Kimber L. Latsha, Managing Partner, Latsha Davis & McKenna

• William R. Pomeranz, Managing Director, Cain Brothers

• Daniel H. Gray, President, Continuum Development Services

For additional information and registration:

http://www.levinassociates.com/conferences/1302-online-conference

Or contact Jane Zarem at 203-226-9188

There is no better time than NOW, the beginning of a New Year, to look back and more importantly, to look FORWARD.  It is time to make a plan for growth and success.  Evaluate where you are, set some new and challenging goals, make a plan and LET”S GO!

It’s time to focus on two frequently heard sound bites:

• “What happened to the good old days?”
• “Senior living is not what it used to be.”

I’ll add a third one to think about:

• “A recession is a terrible opportunity to waste”

Our industry is fundamentally sound, but both the external economic environment and senior living business are getting increasingly complex.  In senior living, we have a multifaceted business model involving:

1. Real Estate
2. Property Management
3. Food and Beverage
4. Lodging/Hospitality
5. Social Services
6. Health Care Delivery
7. Limited Risk Pool Health Insurance Provider (Type ‘A’ life care CCRC.)
8. Risk Management
9. Asset Management
10. Information Technology

Here is an outline of a six point strategic plan to put it all together:

1. Focus on organic growth.

2. Future growth can be a sound strategy.

3. Make market-driven not situation-driven decisions.

4. Constantly ask “what if” questions.

5. Everyone needs an exit strategy.

6. Take a realistic look at the future

Read the current MDS Senior Living and Senior Housing Strategy to get more details on each of these 6 points.

Everyone here at MDS would like to wish you, your families and your coworkers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.  Welcome 2013!!

All the gifts have been opened and the champagne bottles are empty…now what?  As the American workforce makes their way back to the office, there is no better time to ask “What’s Next?”  The New Year is a perfect time to reevaluate where you, your business or organization stands and most importantly, where you are going.

Take some time to begin this process with some very basic questions:

• What went right in 2012? How can you duplicate that?
• What went wrong in 2012? How can you make changes to avoid those things?
• What changes do YOU want to see in your career as well as your business? How will you accomplish those changes; more training and education, teaming with co-workers to implement new initiatives, taking some risks you have been contemplating?

It may seem like a cliché, but it is so true: The possibilities are endless!!

As you contemplate the above questions, we know you have high hopes and big dreams for your community and your business but you must do some proper goal setting to begin down the path to achieving those hopes and dreams.  Remember the basics about goal setting: they must be measurable with a specific deadline and they must be attainable (realistic) yet challenging.  And no goal is worth setting without a step-by-step plan to achieve said goal.

MDS can help you set goals for your organization through many avenues from operations analysis to identify areas for improvement to conducting Board Retreats and Strategic Planning sessions with your professional staff.  MDS can also help you achieve these goals through program implementation, monitoring, training, and material for you and your staff.

We anticipate great things in the New Year ahead. Most of all we look forward to helping you establish and achieve your goals to make 2013 an even more successful year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays From The Staff of MDS

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all those dedicated to the service and care of those that are aging successfully  in communities and receiving services around the world a very Merry Christmas and exceptionally Happy Holidays!

We especially thank those that will tend to all those residents on Christmas Day; there is no day off in an industry such as ours.  To many of  these residents, you are their family and you will make their holidays bright!

As we look forward to 2013, MDS wants to partner with you to bring these residents the best care possible, an enjoyable living experience while helping you run your facility in the most efficient and financially beneficial way possible.  Join us as we explore various ways to tighten up your operational policies and procedures which benefit both your community and your residents.

Our theme for January 2013 will be Stop making New Year’s Resolutions and Make a New Year Plan!

Thank you for your commitment to the betterment of the Senior Living and Senior Housing Industry.