Natural gas leak near facility highlights the importance of planning
By
Stan Szpytek
Jul 14, 2021
Incidents like the one that is about to be summarized emphasize the importance of hazard analysis as required by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Emergency Preparedness Rule. Knowing the potential...
Require COVID-19 vaccination of all healthcare workers, seven clinical groups say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2021
Their evidence-based verdict: healthcare institutions and facilities — including long-term care facilities — should require that their personnel be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
Can we now close the book on COVID?
By
T.J. Griffin
Jul 13, 2021
The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program that was forged through a joint agreement with our Defense and Health and Human Services departments was a successful national effort that presided over...
Stay on guard: Vaccinated residents remain susceptible to outbreaks, French nursing home studies reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 13, 2021
Vaccinations and infection control measures may not entirely protect nursing homes from COVID-19 outbreaks — especially when staff members are unvaccinated, according to two new studies from France.
Seniors’ sense of smell weakens, but not their enjoyment of food, researchers find
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 13, 2021
The sense of smell declines with age, but this loss doesn’t happen across the board, a new study shows. The findings may help care providers improve the meals and dining experiences of older adults in...
Trinity Health mandates COVID-19 vaccine for employees, contractors
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jul 13, 2021
Trinity Health has more than 117,000 employees in 22 states. Employees at most locations will be required to submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 21, but some locations will set their own deadlines.
Vaccinated long-term care residents in the clear from COVID-19 — for now
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 12, 2021
Long-term care residents and staff fully vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t need booster shots anytime soon, according to federal health officials.
CDC says COVID-19 vaccine boosters not yet necessary, while Pfizer seeks approval for third dose
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated Americans do not need a COVID-19 booster shot at this time, according to federal health officials. But Pfizer has asked to offer a third dose of its current vaccine and is developing an...
Docs ignore EHR nudges to deprescribe dementia-linked drugs: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 09, 2021
An attempt to encourage reduced use of anticholinergics failed to win the attention of physicians and patients, according to a new study.
After the train
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 08, 2021
There’s a hopeful phrase we started hearing a lot from long-term care leaders, residents and staff when the vaccines first arrived—“a light at the end of the tunnel.” Invariably some wise-guy or...