Vigilance and an emergency plan may help nursing homes forestall future coronavirus infections
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 21, 2020
The coronavirus will pose risks for the foreseeable future, but careful planning will make a cluster infection or outbreak less likely, says a leading geriatrician.
Adapt palliative care to meet needs of COVID-19 patients, say experts
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 21, 2020
Emergency-style palliative care is necessary to meet the needs of COVID-19 patients who won’t benefit from a ventilator, say specialist researchers.
Clinical Briefs for Wednesday, April 22
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 21, 2020
Airborne COVID-19 transmission via ventilation systems merits closer scrutiny, scientists argue … Acute kidney injury in COVID-19 is an emerging hospital resource problem … CMS to release first race,...
8 reasons why, despite COVID-19, I’m still glad to work in long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 21, 2020
Despite distressing times of late do to COVID-19, there are many reasons I continue to don my PPE to sit at the bedsides of those in need of emotional solace. Here are eight of them — I think you’ll...
Providers to report COVID infections in 12 hours or face $1k fines, CMS says
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 21, 2020
Nursing homes will face fines of “at least” $1,000 per week for not reporting COVID-19 infections within 12 hours of learning about them, federal regulators said Monday.
Expert expects DOJ to ramp up nursing home enforcement efforts after pandemic
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 21, 2020
Providers shouldn’t assume that federal authorities will slow down enforcement efforts in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, they should expect authorities to “step up” enforcement...
CMS to release first race, outcomes data related to COVID-19 in May
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 21, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will release coronavirus data regarding race and ethnicity and outcomes in early May, according to Administrator Seema Verma.
COVID-19 driving up scripts for anti-anxiety, depression and insomnia medications
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 20, 2020
Anti-anxiety drug use, for one, spiked 34% in February and March, according to a new report. Prescriptions had fallen in the years prior to the pandemic.
New CMS guidance dictates nursing homes must report COVID-19 cases to CDC, residents and families
By
Liza Berger
Apr 20, 2020
In new but anticipated guidance released Sunday night, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is requiring nursing homes to report any COVID-19 cases directly to the Centers for Disease Control and...
Visits to nursing homes would be barred until final phase under Trump’s reopen plan
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 20, 2020
On Sunday, as part of phase 1 of the administration’s new guidelines for Opening Up America Again, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommended reopening healthcare facilities to provide...