Nursing facility staff levels are drawing increased attention lately, spurring discussion about the connection between staffing levels and the quality of care, services and support received by residents.

A Center for Medicare Advocacy analysis has found that although most nursing facilities in the U.S. do not have sufficient staff to provide residents with necessary care, the federal enforcement system cites very few facilities with staffing deficiencies and often does not impose any financial penalties even when it finds that a facility has insufficient staff.

A recently released Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finds that one third of skilled nursing home residents are being harmed, and in some cases dying, as a result "adverse or temporary harm events," which are instances where harm results due either to the care provided by the
facility or care that was not provided when needed. Read more.