PALTtalk

PALTtalk: Advocacy in Action | May 2025 with Special Guest Leslie Eber, MD, CMD

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 how new federal policy developments could shape the future of post-acute and long-term care. From physician payment updates and budget negotiations to CMS’s “Make America Healthy Again” plan, they discuss both the challenges and the opportunities ahead. While pointing out where nursing home care deserves greater focus, they also emphasize the field’s potential to engage and lead. Dr. Leslie Eber joins to share her passion for advocacy and how her mother’s remarkable career in the U.S. Senate continues to inspire her work today.
Hosts: Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE; Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD
Guest: Leslie Eber, MD, CMD
Date Recorded: May 14, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with Caring | May 2025, with Special Guest Ameera Chakravarthy, PhD, RN, on Sarcopenia

In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and editor-in-chief Dr. Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, discuss our May issue of Caring for the Ages. Special Guest Ameera Chakravarthy, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE, joins to discuss her cover story on managing sarcopenia in long-term care.
Drs. Steinberg and Galik also discuss our cover story on how immigrant staff can ease the workforce crisis, Dr. Galik's article on compassion in healthcare, and the new emphasis on psychotropic medications and informed consent in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services State Operations Manual.
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Guest(s): Ameera Chakravarthy, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE; Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP (Editor-in-Chief)
Featured Articles:Immigrant Staff in Long-Term Care Help Ease the Workforce ShortageGetting a Grip on Sarcopenia: A Practical Guide for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care TeamsThe Power of Providing Compassionate CareNew Emphasis: Medications and Informed Consent
Date Recorded: April 21, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with JAMDA | April 2025 with Special Guest Victoria Winogora on Live Hospice Discharge of Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities

Join Dr. Karl Steinberg and Dr. Barbara Resnick as they highlight four articles from the April 2025 issue of JAMDA. In this episode, Victoria Winogora discusses her systematic review on live hospice discharges in individuals with cognitive disabilities. Plus, they explore the latest research on fall-risk medications, the impact of social engagement in dementia care, and how exercise is proving to be an effective treatment for depression in older adults.
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC (Associate Editor)
Guest(s): Victoria M. Winogora, MSN, NP, BS, RN, BA; Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
Featured Articles:Live Hospice Discharge of Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities: A Systematic ReviewFall Risk–Increasing Drugs and Fall-Related Injuries among Older Adults in Ontario: A Population-Based Matched Case-Control StudySocial Engagement is Associated with Location-based Digital Markers on a Dementia Care UnitEffectiveness of Exercise-Based Interventions on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Date Recorded: April 18, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with JAMDA | March 2025

In this episode, host Dr. Paul Katz, MD, CMD, and co-editor-in-chief Dr. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, explore the latest research in post-acute and long-term care. Dr. Madeline Sterling, MD, discusses how unions affect direct care workers’ employment conditions, economic outcomes, and well-being. Dr. Lillian Hung, RN, PhD, shares insights on the joy of caregiving and its impact on workforce well-being. Dr. Katz rounds out the discussion with a review of a study on dementia specialty care units in U.S. nursing homes, examining their availability and impact on care quality.
Host: Paul Katz, MD, CMD (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
Guest(s): Lillian Hung, RN, PhD; Madeline Sterling, MD; Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP (Co-Editor-in-Chief)
Featured Articles:What Do Unions Do for Direct Care Workers? Assessing Employment and Economic OutcomesExploring the Sources and Experiences of Joy in Caregiving: Insights From Formal Caregivers in Long-Term CareDescribing Dementia Specialty Care Units in US Nursing Homes: Leveraging National Survey Data From HARBORS and LTCfocus
Date Recorded: April 2, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk: Advocacy in Action | April 2025 with Special Guest William Mercer, MD, CMD

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, share the latest news from the nation’s capital. This month, they are joined by special guest William Mercer, MD, CMD, PALTmed's 2025 Medical Director of the Year, who shares his inspiring journey from practicing medicine in rural West Virginia to becoming a dedicated advocate for long-term care policy in his home state.
Hosts: Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE; Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD
Guest: William Mercer, MD, CMD
Date Recorded: April 2, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda | Staying Survey-Ready: A Medical Director's Guide to Implementing CMS Updates

