The Department of Health and Human Services expects to release a draft action plan regarding the reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) before the next president takes office, the agency said this week.

Long-term care facilities have exactly five years to fully equip their facilities with automatic sprinkler systems, according to a final rule published Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

When "Dianne Butler's" mother was rushed to the emergency room with signs of a heart attack, the ER nurses quickly cut away her snug, pullover silk shift. Hurrying to do CPR and start IVs, that dress was the last thing they were worried about...

Long-term care hospitals treated fewer short-stay patients from fiscal years 2003 to 2006 as a result of cuts in Medicare reimbursement, according to a memo from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. But the agency questioned the appropriateness of some of the short-stay visits.

Tanita's PW-630U wheelchair scale is designed to make it easy for residents to get on the scale and be stable. The durable, portable unit is equipped with wheels, allowing caregivers to bring the scale wherever elderly or wheelchair-bound residents are. Other features include body mass index, an integrated thermal printer, memory, recall and RS-232 output so data can be captured electronically.

Birchwood Laboratories has introduced two new products that provide a sanitary solution for incontinence cleansing and management. B-SURE Perineal Wash and B-SURE Odor Eliminator are products help operators help communities look and smell fresh.

The new CodeWatch transmitter from RF Technologies gives residents wristwatch-like comfort. The small, lightweight device feels familiar and comfortable, which helps put residents at ease.

Staying on top of the latest products, services and industry trends can be a time-devouring pursuit. But the job just became less time consuming, thanks to our new Web site. Eldercare pros can find many time-saving options. These include a substantially enhanced Directory that makes it easier to locate needed services, plus videos of important suppliers. The latest job openings are also available, as well as immediate access to our Career Guide. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our new site. We think you'll find it's time well spent.

Long-term care hospitals may see a bigger than expected bump in their payment rate in 2009, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. On Tuesday, CMS proposed increasing the payment rate by 2.6%, which would push total funding for LTACs past $4.4 billion. It also would be a full percentage point higher than what was recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

The Joint Commission wants to improve the accuracy of resident identification and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.