Long-term care remains in the dark about infection preventionist requirements
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 13, 2021
The need for infection preventionists has never been greater, but 13 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care providers still remain in the dark as to who will fit the federal government’s final...
FDA says it’s time to move away from mask reuse
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 13, 2021
Healthcare facilities should move away from decontaminating and reusing disposable masks now that U.S. respirator supply has recovered, the agency says.
Pandemic paves way for mobile dentistry, teledentistry in long-term care, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
Mobile dentistry for people with dementia, teledentistry, and vaccines by dentist are some of the opportunities that have arisen from disruptions to residents’ oral healthcare during the pandemic, according...
LTC residents have detectable antibodies 6 months after COVID vaccination
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
All residents tested in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Senior Communities were found to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after full vaccination. The findings are “cautious good news,”...
Senior living community adds post-COVID ‘rehab hotel’ recovery program
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2021
A New Jersey-based senior living provider has dedicated rooms in assisted living to care for people who have ongoing medical issues after a bout with COVID-19.
CMS ends COVID blanket waivers for resident transfers and discharges, roommate changes
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2021
Providers must resume giving advance notice about resident transfers, discharges, and room and roommate changes after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ended emergency blanket waivers for the...
Nursing home COVID cases jump 635% despite vaccinations, and state’s elective surgeries slow down
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2021
Michigan providers are on high alert following a huge, unexpected surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths at facilities despite a vaccination program in full force.
Up next: CMS moves to mandate staff vaccination reporting during COVID-19
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 09, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is proposing a new quality measure for skilled nursing facilities to track COVID-19 vaccination coverage among its workers.
Untracked COVID: Nursing home workers have died at twice the rate of hospital workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Nursing home care providers have the sad distinction of accounting for a large proportion of healthcare workers’ COVID deaths, according to new 2020 data that was not tracked by the U.S. government....
One more reason to avoid virus: COVID, cardiac arrests spike together
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Many major cities had unprecedented increases in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests when COVID-19 rates spiked, infectious disease experts have found. These heart attacks may be an early symptom or complication...