Congratulations to the fourth of five Leaders of Tomorrow award winners profiled this week: R. Gary Sibbald, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Med) (Derm), MEd, professor of public health and medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario. Read More »
The study, conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic and Purdue University, found telemonitoring had little effect on people age 60 years and older in significantly reducing readmissions or emergency department visits. Read More »
As patients transfer from one point of care to another, medications that travel with them need to be reconciled for appropriateness and safety at the new care setting. Should those medications be restarted as the patient transfers to a skilled nursing facility? Read More »
Two new studies presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons looked at the effects of smoking on total joint replacement and found evidence of higher rates of failure compared to non-smokers. Read More »
When treating infections in the LTC setting it is imperative that staff members have defined roles in the treatment process and that facilities have clear procedures in place to effectively treat infections. Read More »
Sapovirus, a cousin of the well known and highly contagious norovirus, caused symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever that lasted a median duration of 48 hours in the studied outbreaks. Read More »
Hospital emergency rooms that cater to the elderly are drawing attention for their special features (artificial skylights, thicker mattresses, absence of noise and rushing residents) and, most interestingly, their lower rates of return visits. Read More »
The cost of incontinence care in the United States averaged $19.5 billion in 2004, and by one estimate the annualized cost of women's nursing home admissions due to urinary incontinence was $3 billion, according to AHRQ. Read More »
The most common predictor of hospitalization for venous thromboembolism—a potentially life-threatening condition that includes both deep-vein and lung blood clots—was recent exposure to an infection, according to the study in Circulation. Read More »
Successful LTC facilities create an environment where hospice is just as “normal” as any other referral. Providers should have an understanding of disease progression and be able to convey it to the resident and family, alleviating fears through knowledge. Read More »
The Joint Commission online portal on health care-associated infections provides both free and for-purchase resources for combating central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and other conditions. Read More »
Age alone is not the only contributing factor to pressure ulcer development. It is also about the inconveniences of old age such as impaired mobility, poor nutrition, changes in mental status or chronic diseases. High blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes affect blood flow to organs including the skin, increasing the risk of pressure ulcers. Read More »
The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses mentoring program, which is supplemented with online resources, is designed to help nurses develop relationships and improve their caregiving skills. Read More »
The 2012 AGS Beers Criteria group more than 50 medications or classes of medications that may be harmful to older adults into three categories. Read More »
Researchers said recognizing the differences between RNs and LPNs could lead to fewer medication errors in nursing homes, where an estimated 800,000 preventable adverse drug events occur annually. Read More »
Representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare last week visited an Evercare office to learn more about an “advanced nurse practitioner care model.” Read More »
More than half of respondents to a Canadian health survey of men aged 55 to 97 fear ailments that would risk compromising independence and quality of life. Read More »
Researchers found that people with "mild" hearing loss were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling, even when accounting for other factors. Read More »
When I did not get all of my regular meds in the hospital, I thought the doctors had something to do with it, and I was given no explanation why. Only then was I told upon my return to the nursing home that my physician would have to reorder the missing meds. Read More »
The product's parent company says its new e-prescribing application, which is being piloted in five states, “exponentially speeds up” the process of delivering pain meds to residents. Read More »
The end of life is not just a waiting game. It’s a time to respect the wishes of the dying and to celebrate his or her life. Surveys of older people indicate that they are not afraid of death, but they are worried about dying. Read More »
One of the ways to prevent falls is to know who your residents are and respond to them as individuals, discouraging behaviors that could lead to injury. Read More »
For Canadian nursing home residents who visited an emergency department, there was a three-fold risk of contracting a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. Read More »
A Virginia facility provides care to a diverse population in a stigma-free atmosphere. Its ventilation therapy program is an attractive option for providing transitional care and encouraging ACO affiliation. Read More »
Utilization of healthcare services, including nursing home stays and hospitalizations, was more than double in those with cirrhosis compared to non-cirrhotic peers. Read More »
To experience just one of the many challenges a LTC resident experiences on a daily basis can be sobering and eye-opening. And, it just might make you reconsider your facility's approach to resident care. Read More »
Wound care nurses from three facilities share how the use of an electronic point-of-care documentation system is transforming their jobs and enabling them to achieve better outcomes. Read More »
My legs eventually became so painful that I could not tolerate it or stand, and I decided it was time to go the ER. After my arrival at the hospital, it did not take long for me to realize that I was pretty sick. Read More »
Outbreak control measures should be implemented when there are two or more residents with influenza-like illness within a 72-hour period, the CDC said. Read More »
