White House message on COVID-19 bivalent booster: ‘Don’t wait’
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 12, 2022
Getting the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster is the single most important thing that older adults can do to protect their health, COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, said during a White...
Providers plea for eased COVID-19 testing requirements
By
Danielle Brown
May 21, 2021
A federal-state COVID-testing conundrum is being tested in New York, drawing the interest of providers nationwide.
Booster clinics set to begin in facilities following CDC sign-off on Pfizer shot
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 27, 2021
Booster shot clinics at long-term care facilities are expected to begin immediately after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday recommended that Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster dose be administered...
‘Urgent hiring initiative’ to combat nursing home worker shortage would pay aides up to $25 per hour
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 22, 2020
The state of Minnesota has launched an “urgent hiring initiative” to help long-term care facilities struggling with staffing amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, top officials announced this week.
Lightening the mood: Provider creates sing-along video to spread COVID-19 safety
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2020
Singing to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” one provider is using a music video to help raise public awareness on how providers can prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities.
The World Health Organization is urging the global community not to panic about a new coronavirus variant discovered in the United Kingdom. There is a good chance that it will respond to vaccines, and...
‘Last thing nursing homes need is COVID-19 and flu at the same time,’ expert warns
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 26, 2020
This year, appeals will be stronger than ever for skilled nursing employee to get the flu vaccine. Many observers are already imploring operators to make flu vaccination mandatory because of potential...
CMS memo: ‘Dramatic staff losses’ not happening due to vax requirements
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 02, 2022
Declaring once again that “Vaccine requirements work,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on Tuesday urged healthcare facility administrators to increase...
COVID vaccine protects elderly; delivery program has buy-in from nearly all U.S. nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 19, 2020
Fully 99% of skilled nursing facilities nationwide have signed on with the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program vaccine delivery initiative, HHS says. The news arrived just as Pfizer...
CMS issues ‘long overdue’ visitation guidelines for nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 25, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services excited the provider community and brought clarity to numerous aspects of restarting visits at nursing homes Wednesday.