Nurses union to FDA: Mask decontamination never should have been OK’d
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 29, 2021
The reuse of N95 respirators and other single-use PPE is unsafe, according to the lead hygienist of National Nurses United. The union is heartened by President Joe Biden’s promise to use the Defense...
AMDA’s new COVID vaccine PowerPoint can help answer resident, staff concerns
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 09, 2020
A toolkit created by industry clinicians aims to help long-term care operators address questions about getting vaccinated. A PowerPoint presentation is available to share with staff and residents.
Nearly three-quarters of facilities in PPE crisis mode
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 04, 2020
A large majority of healthcare facilities are reusing or extending the life of personal protective equipment typically meant for single use, according to a national survey by the Association for Professionals...
Feds mull shortened COVID-19 quarantine period
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 30, 2020
There is “a preponderance of evidence” that a shorter quarantine period, complemented by a COVID-19 test, could effectively prevent transmission of the disease, according to Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant...
Nearly half of nursing home residents with COVID-19 show no symptoms, national study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 21, 2020
A multi-state study in Genesis HealthCare facilities found that more than 40% of nursing home residents with COVID-19 are asymptomatic. Facility-wide testing was more successful in detecting these lurking...
CMS: A quarter of Medicare recipients skipped needed healthcare during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 21, 2020
Fully 21% of beneficiaries have forgone needed healthcare for something other than COVID-19. Nearly half say they did not want to risk being at a medical facility, according to CMS.
Coordinate locally to lower COVID-19 burden, facility study suggests
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 13, 2020
Three Michigan nursing homes worked hand-in-hand with local referral hospitals and labs to successfully contain facility COVID-19 outbreaks.
Stop antigen testing in skilled nursing facilities, Nevada tells operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 09, 2020
Nursing facilities in Nevada have been ordered to stop using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests due to apparent diagnostic inaccuracies. Health officials say they will gather more data before issuing updated...
No BinaxNOW despite ‘red’ zone designation? Contact HHS, federal testing czar says
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 06, 2020
Eldercare facility operators who believe they are qualified but have not yet received shipments of BinaxNOW Ag Card tests for COVID-19 may email the agency at a dedicated address, Adm. Brett Giroir said...
The COVID-19 mitigation strategies of social distancing, face coverings and handwashing not only will help to curb the spread of the coronavirus, they will help to lessen the severity of the upcoming flu...