Feds gauging threat to vaccine, test and treatment efficacy in face of omicron variant
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 01, 2021
The United States is prepared to address any potential threat to the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments posed by the new variant, according to the White House and federal health officials.
Nursing homes, feds hide sky-high antipsychotic use with dubious diagnoses: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
At least one-fifth of nursing home residents are taking the drugs, many for schizophrenia, a diagnosis that has skyrocketed in these settings since 2012, a new investigation finds.
Floor swabs an early warning sign of COVID-19 outbreaks, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2023
A 14-month program in 10 long-term care facilities has found that floor swabs accurately detect a COVID-19 outbreak days before it is identified by staff members.
SNFs kept up ‘remarkable’ level of rehab during pandemic, Harvard study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 06, 2023
Despite caring for a sicker patient population and higher staff turnover, skilled nursing facilities provided post-acute rehabilitation services with only a modest decline in intensity, investigators say.
VA’s narrative medicine program improves senior patient care, docs’ study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2023
Physicians said that the practice of narrative medicine changed how they framed patient decisions and helped them to guide seniors toward appropriate care.
Tweet personal stories to reduce patients’ vaccine hesitancy, study suggests
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 13, 2022
Patients may be more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when clinicians share personal vaccination stories on social media, investigators contend.
Community burden of dementia symptoms mirrors that of nursing homes, caregiver survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 29, 2022
Frequent, unsubtle symptoms have a big impact on patient quality of life, but are often unreported in primary care, investigators report.
Lasting cognitive decline common in older COVID-19 patients: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 14, 2022
One year after hospital discharge, 9% of study participants who survived severe disease had dementia and 26% had mild cognitive impairment — a higher proportion than their uninfected peers, investigators...
Panel on non-invasive ventilation seeks to simplify ‘maze’ of regulation for device coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
Recommendations aimed at expediting CMS coverage determinations for non-invasive ventilation devices could help ensure that LTCF residents and others get quick access to lifesaving treatments.
Medicare costs could rise by $5B annually with expanded Alzheimer’s drug coverage: study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 12, 2023
Medicare costs could rise by $2 to $5 billion a year if CMS expands its coverage for newly approved Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi (lecanemab), investigators say.