CDC to fund LTC infection control strike teams nationwide starting in October
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
The initiative will allow states and other U.S. jurisdictions to “staff, train and deploy” strike teams to help long-term care operations with known or suspected COVID-19 infections, CDC says.
To quarantine or not? CDC’s post-vaccine guidance for exposed workers gives nod to staff shortages
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated individuals may now skip quarantine after exposure to an infected person. But that doesn’t go for healthcare workers in facility settings — except as a last option.
CDC hopes $500 million will bring nursing homes, surveyors closer
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 04, 2021
Federal health leaders and long-term care stakeholders are hopeful that a new $500 million nursing home strike team program will be a collaborative partnership between providers and inspectors that reduces...
Feds must collaborate — not punish — providers under new $500 million investment plan
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 21, 2021
Providers hope the federal government and states are willing to work with them, instead of punishing them, under a new $500 million infection control initiative aimed at helping facilities battle COVID-19...
Public data on coronavirus nursing home outbreaks still weeks away
By
Danielle Brown
May 11, 2020
The federal government is still weeks away from publicly reporting nationwide COVID-19 nursing home data, according to an NBC News report.
Changes revealed in nursing home COVID-19 reporting demands; states are cautioned about reopening
By
James M. Berklan
Danielle Brown
May 01, 2020
Federal regulators on Thursday finally released details of an interim rule that mandates nursing homes report COVID-19-related infections directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Extend PHE while updating COVID protocols, nursing home advocate urges feds
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 10, 2022
Safety and quality of life in LTC settings are not mutually exclusive, Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL told federal health officials Tuesday.
Breaches of basic infection control practices — why?
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jul 30, 2012
Basic infection prevention and control isn’t rocket science. It is essentially following some general guidelines. Some of them pretty simplistic. Not too hard right? You would think, but …
Health officials urge public to consider wearing N95, KN95 respirators
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
The CDC has updated its consumer information on wearing face masks during the pandemic. The changes clarify levels of mask protection and emphasize that the public can choose to wear N95 and KN95 respirators...
Feds mull shortened COVID-19 quarantine period
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 30, 2020
There is “a preponderance of evidence” that a shorter quarantine period, complemented by a COVID-19 test, could effectively prevent transmission of the disease, according to Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant...