‘They heard us’: Partner program to allow fast LTC access to federal stock of COVID-19 drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 04, 2022
The federal Long-Term Care Partner Program aims to quickly get time-sensitive COVID-19 treatments to facilities when an outbreak occurs. The first drug available via the portal will be molnupiravir, followed...
AMDA aims for 25 percent meds reduction in data-sharing deprescribing campaign
By
Alicia Lasek
May 06, 2021
AMDA is challenging industry clinicians and operators to join a push to reduce polypharmacy. Prescribing data will be collected and overall trends analyzed and shared with participants.
New treatment, prevention toolkit for clinicians addresses ‘tripledemic’
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 15, 2022
Five medical societies have created a toolkit designed to help clinicians increase the effectiveness, accessibility and awareness of oral antiviral therapeutics and COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Third COVID shots ready for LTC by Sept. 20; vaccine efficacy declines in nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 19, 2021
The U.S. government is prepared to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans beginning on Sept. 20, including direct delivery to long-term care facility residents, officials announced Wednesday.
Advance care planning rose dramatically among minorities through intervention, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 25, 2022
Older patients were more likely to record their end-of-life care wishes when they watched educational videos and received clinical counsel during the pandemic, a new study finds. Documentation among Black...
Shorten antibiotic course for these common infections: American College of Physicians
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 07, 2021
Several common bacterial infections can be treated effectively with shorter courses of antibiotics than traditionally prescribed, according to new guidance from the ACP.
Two new drugs show promise for hard-to-treat breast, prostate cancers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Cancer drug Lynparza (olaparib) reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death in certain aggressive breast cancers by 42% after surgery, while a new prostate cancer treatment improved survival by tracking...
HHS: Vaccines linked to 5,600 fewer coronavirus deaths among nursing home residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 06, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has resulted in hundreds of thousands of saved lives and fewer hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries overall, according to new data from January through May.
Docs push for new COVID-19 funding as signs point to rebound in U.S. omicron cases
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2022
The alternative is to risk leaving patients without access to needed vaccines, treatments and testing, the American College of Physicians has told Congress.
With education and a doc’s OK, most seniors agree to deprescribe unneeded meds: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 10, 2023
Seniors are willing to take their doctor’s advice to discontinue an unneeded medication after viewing an educational video, investigators say.