CMS push for staff hours, turnover data a ‘gut punch,’ to struggling nursing homes
By
Amy Novotney
Jan 13, 2022
Industry reaction has been mixed since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcement last week that it will begin posting nursing home staff turnover rates and weekend staffing levels on the...
Volunteer staffing initiative supports COVID antibody infusions in long-term care
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 04, 2021
A coalition representing LTC facilities has announced a new initiative to connect LTC operators to Medical Reserve Corps volunteers for help in administering monoclonal antibody infusions to residents...
U.S. may reduce 10-day isolation period in bid to keep healthcare workers on the job
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 22, 2021
Healthcare facilities will need all hands on deck to respond to expected COVID-19 surges, and a shortened isolation period for those who test positive but are symptomless and fully vaccinated could help,...
Nursing home staffing, aide hours linked to COVID-19 outcomes
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 11, 2020
Lower staffing could be a key indicator for how well nursing homes fare during the coronavirus pandemic, new research suggests.
CDC to fund LTC infection control strike teams nationwide starting in October
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
The initiative will allow states and other U.S. jurisdictions to “staff, train and deploy” strike teams to help long-term care operations with known or suspected COVID-19 infections, CDC says.
Program reduces missed workdays for COVID-exposed healthcare staff
Mar 24, 2022
Overall, 92% of workers successfully returned to work about 2 days early relative to a standard 10-day quarantine. This saved hundreds of work days over a six-month period, researchers reported.
CMS eases restrictions for physicians in long-term care facilities
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2020
In-person visit requirements have been lifted along with restrictions on delegating tasks to nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.
Just 1% of nursing homes are fully staffed
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 23, 2021
Just 1% of nursing homes throughout the United States say they are currently fully staffed, according to a new survey by the AHCA/NCAL.
To quarantine or not? CDC’s post-vaccine guidance for exposed workers gives nod to staff shortages
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated individuals may now skip quarantine after exposure to an infected person. But that doesn’t go for healthcare workers in facility settings — except as a last option.
COVID-19 roundup: Ventilator use questioned, staff immunity testing, meds shortages and more…
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2020
Ventilation may be harmful for certain COVID-19 patients, say some critical care doctors. Plus: immunity testing may help staff return to work.