U.S. flu activity slowly picking up: CDC update … Pfizer pulls certain blood pressure drugs off market due to contamination … Risks of knee surgery no higher for octogenarians than younger patients,...
Second antigen test bumps accuracy to 94%, workplace study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 21, 2022
The results may help employers decide how best to employ rapid antigen tests — especially in settings where quick results are important and widespread PCR testing is cost prohibitive, the researchers...
CDC: Prepare for rebound in TB cases post-pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 21, 2022
A 20% decline in tuberculosis cases in 2020 may be followed by an uptick once the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, according to CDC investigators. Clinicians should be prepared to detect cases and control spread,...
Geriatrician survey: Swift telehealth adoption was ‘instrumental’ to pandemic patient care
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2022
Responses by Genesis HealthCare physicians offer insight into the dramatic shift in care delivery that took place as COVID-19 raged in 2020.
Docs push for new COVID-19 funding as signs point to rebound in U.S. omicron cases
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2022
The alternative is to risk leaving patients without access to needed vaccines, treatments and testing, the American College of Physicians has told Congress.
Driven by pandemic lessons, CDC advisers mull endorsing high-dose flu vaccines for seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2022
A decision to recommend high-dose influenza shots over standard-dose vaccines would be a welcome change, long-term care stakeholders say.
Researchers: Post-acute deaths rose among Medicare enrollees without COVID-19 during pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2022
Mortality rates for Medicare beneficiaries with non-COVID-19-related illness increased both in the hospital and at 30 days post-discharge during the pandemic, a large new study has found.
Stable use of antipsychotics in long-term care during pandemic ‘reassuring’: study
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Mar 07, 2022
The use of antipsychotics and pain medications in assisted living and nursing home residents was relatively unchanged early in the pandemic. New residents were more likely to get certain drugs, however.
‘They heard us’: Partner program to allow fast LTC access to federal stock of COVID-19 drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 04, 2022
The federal Long-Term Care Partner Program aims to quickly get time-sensitive COVID-19 treatments to facilities when an outbreak occurs. The first drug available via the portal will be molnupiravir, followed...
Mortality rate spiked for LTCF residents with dementia during pandemic: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 01, 2022
Residents with dementia had a 33% higher rate of death in 2020 vs. pre-pandemic 2019. Healthcare disruption — rather than COVID-19 illness alone — may be the direct cause of this disparity, the study...