Six states join coronavirus test-purchasing compact; VA tries statewide COVID app
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 06, 2020
The governors of six states, including Republicans and Democrats, have formed an interstate compact to negotiate the purchase of 3 million COVID-19 antigen tests.
Federal stockpile of masks, gloves and gowns nearly gone
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that about 90% of federally held PPE has been distributed to state and local governments.
Social isolation linked to greater COVID-19 rates in elders: Italian study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 21, 2020
Regions with a higher number of nursing facility beds and fewer household members are tied to more COVID-19 cases in people over age 80.
Losing smell and taste signals COVID-19 infection with high recovery likelihood: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 13, 2020
Patients with smell and taste loss are more than 10 times more likely to have a COVID-19 infection than another virus, report researchers.
HHS halts Eli Lilly’s single-drug COVID antibody treatment in U.S.; dual-drug alternative remains in...
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 26, 2021
U.S. distribution of an infusion treatment using bamlanivimab only has been halted due to virus variant concerns, but an alternative antibody cocktail from the drugmaker can still be ordered, according...
Bi-monthly virtual conference to share COVID-19 best practices
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 26, 2020
The Green House Project will convene long-term care experts to share “proven protocols and lessons learned.” Participants will have a chance to receive feedback regarding their own cases and questions.
Quit treating pandemic’s toll on nursing homes like a ‘bad apples’ problem, expert...
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 14, 2020
It’s time for the federal government to “own” the problem of containing COVID-19 by paying for and arranging testing across nursing facilities, long-term care policy expert David Grabowski...
Dementia mortality skyrockets since lockdowns; CMS loosens visitor restrictions
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 18, 2020
An excessive number of deaths due to dementia have occurred since shelter-in-place orders went into effect this spring, a new analysis finds. Meanwhile, CMS has proposed a framework for nursing homes...
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,”...
Post-acute care after COVID-19: What to expect
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2020
While there are many unknowns about coronavirus survivors’ future healthcare needs, a discharge model reveals what post-acute providers might soon be dealing with.