Healthcare workers, elderly take priority as new COVID-19 test sites deployed this week
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2020
Thousands will gain access to new, high-capacity testing sites in the coming days, and certain groups will have priority status, say federal officials.
Psychiatrists create telemedicine best practices for managing psychosis in LTC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
Properly managed telepsychiatry may ease the challenges of care for nursing home residents with psychosis, and possibly help some facility operators to expand their care offerings, an expert panel says.
FDA moves to discard hearing aid prescription rule in favor of OTC devices
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 20, 2021
Adults with mild to moderate hearing loss would be able to obtain certain air-conduction hearing aids without a prescription under a new proposed rule. Whether this change would benefit long-term care...
Genesis facilities resolve allegations in connection with denying admission to opioid-dependent seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 09, 2021
Prospective residents were taking either buprenorphine or methadone for opioid use disorder. Twelve SNFs must pay civil penalties, adopt non-discrimination policy and provide training on civil rights laws...
Eye drop corrects late-life vision loss in trial; Allergan reports patients’ feedback
By
Alicia Lasek
May 10, 2021
Trial participants reported significant near-vision improvements under low-light conditions — without losing distance vision, reports Allergan, which is seeking FDA approval for the drug.
‘Physicians need to think of COVID-19 as a multisystem disease’
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2020
A review of COVID-19’s effects on human organs shows that a substantial proportion of patients suffer kidney, heart, and brain damage.
Many high-risk seniors don’t plan to get a flu vaccine this season: poll
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 26, 2019
Over half of U.S. adults don’t plan to get the flu vaccine this season. And one quarter of those adults are at high risk of serious flu complications.
‘Silent’ heart attack proves to be new stroke risk factor for older adults, experts find
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Symptomless heart attacks may pose the same risk of stroke as a chest-crushing event, and are more common in people 65 and older, according to a new study to be presented at the upcoming American Stroke...
Thanksgiving comfort: Phone calls, emails work best to reduce residents’ loneliness, boost spirits
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 24, 2020
According to the Yale School of Public Health, regular phone calls or emails may provide the most solace for people living in long-term care facilities. This includes remote calls, and phone calls while...
CDC loosens controversial opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic pain
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 14, 2022
Draft revisions no longer include specific dosage ceilings. This and other changes address controversial elements of the older guidance and highlight clinicians’ roles in opioid prescribing decisions.