Safety means ‘seeing the virus’: Atria recounts rollout of 18,000 tests early in pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
Finding a way to conduct COVID-19 testing among 31,000 residents and staff members across multiple states helped the senior living giant to “seal out” outbreaks and show that its communities were safe...
Antipsychotic reduction in LTC leads to drug substitutions, more delusions diagnoses
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2022
Antipsychotic reduction in long-term care facilities likely results in significant unintended fallout, new data from Canada show. The results mirror those of similar studies in the United States, with...
PharMerica: Walgreens’ federal partnership will help ease COVID vaccine delivery to long-term care...
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 28, 2020
Some long-term care stakeholders might question parts of the new federal-private partnership that ultimately will offer COVID-19 vaccination materials to every certified nursing home in the nation.
LTC pharmacies seek key role in COVID vaccine distribution
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 27, 2020
Long-term care pharmacies now have a voice in federal decisions about COVID vaccine delivery to nursing homes and assisted living communities, says the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
FDA OKs new insulin biosimilar for type 2 diabetes
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 30, 2021
Semglee is a safe and more cost-effective alternative to the drug Lantus (insulin glargine), the agency announced Wednesday. Semglee does not need a prescriber’s input to be substituted at the pharmacy.
Hot water therapy boosts function in those with peripheral arterial disease
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 12, 2019
Hot water therapy works just as well as supervised exercise to improve blood flow and functional walking ability in those with peripheral arterial disease, say New Zealand researchers.
Omicron remains lethal in the older and unvaccinated, former CDC chief warns
Mar 23, 2022
The next wave of COVID-19 is on its way and unvaccinated elders are at risk of being hit hard, according to former CDC director Tom Frieden, M.D. “If we learn quickly and act quickly, we can outmaneuver...
Only 4 states have hit 75 percent LTC staff vaccination goal, new CMS data reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 30, 2021
States that have achieved the industry’s June 30 goal are Hawaii, Vermont, Alaska and California, with staff member vaccination rates ranging from 83% to 75%. By contrast, the lowest-ranked state...
Town hall meetings reveal vaccine misinformation ‘widespread’ among SNF staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 29, 2021
“Outspoken” staff members from 50 skilled nursing facilities shared their vaccine concerns with investigators in a series of meetings this winter. The speed of vaccine development and infertility-...
CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...