Facilities urged to conserve dwindling medical supplies as pandemic persists
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 19, 2020
One in five eldercare facilities will run out of masks, gowns and other PPE if current supplies aren’t carefully conserved, says AHCA / NCAL.
New FDA guidance targets respirator reuse
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2020
The agency has revised its guidance on respirators, labeling previously authorized equipment as inappropriate for decontamination and reuse during the pandemic.
CDC updates nursing home guidance on enhanced barrier precautions
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 14, 2022
The CDC has updated its guidance in an effort to help reduce the growing threat to residents posed by multidrug-resistant organisms.
Study: A brace tops medical mask modifications to block respiratory pathogens
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 20, 2021
The addition of an elastic brace or double masking are highly successful methods for improving the performance of face masks against respiratory aerosols, according to a new mask modification study from...
Opt-in COVID vaccine program kicks off; Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Long-term care facilities nationwide can voluntarily opt in to a free pharmacy partnership program that will provide and administer future COVID-19 vaccines on site, federal officials announced Friday.
Social distancing reduces infections; N95 masks work best, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2020
The results are the “best available evidence” that coronavirus infection risk depends on distancing and PPE, say investigators.
Feds struggle to provide COVID-19 tally for nursing homes: report
By
Alicia Lasek
May 09, 2020
Weeks after CMS announced it would begin tracking outbreaks and deaths in the nation’s eldercare facilities, there are no solid numbers available, say investigators.
Nursing home advocates urge 24-hour RN staffing, PPE mandates in sweeping reform agenda
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
The Care For Our Seniors Act, put forth by the AHCA and LeadingAge, seeks to address systemic issues in the nursing home sector that have been laid bare during the pandemic, including infection control...
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.
PPE, staff shortages unchanged: CMS data show 1 in 5 facilities ‘severely’ affected
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
There were notable clusters of equipment shortfalls in certain states. A quarter of U.S. counties had at least 44% of nursing homes reporting low staffing levels.