Nursing home providers help to design, refine facility IP program
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 26, 2023
In partnership with providers, an infection control peer coaching program has been updated to improve its utility amid competing facility priorities and staffing shortages.
Cost, conversion of long-stay residents fuel resistance to 3-day stay waiver
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 26, 2023
A new study of a key COVID-19 waiver backs up longstanding concerns that removing a hospital stay as a requirement for Medicare-covered nursing home care would shift too many long-term residents to skilled...
Fewer hip fracture patients receive opioids after stay in SNF than IRF: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 19, 2023
These patients are 41% less likely to receive an opioid prescription when discharged from a skilled nursing facility, investigators say. But opioid use is high overall in these settings, they report.
66 percent of nursing home residents given antibiotics during stays, researchers report
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2023
Results from a long-term study of Medicare Part D data shed light on antibiotic prescribing prevalence, the most common drug types and rate of therapy days for U.S. nursing home residents.
Non-drug Alzheimer’s interventions save money, study finds
By
John Roszkowski
Apr 07, 2023
While much media attention focuses on new drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds that non-drug interventions can help improve the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients and save...
Medicare Advantage’s lower post-acute use creates ‘spillover’ in traditional Medicare:...
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 04, 2023
A new study on Medicare Advantage has found that the program’s lower use of post-acute care has a “spillover” effect when it comes to traditional Medicare plans.
Hospice aide visits fell sharply in 2020, nursing home study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 04, 2023
More than half of long-stay nursing home residents enrolled in hospice did not receive any visits from hospice aides from April through December 2020, researchers report.
Falls prevention success rests in MDS data: study
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 08, 2023
Data already at worker’s fingertips can accurately predict patients’ fall risk and help nursing home caregivers better target prevention strategies.
Pay good providers more to care for dementia patients, researchers urge
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 09, 2023
Policymakers should consider incentivizing nursing homes to take patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, argue the authors of a new study that finds such patients currently are more...
Researchers identify weak links in nursing homes’ COVID defense
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 07, 2023
Vaccination rates for COVID-19 for nightshift workers in nursing homes significantly lag their dayshift counterparts, creating a higher-risk environment for residents and other staff, according to new...