CDC guidance on post-vaccination plans at nursing homes could come this week; J&J pause not expected...
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 22, 2021
Federal officials said more infection control and prevention guidance regarding COVID-19 could be coming for nursing homes in the next several days. They also said they don’t expect the pause of Johnson...
‘Audits are back,’ and COVID-19 care is in the hot seat
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 21, 2021
Flexibilities granted to providers during the ongoing public health emergency are likely to result in increased medical reviews and automated denials, a therapy billing specialist is warning.
Nursing homes with early COVID vaccinations less likely to have new COVID cases
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 20, 2021
The early bird gets the worm — and fewer COVID-19 cases. The saying is being applied to certain nursing homes after a new study found that facilities that started the COVID-19 vaccination process earlier...
Ransomware ‘bull’s eye’ grows, clouding telehealth’s rise in long-term care
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 19, 2021
Even as COVID-19 and its emphasis on telehealth have opened providers to greater cybersecurity risks, insurance policies that offer potential protection are becoming more expensive, and in some cases,...
Fears become reality? Surveyor may have exposed residents, staff to COVID-19
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 19, 2021
Provider concerns about surveyors potentially spreading COVID-19 throughout facilities due to a lack of required testing before entering may be justified after a report that a health department employee...
LTC pharmacies pivot after feds call for timeout on J&J COVID vaccine
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 14, 2021
Long-term care pharmacies have stopped using the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and are awaiting further instruction from federal health officials, who recommended the halt while they investigate six...
Long-term care remains in the dark about infection preventionist requirements
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 13, 2021
The need for infection preventionists has never been greater, but 13 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care providers still remain in the dark as to who will fit the federal government’s final...
Pandemic paves way for mobile dentistry, teledentistry in long-term care, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
Mobile dentistry for people with dementia, teledentistry, and vaccines by dentist are some of the opportunities that have arisen from disruptions to residents’ oral healthcare during the pandemic, according...
LTC residents have detectable antibodies 6 months after COVID vaccination
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
All residents tested in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Senior Communities were found to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after full vaccination. The findings are “cautious good news,”...
Untracked COVID: Nursing home workers have died at twice the rate of hospital workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Nursing home care providers have the sad distinction of accounting for a large proportion of healthcare workers’ COVID deaths, according to new 2020 data that was not tracked by the U.S. government....