‘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.
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.
‘Already skeptical’ nursing home workers may need persuading after J&J shots resume, industry leaders...
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 26, 2021
Now that vaccinators are encouraged to resume giving Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 shot, nursing home stakeholders are questioning what effect the recent pause will have on vaccine uptake in a wary population.
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...
New approach supports comprehensive advance care planning in nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 28, 2022
A comprehensive advance care planning model was highly rated by residents or their proxies, and linked to decreased use of antimicrobials, investigators say.
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.