Retail giants wrap up vaccine clinics, launch new LTC services for ongoing care
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 23, 2021
CVS Health and Walgreens have completed their final LTC clinics, and are handing the reins to Omnicare and PharMerica to provide ongoing COVID-19 vaccination services in skilled nursing facilities and...
VA will not add Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm to its formulary
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 12, 2021
The Department of Veterans Affairs has chosen not to include aducanumab (Aduhelm) in its national list of covered drugs, citing risk of adverse events and lack of evidence of positive impact on cognition,...
COVID-19 antiviral drug trials expected to wrap up within months: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 27, 2021
Clinical trials for new COVID-19 antiviral drugs are expected to wrap up by winter, sparking hopes that a daily pill to treat COVID-19 infection is closer to fruition, according to a new report.
Remdesivir cuts risk of severe COVID-19 by 87 percent in non-hospitalized patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 21, 2022
The results suggest that remdesivir (brand name Veklury) could be used to treat outpatients early in the disease course, researchers say. The drug currently is authorized for use only in hospitalized COVID-19...
Brief training for LTC nurses leads to 6 months of reduced psychotropics use
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
Wards with trained nurses showed a significant reduction in psychotropic drug use and drug costs. Maintenance strategies may be needed, however, as the improvements had waned by 12 months, researchers...
GI symptoms found in nearly half of patients with COVID-19, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 19, 2020
Gastrointestinal symptoms are more common than originally thought. Waiting for respiratory signs can lead to delayed treatment, say investigators.
Could marijuana be an effective alternative to pain and sleep medications?
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 02, 2019
Greater access to medical cannabis could cut use of prescription painkillers and sleep medication, researchers say.
WHO: Antibody treatment most beneficial for seniors, the unvaccinated, and immunocompromised
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 27, 2021
The World Health Organization’s new guidance for using the REGEN-COV monoclonal antibody cocktail to treat COVID-19 covers a narrower group of patients than those included in the FDA’s updated...
Large numbers of Americans with chronic kidney disease have uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes. A national response is needed, researchers say, and a White House initiative may be a start.
Dementia signs, symptoms may be different for Latinos, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2021
Cultural practices and disease processes may explain why Latino adults with dementia experience faster functional decline and higher rates of depression and anxiety, investigators say.