FDA clears the air on health benefits linked to chambers
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2013
Hyperbaric oxygen chambers can be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers, and the government is fine with that. But regulators are becoming increasingly concerned about other benefits that are being ascribed...
As the care expert … about inhaler lifespans
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Oct 01, 2013
If inhalers do not have a counter on the unit that tells us how many metered doses are remaining, we never know about discarding or continuing their use. I fear we are letting them live out their time...
Dementia and diabetes risk score debuts
By
Elizabeth Newman
Oct 01, 2013
A new tool can predict the 10-year risk of dementia for patients with diabetes.
Dementia patients face risk of urinary, fecal incontinence
By
Ashley Carman
Oct 01, 2013
Seniors with dementia are two to three times more likely to have urinary incontinence and four times more likely to have fecal incontinence, according to a new study.
60 seconds with … NQF leader Christine Cassel, M.D.
Oct 01, 2013
Q: You’ve been at the National Quality Forum since July, bringing deep experience in geriatric medicine to the work of creating and reviewing quality measures. What measures do you see on the horizon...
Sprinkler system citations now in effect
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2013
Nursing homes without a full sprinkler system installed and functioning are now subject to deficiency citations, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Facilities approach 15% goal for antipsychotics reduction
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2013
For decades, many providers have viewed antipsychotic drugs as a necessary evil for treating residents with dementia. But increasingly, these medications are just being seen as evil. So it’s hardly...
Hand washing takes a break
By
Ashley Carman
Oct 01, 2013
A third of Medicare/Medicaid-certified long-term care providers surveyed by The Joint Commission during the first half of this year didn’t meet basic hand hygiene requirements, according to recent...
C. diff results stay the same
By
Ashley Carman
Oct 01, 2013
High and low dosages of a popular antibiotic are equally good at combating Clostridium difficile infections, according to a new study.
LTC campaign revamps goals
By
Elizabeth Newman
Oct 01, 2013
The Advancing Excellence campaign is calling on skilled nursing providers to use a set of updated goals to create a framework for achieving better care.