FDA expands use of remdesivir to skilled nursing, other non-hospital settings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2022
Remdesivir, the first FDA-approved COVID-19 drug, now can be used in adult and pediatric patients with mild-to moderate COVID-19 illness at high risk of progressing to severe disease, the agency has announced.
Pharmacists poised to continue transition into direct care roles, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2022
Pharmacists will continue to move into central roles in healthcare, including chronic disease management in the adult patient population, the authors say.
AARP calls on nursing homes to require COVID-19 boosters for residents, staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 21, 2022
COVID-19 infections are at an all-time high among residents and staff and resident death rates are rising. Now is the time to “get shots in arms,” AARP leaders urged operators.
Report: Nearly 80 percent of U.S. workers want employers to encourage or require vax for in-person staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 20, 2022
U.S. workers have been rattled by the omicron surge and most are looking to their employer to stay fully engaged in COVID-19 precautions, analysts say.
Psychiatrists create telemedicine best practices for managing psychosis in LTC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
Properly managed telepsychiatry may ease the challenges of care for nursing home residents with psychosis, and possibly help some facility operators to expand their care offerings, an expert panel says.
One in 10 may have active virus after 10-day quarantine: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
Fully 13% of study participants had clinically relevant levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus after 10 days. The findings may be particularly concerning for vulnerable populations such as nursing facility residents,...
Becerra orders CMS to rethink $22 Medicare Part B premium price hike tied to Aduhelm
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2022
With the 50% price drop of Aduhelm on January 1, there is good reason for CMS to reassess a hefty proposed premium hike for 2022, the U.S. health secretary said. On Wednesday, CMS is expected to announce...
Risk of COVID-19 death rare in vaccinated, even among at-risk seniors with comorbidities: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 10, 2022
Investigators drew on data from 1.2 million U.S. patients who completed a primary vaccination series by October 2021. Severe COVID-19 outcomes, including respiratory failure, ICU admission, or death, were...
RSV disrupts daily functioning of older adults, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
Interviews revealed a range of impacts from respiratory syncytial virus, a common scourge of LTC facilities.
Clinical briefs for Friday, Jan. 7
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
Nurses’ unions ask federal court to intervene with OSHA protections for healthcare workers … Omicron may be less severe in older patients, but not “mild,” WHO reports … Feds have no plans to...