Skilled nursing facility guidance part of Arizona’s revised crisis care plan
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2021
The revisions include guidance on honoring care and treatment preferences in federal skilled nursing facilities. The changes follow a complaint against the state brought by national and local disability...
Feds uncover coronavirus’s heavy toll on assisted living
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 20, 2020
As of Oct. 15, 22% of assisted living communities in 39 states reported cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff members. Rates ranged widely, from 1.3% of communities in Iowa to 93% of Connecticut...
It’s official: Community pharmacies partner with feds for COVID vaccine distribution
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2020
Future vaccines will be available to community pharmacies through partnerships with network
administrators, HHS has announced. The public-private collaboration will help cover expected distribution gaps,...
Feds spending billions to prepare for more complex flu season
Jul 15, 2009
In light of the continued spread of the H1N1 virus and the approaching 2009-2010 flu season, the Department of Health and Human Services has announced the allocation of billions of dollars in influenza...
House report attacks, nursing homes fight back over allegations of deficient staffing, care and safe...
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 22, 2022
Congressional investigators pinned for-profit skilled nursing operators into a corner Wednesday, releasing a scathing report describing “dire” conditions caused by alleged lack of preparation and mismanagement...
Emergency sick days may have helped flatten the U.S. COVID curve
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
States that gained access to emergency paid sick leave during the pandemic saw 400 fewer COVID-19 cases per day, a new study has found.
CDC: Prepare for COVID cases to rise in elders when young adult infections surge
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2020
In hotspot counties, surges in COVID infections begin in younger adults, followed by “several weeks” of increases in older age groups, agency investigators have found.
Flu season may be ‘devastating,’ officials warn
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2020
“The real risk is that we’re going to have two circulating respiratory pathogens at the same time,” says CDC director Robert Redfield, M.D.
CDC: Portable air cleaners cut exposure to COVID-19 virus by 65 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
In a simulated meeting with infected and uninfected participants, properly placed portable air cleaners with HEPA air filters slashed virus transmission. Adding masks was even more effective — cutting...
Wearers of medical masks and respirators have same infection rates in healthcare settings: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
The risk of receiving a positive COVID-19 test result was the same among healthcare workers who wore either type of mask, investigators say. In contrast, their non-mask-wearing colleagues had significantly...