Host Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD, is joined by Dr. Victoria Walker, MD, CMD, FAAFP, Carolyn Kazdan, MHSA, NHA, BCPA, and Dr. David Siskind, MD, CMD, to discuss the latest CMS surveyor guidance and what it means for medical directors in post-acute and long-term care. They break down key changes, including increased expectations around QAPI, facility assessments, and psychotropic medication oversight, and share practical strategies to stay prepared and support quality resident care.
Note: At the time of this recording, the revised CMS long-term care surveyor guidance was set to take effect on March 24, 2025. However, CMS has since revised the implementation date to April 28, 2025, to allow additional time for training. Be sure to check CMS for the latest updates.
Host: Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD
Guest(s): Carolyn A. Kazdan, MHSA, NHA, BCPA; David H. Siskind, MD, CMD; Victoria Walker, MD, CMD, FAAFP
Resources:Your Role as Medical Director in the Survey Process: Tips for Leading the Team (PALTmed)
Date Recorded: February 24, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming May 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda | Beyond Fee-for-Service: The Clinician’s Role in Value-Based Care

In this episode, host Dr. Diane Sanders-Cepeda is joined by Dr. Steven Buslovich, MD, CMD, MS, for an engaging discussion on value-based care. They explore topics such as aligning care teams, improving patient outcomes, and the challenges of transitioning to value-driven models. With expert insights and practical strategies, they offer actionable steps for navigating the evolving landscape of value-based care, focusing on optimizing care delivery and achieving meaningful outcomes.
Host: Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD
Guest: Steven Buslovich, MD, CMD, MS
Date Recorded: March 3, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming March 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with Caring | Artificial Intelligence, with Special Guest Lisa Lind, PhD, ABPP

In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, and editor-in-chief Dr. Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, discuss the special section on artificial intelligence (AI) in our March/April issue of Caring for the Ages. Special Guest Lisa Lind, PhD, ABPP joins to discuss the potential for AI to alleviate loneliness amongst residents in long-term care settings, cautioning that AI should augment and not replace real human interaction.
Drs. Steinberg and Galik also discuss our cover story on the basics of AI in post-acute and long-term care, as well as Karl's personal experience with AI. 
And finally, congratulations to the winners of our Caring essay competition, whose essays appear in this issue!
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, HMDC, CMD
Guest(s): Lisa Lind, PhD, ABPP; Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP (Editor-in-Chief)
Featured Articles:An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Post-Acute and Long-Term CareCombating Loneliness With Innovation: The Potential of AI for Alleviating Loneliness Among Residents in Long-Term Care SettingsAI in PALTC: Ready or NotThe Treasure ChestMy Complaint About the Chief Complaint
Date Recorded: February 21, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming March 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with Alex Bardakh | Strengthening Advocacy in Long-Term Care

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, share the latest news from the nation’s capital. This month, they are joined by special guest Sue Emmer, founder of I Street Advocates, to explore the power of building relationships in lobbying, the role of advocacy in shaping healthcare policy, and the latest legislative developments affecting PALTC.
Questions? Email Alex at abardakh@paltmed.org.
Hosts: Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE; Timothy Holahan, DO, CMD
Guest: Sue Emmer, JD
Date Recorded: February 26, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming March 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!

PALTtalk with JAMDA | February 2025 with Special Guest Nasir Wabe, PhD, on Over and Underuse of PPIs in Nursing Homes

In this episode, host Dr. Karl Steinberg, MD, HMDC, CMD, and co-editor-in-chief Dr. Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, are joined by Dr. Nasir Wabe, PhD, MScEpid, PGDMLAI, MScClinPharm, BPharm, to explore the latest research in post-acute and long-term care. Topics include the over and underuse of proton pump inhibitors in nursing homes, the impact of physical therapy staffing on resident health outcomes, early findings on the experiences of care aides supporting residents with psychological trauma, and the development of a meaningful engagement assessment for residents with dementia in assisted living. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on advancing care quality and outcomes.
Host: Karl Steinberg, MD, HMDC, CMD
Guest(s): Nasir Wabe, PhD, MScEpid, PGDMLAI, MScClinPharm, BPharm; Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP (Co-Editor-in-Chief, JAMDA)
Featured Articles:Over- and Underuse of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Nursing Homes: A Multisite Longitudinal Cohort StudyNursing Home Staffing Levels and Resident Health Outcomes: Is the Role of the Physical Therapist Undervalued?Experiences of Care Aides Caring for Residents with a History of Psychological Trauma in Long-Term Care Homes (Nursing Homes)—Early FindingsThe Meaningful Engagement Assessment for Residents with Dementia in Assisted Living Settings
Date Recorded: February 21, 2025
Available Credit: CMD credit for select PALTtalk podcast episodes are issued as follows:
Coming March 2025: PALTmed is introducing a convenient new form to submit CMD credits for PALTtalk podcast episodes. Stay tuned!