More antibiotics didn’t prevent joint replacement infections, trial reveals
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 19, 2023
Doctors typically give the antibiotic cefazolin to people who have knee and hip replacements in order to prevent infection. Some physicians have debated if adding another antibiotic — vancomycin — ...
Americans not sure about hearing loss effects, how to access to OTC hearing aids, survey finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 19, 2023
It’s been one year since hearing aids became available over-the-counter in the United States. Even though the devices are widely accessible, for the most part, it doesn’t seem like many Americans understand...
Parkinson says proposed staffing mandate a ‘death sentence’ for rural nursing homes, offers answers
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2023
Long-term care industry advocates pulled no punches Wednesday when asked at a Sanford Health summit about likely outcomes facing rural operators if CMS’s proposed minimum staffing mandate becomes...
Certain populations to receive Paxlovid free through 2024, under new agreement
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 17, 2023
Paxlovid, an oral drug that treats COVID-19, will begin to enter the commercial market starting next month. At the same time, the US federal government is making sure that the country has enough supply,...
Adding rasagiline to treatment regimen may help those with Parkinson’s, study finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 16, 2023
A recent study finds that the addition of rasagiline (marketed as Azilect) to the treatment regimen of individuals with Parkinson’s disease significantly enhances clinical outcomes.
Nurse aide association calls on feds to raise proposed staffing rule from 3.0 hours per day to 4.2 hours
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 16, 2023
A trade group representing certified nursing assistants wants federal officials to increase the number of direct care hours proposed under a mandatory staffing rule by 40%.
40 percent of older adults have doubts about stopping medications, study says
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 12, 2023
A new survey study sheds light on the attitudes of older adults who disagree with deprescribing recommendations. Nearly half of the people 65 and older who were surveyed said they had doubts about discontinuing...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 11
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 11, 2023
Nursing home turnover linked to poor health, safety … Mupirocin can combat Staph in critically ill people … Intervention lowers catheter-linked UTIs at hospital … Healthcare workers use EHRs differently...
Even with its own float pool, this provider is flooded with open nursing positions
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 11, 2023
A Pennsylvania nonprofit long-term care provider recently showed its ingenuity by creating an internal staffing agency, or float pool, to cope with staffing shortages and high temporary agency costs. But...
Medical marijuana lawsuit highlights provider trap as laws clash
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 11, 2023
A new case challenging an applicant’s dismissal due to medical marijuana use is raising concerns about what kind of legal protection job seekers and facilities have — especially amid a national nursing...