State testing residents’ immunity levels before COVID-19 boosters roll out
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 31, 2021
Maryland health officials have launched a program to test the antibody levels of 500 nursing home residents and determine how many seniors are in need of COVID-19 booster shots.
The reopening dilemma
By
Liza Berger
May 20, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday issued new guidance on when nursing homes should be open to visitors. Among the criteria: testing of residents and staff to make sure COVID-19 is...
SavaSeniorCare expands physician partnership program after initial success against COVID
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 30, 2020
SavaSeniorCare was able to successfully recover more than 1,000 residents with COVID-19 after teaming up with a physician group to launch a pilot program at about a dozen facilities when the pandemic first...
A common diabetes medication may lower mortality risk among nursing home residents with COVID-19
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 01, 2020
A study involving hundreds of Veterans Affairs patients shows a link between the diabetes drug metformin and a lower risk of death from COVID-19.
Location tracking reveals how COVID-19 may spread between nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
Tracking de-identified smartphone movement between nursing homes confirms that shared staff is a likely source of COVID-19 transmission, investigators say.
Read my lips: virus may spread through speech
By
Alicia Lasek
May 14, 2020
Speaking in a confined environment can cause airborne virus transmission, likely helping to spread the coronavirus, according to new research.
Providers push Congress for permanent telehealth capabilities — pandemic’s ‘silver lining’
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2021
Long-term care stakeholders are looking forward to telehealth policies remaining a “very, very hot topic” in Congress during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and beyond. Service providers say...
Proposed Provider Relief Fund infusion would deliver just one-third of industry ask
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 08, 2021
The Provider Relief Fund would receive an additional $35 billion under the latest coronavirus relief package proposal. That amount is a far cry from the $100 billion pledge that providers called for from...
I don’t want to turn back the clock
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Oct 28, 2020
This weekend we’re supposed to turn the clocks back an hour? Um, NO!
With new CDC guidance, providers duck ‘up-to-date’ vaccination concerns
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 27, 2022
While masking and screening of nursing home workers and visitors may no longer be required in areas with lower COVID-19 transmission rates, vaccination and testing efforts will be crucial if providers...