CMS: A quarter of Medicare recipients skipped needed healthcare during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 21, 2020
Fully 21% of beneficiaries have forgone needed healthcare for something other than COVID-19. Nearly half say they did not want to risk being at a medical facility, according to CMS.
Most seniors support virus mitigation efforts, national survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 15, 2020
Seniors reported feeling safer with COVID-19 public health measures in place. They’re also more likely to adhere to guidelines meant to reduce transmission, such as avoiding large gatherings.
Nearly three-quarters of facilities in PPE crisis mode
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 04, 2020
A large majority of healthcare facilities are reusing or extending the life of personal protective equipment typically meant for single use, according to a national survey by the Association for Professionals...
Clinical briefs for Friday, April 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2021
Focus shifts to short-stay residents to prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks … U.S. COVID vaccination rates to plateau in April, survey results suggest … U.S. hits COVID shot target; 25% of adults now...
Nearly half of nursing home residents with COVID-19 show no symptoms, national study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 21, 2020
A multi-state study in Genesis HealthCare facilities found that more than 40% of nursing home residents with COVID-19 are asymptomatic. Facility-wide testing was more successful in detecting these lurking...
Infection control problems ‘persisted’ at nursing homes prior to pandemic: GAO
By
Danielle Brown
May 21, 2020
Infection control deficiencies were widespread throughout nursing homes even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.
Stop antigen testing in skilled nursing facilities, Nevada tells operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 09, 2020
Nursing facilities in Nevada have been ordered to stop using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests due to apparent diagnostic inaccuracies. Health officials say they will gather more data before issuing updated...
Testing beats symptom screening to identify COVID-19 infections in senior living: study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 21, 2020
Aggressive infection control using universal testing in a Seattle senior living community appeared to halt transmission and prevent an outbreak.
The COVID-19 mitigation strategies of social distancing, face coverings and handwashing not only will help to curb the spread of the coronavirus, they will help to lessen the severity of the upcoming flu...
Read my lips: virus may spread through speech
By
Alicia Lasek
May 14, 2020
Speaking in a confined environment can cause airborne virus transmission, likely helping to spread the coronavirus, according to new research.