Feds weigh withholding Medicare funding for LTCFs that don’t mandate vaccines … Physicians report 20% increase in burnout, new survey finds … Treatment of tenacious stomach bug that troubles elderly...
Slow recovery from illness may reflect pandemic-related stress: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 07, 2022
The pandemic itself, including related stress, may be contributing to slow recoveries after COVID and non-COVID illnesses alike, investigators say.
Unexpected physician deaths swelled during pandemic — until vaccines arrived
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 09, 2023
Tragically, physicians have experienced high mortality linked to COVID-19 early in the pandemic. But mitigation measures and vaccination appear to have reduced deadly infections in this provider group,...
Extra sleep reduces healthcare workers’ COVID risk; burnout has opposite effect
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 24, 2021
One hour longer sleep duration at night is linked to 12% lower odds of contracting COVID-19. And workers who report feeling burned out every day are more likely to become infected and have longer symptom...
COVID test turnaround time tops 2 days for a third of nursing homes, data show
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 13, 2020
Among 13,000 facilities that provided their testing speed to the government, only 17% reported an average turnaround time of less than a day; and fully 29% waited three days or more on average for residents’...
CDC may be overestimating COVID-19 vaccination stats for older adults, state officials and experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 13, 2021
The agency’s online tracker currently shows that 99.9% of U.S. seniors have been at least partly vaccinated against COVID-19. But this sky-high figure is almost certainly not accurate, observers...
Study highlights nurses’ sleep challenges during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 28, 2022
Nurses have lost a lot of sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sleep problems are closely tied to mental health issues that can affect well-being, a new investigation finds.
Multiple jobs held by nurses, direct care workers tied to coronavirus transmission
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 09, 2020
Many healthcare workers with secondary jobs move across health settings, and 15% of second jobs for personal care and nursing aides are in other essential occupations, investigators say.
CMS: Lower COVID rates linked to higher nursing home quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2021
Higher facility star ratings are tied to lower COVID transmission rates and fewer deaths, according to the agency’s chief medical officer and director of its Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.
Staff and residents differ in willingness to be vaccinated
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 04, 2021
There is a distinct contrast between the numbers of long-term care staff members and residents willing to receive the first round of COVID-19 vaccines, industry observers report. Education is key to supporting...