Opioid tapering can disrupt primary care bond, lead to more ED visits
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 08, 2023
Tapering opioids when patients are receiving long-term drug therapy may trigger a series of unintended consequences, a new study finds.
Medical cannabis may help seniors taper opioids for chronic pain: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
Patients’ daily opioid doses were reduced by up to 51% of baseline 8 months after receiving a medical cannabis prescription, researchers found.
Many LTC pill thefts still under the radar: study
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jan 25, 2023
Nurses played a critical role in identifying the theft of more than 11,000 tablets from residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, investigators report.
Ask the wound expert … about how pain and wound management intersect
By
Fatima Naqvi, MD
Dec 05, 2022
How do pain management and wound care intersect?
Antiepileptic drug prescriptions increasing in nursing homes: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 11, 2022
Clinicians appear to be relying on antiepileptics to address residents’ chronic pain and behavioral symptoms. Other drug prescriptions are meanwhile declining, MDS and Medicare data show.
Opioid crisis has resulted in lower dosages post-surgery for seniors, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 27, 2022
Physicians appear to be reducing opioid doses for seniors after surgery and more frequently prescribing non-opioid painkillers as well.
Also in the News for Tuesday, Sept. 6
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 06, 2022
700 nursing home workers striking at 14 facilities, with threat for additional walkouts … DOJ to state nursing board: Allow nurses with opioid use disorder to take treatment meds while maintaining license...
Staff perceptions, limited resources thwart nursing home care for substance abusers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 02, 2022
A federal push to have skilled nursing providers care for more patients with substance use and opioid use disorders faces major systemic hurdles, researchers reported this week.
Alternatives to antipsychotics can create new dangers, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 01, 2022
Fewer residents with dementia now receive off-label antipsychotic drugs in VA nursing facilities. But overreliance on other behavior-modifying medications has spiked, a new study finds.
Nondrug interventions effective for LTC residents in pain, review finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 19, 2022
Certain nondrug therapies rank nearly as high as painkillers for effectively addressing chronic pain in nursing home residents, according to a new study.