Skilled nursing hits pandemic occupancy high but stakeholders still must change, consultant asserts
By
Joe Bush
Nov 08, 2022
Nursing home occupancy continues to rise but rates are still below pre-pandemic levels, indicating it’s time for stakeholders to acknowledge there’s been irreversible change and time to diversify,...
FDA advisers vote unanimously to endorse Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 08, 2022
Independent advisers have voted 21 to 0 to recommend the authorization of Novavax’s COVID-19 protein-based vaccine for pandemic emergency use.
Driven by pandemic lessons, CDC advisers mull endorsing high-dose flu vaccines for seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2022
A decision to recommend high-dose influenza shots over standard-dose vaccines would be a welcome change, long-term care stakeholders say.
Long-term care providers who’ve been flummoxed about recent infection control guidance coming from federal health agencies are not alone.
SNF-linked wound clinics saw fewer patients during pandemic but unchanged outcomes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 10, 2021
Investigators expected that wound outcomes would be adversely affected by pandemic disruptions. But data from hundreds of wound care clinics in the United States show otherwise.
Increases in non-COVID infections ‘wipe out’ decade of progress
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 03, 2021
The CDC’s new report of a spike in healthcare associated infections is alarming, says the nation’s leading infection control group. One bright spot for nursing homes: CDC found no increase in Clostridium...
Pandemic persists in nursing homes with low vax rates; case counts rising, NIC analyst says
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 23, 2021
Half of the U.S. skilled nursing facilities with newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in early August had staff vaccination rates 12% below the national average, new data show. At the same time, overall per-resident...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, May 25
By
Alicia Lasek
May 25, 2021
State ALA argues for continuing the broadened scope of nursing practices after pandemic … Pulmonary rehab not easily accessible for many older adults with COPD … ‘Complete revision’ of body mass...
The pandemic narrative, a tool for mental health
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 27, 2021
Comparisons between April 2020 and April 2021 are surprisingly jolting in some ways. Not until I composed this blog did I fully realize how far we’ve come, regarding pandemic conditions, and life...
Fauci: ‘Pan-viral’ vaccine may be needed to tackle tenacious COVID-19 long-term
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2021
The virus that causes COVID-19 likely is here to stay, and its success in humans means that stronger defense measures will be needed, say Anthony Fauci, M.D., and colleagues from the National Institute...