CDC: Prior infection plus vaccination tied to lower COVID-19 case rates
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 20, 2022
A new public health study suggests not only that vaccination protects against developing severe illness, but that surviving a bout with COVID-19 prevents reinfection, investigators say.
Fauci: Early data show omicron spreads quickly but with less severity than delta
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 08, 2021
Omicron cases appear to have led to fewer hospitalizations and patients have been less likely to need oxygen, the White House’s infectious disease expert said Tuesday.
New dashboard to track ‘Long COVID’ cases for healthcare planning
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 25, 2021
The dashboard will track state and county level statistics and trends. The goal is to provide data to healthcare decision makers as they prepare to care for patients with lingering symptoms, says the American...
All nursing home staff in Massachusetts must get COVID-19 shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 05, 2021
The state is requiring staff and contract employees in all of its 378 facilities to receive a vaccination, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
Providers tell CMS it’s ‘decidedly’ the wrong time to toy with PDPM rates
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 03, 2021
Providers need more time before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would implement any adjustments to PDPM payment rates, operators and associations have told the agency in official comments.
LTC vaccinators opt to briefly halt J&J shots while awaiting FDA guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 14, 2021
Long-term care pharmacies and clinicians have temporarily paused their use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine following recommendations from health officials. Guidance is needed quickly in order to...
Staff buy-in key to reducing ED visits with telemedicine, senior living study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 23, 2021
An attempt to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits with telemedicine triage failed when senior living healthcare providers were not on board. The findings contain lessons for for clinicians and...
Makers of newer vaccines tout advantages as trial results and approvals announced
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2021
Two drugmakers say their vaccines, which include J&J’s one-dose candidate, are effective against new coronavirus variants, while AstraZeneca’s vaccine is now approved for adults across the...
CVS: Independent living residents will continue to wait for COVID-19 vaccination
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 06, 2021
Independent living residents, even those who live in CCRCs, will have to continue to wait for COVID-19 vaccination, according to one of the retail giants administering the vaccines in long-term care.