PALTtalk

PALTtalk: Advocacy in Action | Impact of State Advocacy

Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE, PALTmed's Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, and Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD, Chair of the Public Policy Steering Committee, explore the latest policy developments in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC). From physician fee schedule updates and telehealth policy extensions to the recent restructuring of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), they discuss both the challenges and opportunities ahead. Dr. Shark Bird joins to discuss Florida’s new law requiring medical directors to be certified or in the process of certification, offering practical insights for navigating this change and strengthening leadership in PALTC.
Hosts: Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE; Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD
Guest: Shark Bird, MD, CMD, President, The Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
Resources:
Florida Enacts Law Requiring Certification of Nursing Home Medical Directors (PALTmed)
Certified Medical Director Program
The Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
PALTmed Advocacy Summit
State Advocacy Toolkit (PALTmed)
Date Recorded: September 5, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda | Hearing Matters: Audiology in Senior Care

Episode: Hearing Matters: Audiology in Senior Care
Host: Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD
Guest: Kathy Dowd, AuD, Executive Director, The Audiology Project
In This Episode:In this episode, host Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda is joined by audiologist Dr. Kathy Dowd, Executive Director of The Audiology Project, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about hearing health in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC). They discuss why hearing loss is so often overlooked, how it’s commonly mistaken for cognitive decline, and what facilities can do to better support residents. Drawing on real-life examples and decades of experience, Dr. Dowd shares simple steps clinicians and administrators can take to improve care, stay compliant, and create more engaged, connected environments for residents.
Advance your expertise with key pearls from this discussion in our quick-reference guide. For more information and tools to support hearing health in PALTC, go to theaudiologyproject.com.
Resources:
Federal Requirements for Hearing and Vision Assessments in Nursing Homes and Associated F-Tags
Federal Laws for Hearing Services in Skilled Nursing Facilities
List of Revised F-Tags
hearScreen USA Clinically Validated Hearing Screening Widget
Performing a Valid Objective Hearing Assessment and Audiology Referral in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Date Recorded: July 28, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda | What Florida’s Certified Medical Director Law Means for Nursing Homes

Episode: What Florida’s Certified Medical Director Law Means for Nursing Homes
Host: Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD
Guest(s): Shark Bird, MD, CMD - President, The Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (FMDA); Deborah Franklin, MHA - Senior Director of Quality Affairs, Florida Health Care Association
In This Episode:Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD, welcomes Shark Bird, MD, CMD, and Deborah Franklin, MHA, to discuss Florida’s new legislation requiring certified medical directors in nursing homes. The conversation highlights certification pathways, compliance considerations, and how the change supports better outcomes for residents.
Resources:
Certified Medical Director Program (PALTmed)
Core Curriculum on Medical Direction in PALTC (PALTmed)
The Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (FMDA)
Florida Health Care Association (FHCA)
Impact of Medical Director Certification on Nursing Home Quality of Care (JAMDA)
Date Recorded: August 18, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with JAMDA | August 2025

Episode: August 2025
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD
Guest(s): Sandra F. Simmons, PhD; Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
In This Episode:Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and co-editor-in-chief Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, review four articles from the September issue of JAMDA. First, they speak with Sandra Simmons, PhD, about results from an observational study of nursing delivery of mobility assistance in long-term care. They also explore research on the effect of Medicaid managed long-term services and supports spending on nursing home quality, staff satisfaction and burnout in assisted living, and the importance of recognizing apathy in Korsakoff syndrome in long-term care.
Date Recorded: August 15, 2025
Articles Referenced:
An Observational Study of Nursing Delivery of Mobility Assistance in Acute Care
The Effect of Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Spending on Nursing Home Care Quality in the United States
Staff Satisfaction and Burnout in Assisted Living and Validity of the DCW Job Satisfaction Scale
Apathy in Korsakoff Syndrome: A Call for Clinical Awareness in Long-Term Care
The articles referenced are from the September issue of JAMDA and are currently available online. 
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with Caring | Aug/Sept 2025, with Special Guest Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, on Infection Prevention and Control and Scabies

Episode: Aug/Sept 2025, with Special Guest Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, on Infection Prevention and Control and Scabies
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD
Guest(s): Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD; Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP (editor-in-chief)
In This Episode:
In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and editor-in-chief Dr. Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, discuss our August/September issue of Caring for the Ages. Special Guest Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, joins to discuss infection prevention and control, lending her expertise to our Special Section on Immunization and Infectious Disease. Dr. Gaur also discusses the difference between classic and crusted scabies and what to do if there is an outbreak.
Dr. Galik shares what she's learned about the effectiveness of having an infection preventionist on staff, and discusses the recommended 2025-2026 immunization schedule. 
Featured Articles:
When It Comes to Infectious Disease Outbreaks, Care Teams Are Superheroes, by Joanne Kaldy
Immunizations for the 2025 to 2026 Year, by Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
Infection Preventionists in Long-Term Care, by Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP
Classic and Crusted Scabies: Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis, by Swati Gaur, MD, MBA
A Crusted Scabies Story in a Nursing Home (A Case Study), by Sumathi Devarajan, MD, CMD
Date Recorded: August 4, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with JAMDA | July 2025

