Nursing homes' pressure ulcer treatment protocols took the spotlight Tuesday in a prominent New York Times article.

Alpharma has announced the availability of the Fletcor Patch. The adhesive patch delivers medication directly to the pain site, offering a safe and effective alternative to widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the firm.

The nation's top lawmakers are learning more about new monitoring, personal health record and brain fitness technologies for seniors during a special briefing and demonstration today.Senators from the Special Committee on Aging; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Medical Technology Caucus are hosting the event to discuss and explore what type of support is needed to promote technological advances that can help our nation's aging population.

The spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in nursing homes has gone largely unaddressed, according to a new scientific review. Despite nursing homes being prime breeding ground for the infection, researchers found that "much of the research effort around MRSA to date has focused primarily on hospitals," according to lead review author Carmel Hughes of Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland.

We have a resident with a heavily draining wound on her left trochanter that is requiring dressing changes four times a day. What do you advise?

What are some guidelines we can follow for documenting incision-site care in fresh post-op residents?

Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, President, Wound Care Education Institute