BREAKING: CMS resumes routine inspections for nursing home providers
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 17, 2020
After nearly five months, federal officials disclosed Monday that they are resuming routine inspections for all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers.
Expert warns: Upcoming flu plus COVID-19 season will be ‘like nothing we’ve seen before’
By
Liza Berger
Aug 17, 2020
This year’s looming flu season, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, is going to present a new range of challenges, one of the leading pharmacy quality experts in the country said late last week.
Emergency funding, staffing have been key factors for provider’s survival during COVID-19
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 17, 2020
On several occasions, the challenge has been different from others for Danny Williams, president and CEO of Eliza Bryant Village in Cleveland. The recurring inquiry he receives? “How is it that a small,...
Taking time to connect and renew — we need it now more than ever
By
Penny Cook
Aug 16, 2020
In 1997, a group of 32 people gathered in Rochester, New York, with a belief that the world of nursing homes should and could be different. They decided to formalize their gathering, named themselves the...
BREAKING: Federal regulators tout $15M in fines, tripling of ‘Immediate Jeopardy’ citations against...
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday afternoon that it has levied more than $15 million in fines and tripled the most severe type of citations to nursing homes during the six months...
Skilled nursing facilities face enforcement challenges in COVID-19 environment
By
Jon Ferry
Aug 12, 2020
Skilled nursing facilities have faced unprecedented challenges since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals with many high-risk characteristics are the typical patients of these facilities....
Thunderstorms linked to spike in respiratory emergencies for Medicare beneficiaries
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 12, 2020
Emergency respiratory care visits increase among older Medicare patients in the days surrounding a thunderstorm, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School.
My job in a COVID-19 hotspot didn’t give me COVID — it gave me PTSD
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 11, 2020
Even a long-term care psychologist can fall prey to the psychological and emotional terrors of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can unfortunately report to you with ironic confidence.
Facing ways to improve PPE long term
By
Jay Baker
Aug 11, 2020
Protecting vulnerable populations, particularly long-term care residents and staff, from viruses and infections is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the fact that not only is there a need for...
Point-of-care testing could be ‘biggest advance’ in COVID-19 fight
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 10, 2020
The federal government’s point-of-care testing program for nursing homes — outside of a future potential vaccine — could be the “biggest advance” of all in the fight against the coronavirus crisis,...