Episode: PALTtalk with JAMDA | July 2025
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Guest(s):  Bonaventure A. Egbujie, PhD; John P. Hirdes, PhD; Katherine M. Abbott, PhD; Paul Katz, MD, CMD (Co-Editor-in-Chief); Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
In This Episode:
In this episode, host Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and co-editors-in-chief Paul Katz, MD, CMD, and Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, discuss three articles from the July JAMDA issue. First, they talk with Bonaventure (Bon) Egbujie, PhD, and John Hirdes, PhD, about results from a cross-national study on loneliness and mortality among older adult home care recipients in Canada, Finland, and New Zealand. Next, they talk with Katherine (Katy) Abbott, PhD, about findings from a pragmatic clinical trial of the Individualized Positive Psychosocial Interaction (IPPI) program for people living with dementia in nursing homes. Finally, the editors review a systematic review and meta-analysis on interventions to reduce sedentary behavior among older adults in long-term care facilities.
Articles Referenced:
Cross-National Evidence on Risk of Death Associated with Loneliness: A Survival Analysis of 1-Year All-Cause Mortality among Older Adult Home Care Recipients in Canada, Finland, and Aotearoa | New Zealand
An Embedded Pragmatic Clinical Trial of the Individualized Positive Psychosocial Interaction (IPPI) Program
Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Date Recorded: July 14, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk: Advocacy in Action | July 2025

In this episode of PALTtalk: Advocacy in Action, hosts Alex Bardakh and Dr. Timothy Holahan share the latest developments in PALTC advocacy. Topics this month include the passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA); the recent dissolution of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and what it means for vaccination guidance moving forward; and a new Florida law requiring all medical directors to be certified or in the process of becoming certified by January 1, 2026.
Don’t Miss the 2025 Advocacy SummitRegistration is now open for the 2025 Advocacy Summit, taking place October 27–28 in Washington, D.C. Join us on Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers, share your stories, and help shape the future of post-acute and long-term care. Register now or learn more at paltmed.org/summit.
Hosts: Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE; Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD
Date Recorded: July 11, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with JAMDA | June 2025, with Special Guest Shawn Doss, BA, on Transitional Care and Early Hospital Discharge through the Care at Home Program

Episode: PALTtalk with JAMDA | June 2025, with Special Guest Shawn Doss, BA, on Transitional Care and Early Hospital Discharge through the Care at Home Program
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Guest(s):  Shawn M. Doss, BA; Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
In This Episode:
In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC, and co-editor-in-chief Dr. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, are joined by Shawn Doss, BA, to explore the latest research in post-acute and long-term care. Topics include transitional care and early hospital discharge through the Care at Home Program, factors influencing staff turnover in long-term care, mechanisms leading to sedentary behavior among older adults in residential care homes, and the relationship between staffing levels, quality measures, and resident experience. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on improving care delivery and outcomes across settings.
Featured Articles:
Transforming Transitional Care: Early Hospital Discharge through the Care at Home Program
Turnover Contemplation in Long-Term Care: Examining Personal and Structural Variables in Canada
Mechanisms Leading to Sedentary Behaviors among Older Adults in Chinese Residential Care Homes: The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior Model Guided Structural Equation Modeling
Long-Term Care Staffing: Associations with Facility Characteristics, Residents’ Experience, and Quality Measures
Date Recorded: June 27, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with Caring | June/July 2025, with Special Guests Susan Mullaney, DNP, and Marianne Shaughnessy, PhD, on Advanced Practice Nursing Roles in Gerontology

In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and editor-in-chief Dr. Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, discuss our June/July issue of Caring for the Ages. Special guests Susan Mullaney, DNP, CNP, GNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN, FAANP, and Marianne Shaughnessy, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN, join to discuss advanced practice nursing roles in gerontology, including the new Gerontological Specialist Certification supported by the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA).
Drs. Steinberg and Galik also discuss stories from our Special Section on the PALTC25 conference. These include coverage of a session called "Breakthrough or Bust" on the new urine PCR test and pharmacogenomic testing and a session on negotiation skills to use with patients/families, staff, and providers. This month, Dr. Galik's own column considers the costs and benefits of consistent staffing assignments in long-term care facilities.
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Guests: Susan Mullaney, DNP, CNP, GNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN, FAANP; Marianne Shaughnessy, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN; Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP
Featured Articles:
What Providers Need to Know About New Urine PCR and Pharmacogenomic Testing
Negotiations: Going From Trouble to Teamwork
Consistent Staffing in PALTC
Demonstrating Proficiency in Advanced Nursing Roles in Gerontology: A New Path Forward
Date Recorded: May 27, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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PALTtalk with JAMDA | May 2025 with Guests Richard Stefanacci, DO, and Zain Pasat, MSc, on Fall Management and Home Care Needs

Join Dr. Karl Steinberg and Dr. Paul Katz as they highlight three articles from the May 2025 issue of JAMDA. In this episode, they speak with Dr. Richard Stefanacci about a new paradigm in fall management that emphasizes injury mitigation over fall prevention alone. They also chat with Zain Pasat, MSc, about a study conducted by his research team examining the alignment between home care needs assessments and actual changes in older adults' health. Lastly, they explore a systematic review of dyadic psychosocial education for individuals with cognitive impairment and their caregivers.
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Guests: Richard G. Stefanacci, DO, MGH, MBA, AGSF, CMD; Zain Pasat, MSc; Paul Katz, MD, CMD
Featured Articles:Shifting Paradigms in Fall Management for Long-Term Care: From Prevention to Injury MitigationCare Needs and Self-Sufficiency Assessment of Home Care ClientsEffects of Dyadic Psychosocial Education on People Living with Cognitive Impairment and Their Informal Caregivers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
These studies are from JAMDA’s upcoming June issue and are currently accessible online.
Date Recorded: May 14, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
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