Coronavirus pandemic declared; masks OK’d in light of equipment shortage
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2020
The World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus as a pandemic Wednesday, with the reported number of cases passing 118,000 worldwide, along with 4,200 deaths. The United States has reported...
Judge denies injunction against healthcare worker vaccine mandate
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 23, 2021
The federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers has survived its first legal challenge, with a federal judge rejecting Florida’s bid to put a temporary restraining order...
SNF occupancy ticks up but is ‘dangerously’ low and threatens long-term survival
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 03, 2020
A slight increase in skilled nursing occupancy between the second and third quarters wasn’t enough to alleviate the financial uncertainty facing the industry as a result of the ongoing public health...
Average skilled nursing resident with COVID took more than 3 weeks to overcome disease
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 19, 2021
Most nursing home residents with COVID-19 were symptomatic for more than three weeks, which prolonged their recovery from the disease, according to a new study conducted by Indiana University researchers.
NHSN changes definition of ‘up to date’ for COVID shots
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 21, 2022
The National Healthcare Safety Network has modified its definition of “up to date” for long-term care facilities submitting their COVID-19 data to the system. Now it includes a booster shot.
How SNF operators can reposition themselves now to ensure post-pandemic success
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 05, 2021
Long-term care operators must accept their new census realities to successfully adapt operations for post-pandemic conditions, according to one expert.
Mandated COVID-19 testing for surveyors, ombudsmen ‘under active consideration’: HHS official
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 06, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service is currently investigating whether it should require surveyors and ombudsmen to be subject to similar COVID-19 testing mandates as nursing home workers, a top...
Providers push back against report that ‘unfairly and inaccurately’ criticized operators’ lobbyists...
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 18, 2020
The nation’s largest nursing home association is pushing back after a major national media outlet criticized the long-term care industry’s lobbying efforts aimed at helping providers survive the public...
Nursing homes now required to test all staff members for COVID-19
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 26, 2020
new regulatory changes were announced Tuesday afternoon by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of an overall effort to identify asymptomatic staff and residents who may be infected and...
Teamwork the solution to COVID’s ‘relentless burden,’ workers say
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 27, 2022
Well-coordinated efforts among colleagues was the key to successfully surviving the COVID-19 pandemic for a group nursing home workers who described the first two years of the pandemic as the most stressful...