As deaths rise, scrutiny soars
As the COVID-19 death toll continued to mount disproportionately among nursing home residents in mid-April, federal regulators issued historic infection and death reporting requirements.
Print Issue: May 2020
‘Hero Awards’ for workers
Thousands of skilled nursing workers could get “Hero Awards” for their pandemic efforts.
Observation stay victory
A Connecticut federal appeals court granted certain hospital patients the right to appeal “observation stay” designations in a ruling that many hope will lead to greater access to Medicare-covered long-term care services.
An about-face ask for masks
The Trump administration, in a reversal of previous guidance, recommended in early April that all Americans don “non-medical cloth” face masks in public settings. It had earlier said that Americans should not wear these coverings.
SNFs feel ‘forgotten’ amid COVID-19 crisis
Nursing homes, not hospitals, have been the “front line” in the battle against COVID-19, though government officials and others didn’t seem to notice, skilled nursing’s top lobbyist and spokesman declared on a national television interview in April.
Legal expert: ‘Documentation is critical’
A legal expert urged providers to document everything related to their responses to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a move that could help providers defend themselves in any potential lawsuit stemming from their actions, she said.
Providers force feds’ hand on COVID-19 reporting guidance
Some legal aspects about publicly reporting nursing homes’ COVID-19 infection rates and deaths were being ironed out as of press time. But federal authorities made it clear in late April that facilities would be required to inform residents, families and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about outbreaks.
60 seconds with … Tracey Moorhead
Tracey Moorhead, President & CEO, American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
McKnight’s Flash Survey: Providers’ biggest struggles: missing workers, lack of PPE
An expanding coronavirus pandemic continued to devastate the long-term care sector on numerous fronts throughout the end of March and April, even before stories of massive numbers of deaths in facilities started to emerge.
Ask the care expert: Any recommendations for new products?
Do you have any recommendations for new products in long-term care that can make my staff’s routines go a bit easier?
