Best practices for antibiotic stewardship & infection control in long-term care
By
Oliver Schacht
Nov 22, 2021
Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week November 18-24, highlighting the importance of appropriate antibiotic use in fighting the threat of drug...
McKnight’s Fall Online Expo offers operational and compliance gold on Sept. 30
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 24, 2021
Looking for an advantage when it comes to data analytics, compliance or infection control? Then you won’t want to miss the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Fall Online Expo on Sept. 30.
Antigen tests just as effective as PCR in preventing COVID outbreaks, NIH study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 02, 2021
A “highly anticipated” study now shows that both testing approaches can give 98% sensitivity when used at least twice weekly in a screening program.
Facing senior care’s ‘new normal’ head-on
By
Fred Bonaccorso
Jun 08, 2021
According to a recent analysis of Medicare fee-for-service claims incurred through May 2020, there has been a distinct decline in the number of routine hospitalizations among beneficiaries — but a steep...
NYC facility halves UTI rate, care costs with ‘practical’ intervention
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Gouverneur Health, a 295-bed skilled nursing facility, brought its average UTI rate to 2.13%, — lower than state and national benchmarks — and reduced its related care costs by 52% from the pre-intervention...
Five-Star surveys: Changed forever?
By
Spencer Blackman
Feb 08, 2021
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unlocked survey ratings for the first time since April, we analysts dove into the numbers expecting big changes. But as an earlier McKnight’s article...
CMS details 5 new scenarios that trigger infection control-focused surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 06, 2021
Multiple weeks with new coronavirus cases or low staffing are among the additional scenarios that will trigger a focused infection control survey at a nursing home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
NIH releases COVID-19 treatment guidelines, warns against drug combo
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 22, 2020
The comprehensive guidelines are posted in a “living document” that will be updated as new information and evidence emerges, the agency announced Tuesday.
Healthcare workers first in line for newly approved at-home coronavirus test
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 21, 2020
Care providers are asked to complete a short eligibility assessment before ordering the FDA-authorized test kit. Self-swabs are mailed back for testing.
Most senior living facilities short on coronavirus-fighting supplies, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2020
More than two-thirds of the nation’s senior living facilities report trouble sourcing equipment, particularly N95 respirators.