Pandemic reveals opportunities to improve indoor environment for residents, staff, experts say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jul 20, 2022
Indoor air quality is one of the most significant factors in creating a healthy environment in senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities, according to panelists on a McKnight’s Online...
Portable air purifiers improve cardiovascular health in COPD, researchers find
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 06, 2022
Participants who used air purifiers with active HEPA and carbon filters had improved markers of heart health. This included a 25% increase in heart rate variability, investigators say.
Nearby ED means more avoidable visits from AL residents, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 12, 2023
The closer the nearest hospital, the higher the number of potentially avoidable emergency department visits among assisted living residents, researchers have found. A nearby ED may limit motivation to...
Feds ramp up nursing home sanctions for poor care performance
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 24, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will more aggressively enforce accountability in its Special Focus Facilities (SFF) Program, the Biden Administration said Friday.
FDA to withdraw certain drug-related guidances with end of PHE
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 14, 2023
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice detailing which COVID-19-related guidances will expire when the public health emergency ends as scheduled on May 11, and which guidances will remain...
Oral zinc reduces severe COVID in nearly 40% of patients, study finds
Nov 08, 2022
Patients who took oral zinc twice daily for 15 days had a 42% reduced likelihood of death and intensive care unit admission, a randomized controlled trial has found.
Congress advisers back permanent telehealth expansions, look to nix in-person rule for behavioral telehealth...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 12, 2024
Maintaining Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services, especially for behavioral health, must remain an initial priority over payment reform or quality measurement, members of a congressional...
CDC’s refreshed COVID guidance zeros in on the vulnerable
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 15, 2022
While easing its public guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is emphasizing a continued focus on protecting at-risk individuals, including the elderly and ill, from infection and poor...
APIC urges healthcare workers to continue masking despite CDC pullback
By
Joe Bush
Oct 04, 2022
A major association for infection prevention professionals is strongly urging its members to continue masking in patient care areas even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosened its...
CDC director calls for agency’s overhaul, citing pandemic performance
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 17, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will reorganize, with a new, action-oriented culture that better serves public health, Director Rochelle Walensky told her staff Wednesday.