Given the risk of infection and transmission, skilled nursing facilities have enacted restricted visitor policies during the pandemic. As a result, family caregivers and external clinicians such as therapists,...
Feds moving on records access enforcement
By
David Barmak, J.D.
Feb 08, 2021
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights continues to carefully move forward to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s Right...
A case study in COVID-19 criminality
By
Christy Tosh Crider
Joy Boyd Longnecker
Feb 04, 2021
COVID-19 hit Holyoke Soldiers’ Home last March, when most of us were just learning the term “social distancing” and had no awareness of asymptomatic positives. While the global medical...
Behavioral telemedicine can improve geriatric mental health
By
Sherie L. Friedrich, PsyD
Feb 02, 2021
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, skilled-nursing facilities have focused – rightly so – almost entirely on infection control and maintaining the health and safety of residents and staff....
Build ‘adaptive response profiles’ to face future crises
By
Lindsey Poeth
Jan 28, 2021
Managing any organization on a day-to-day basis can present an array of challenges, and those challenges magnify in the face of a crisis, especially in a long-term care setting. A leader’s effectiveness...
Reduce number of healthcare providers to limit infection
By
Michael Mayrsohn
Jan 26, 2021
Containing the spread of infection has always been a top priority in long-term care. COVID-19 simply increased awareness of the need for strict adherence to prevailing protocols, as well as new guidelines...
Effective communication key to improving care coordination during transitions
By
Bevey Miner
Jan 21, 2021
While electronic health records systems are ubiquitous in primary, acute and specialty care settings, long-term care facilities are still lagging in adoption. The biggest reason for the disparity in adoption...
While waiting for the vaccine cavalry, add to your army of disinfection tools
By
Robert Kravitz
Jan 19, 2021
As we reexamine safety protocols to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care, one building system getting a closer look is ventilation. Some LTC facilities managers now realize that the air filtration...
Is the clock ticking on faxed orders?
By
Nicholas Magers, R.D.
Jan 15, 2021
After two years spent developing and launching a service to assist prescribers and long-term care pharmacies complete controlled substance orders using a mobile device, I was surprised to hear the response,...
What is your 2021 resident engagement resolution?
By
Jenn Taylor
Charles de Vilmorin
Jan 13, 2021
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was the most challenging year in the history of the senior living industry. Health and safety has been the main focus of leaders as they grapple with the deadly...