Long-term care facilities will be able to collect controlled substances turned in by residents, under a new Drug Enforcement Administration regulation meant to combat prescription drug abuse and misuse. Read More »
Prescribing medication is an art form requiring the physician to weigh the delicate balance between a medication’s benefits and potential risks. Read More »
Caring for residents with Parkinson’s disease requires an understanding of the unique ways in which the disease affects their muscles and nervous system, as well as the critical importance of precise medication management. Read More »
In hospitals and long-term care settings, caregivers often have to change tubing on medical equipment. A high risk of misconnection exists because of various compatible delivery systems, so the Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert. Read More »
Not-for-profit integrated health system Sentara Healthcare has become a 12 percent partner in long-term care pharmacy management company NuScriptRX and also now has a seat on the NuScriptRX board. Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an inhalation spray, olodaterol, to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Read More »
A soon-to-launch five-year study to prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for high-risk individuals will seek volunteers to join the trial in early 2015. Read More »
Better vascular control, healthy habits and access to improvements in stoke treatment have contributed to a decline in the incidence of stroke and a greater chance of survival. Read More »
Collaboration and technology figure prominently in projects across the country earmarked for up to $360 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Care Innovation Awards program. Read More »
While younger people benefit by improving glycemic control, some older individuals may experience negative side effects, according to new research. Read More »
The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse database of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is adding 22 evidence-based quality measures related to pain management in long-term care. Read More »
Recent research reveals that executive directors of assisted living communities may not be aware of all of the cases of elder abuse—especially sexual incidents—occurring in their communities. A gerontology expert shares four ways to recognize and combat abuse in long-term care settings. Read More »
The official start of summer is just about a week away. Make sure you’re ready to assist and advise your residents on simple solutions to “beat the heat.” Read More »
The 82-year-old former syndicated radio personality, experiencing sepsis, dementia and Parkinson's disease, is now receiving comfort care in a Washington state hospital, according to a media report. Read More »
Assisted living communities need health information technology tools more than ever thanks to increasing acuity levels. One provider of senior housing and care has successfully used electronic health record software to save nurses time and improve documentation. Read More »
A new study confirms that zoledronic acid is effective in preserving bone density and improving skeletal integrity in women formerly not included in clinical trials. Read More »
A just-announced five-year, $30 million research project in falls prevention may yield lessons for senior living providers and the residents they serve. Read More »
Massachusetts’ implementation of a “medical marijuana law,” and how it applies to assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities, is, of course, of special interest to providers in that state, but it may hold lessons for senior living communities elsewhere as well. Read More »
Missing doses of a medication can be problematic—even dangerous—for residents in long-term care. Why does a prescription run out before it should? Read More »
PointClickCare introduced its platform to address the increasing acuity, staffing and risk mitigation needs of assisted living providers at the Assisted Living Federation of America annual conference. Read More »
The Social Security Act says that pharmacists aren't providers. But many in the healthcare industry are now saying the expanded role of pharmacists, especially in long-term care, deserves another look. Read More »
Care coordination is the victim of a recent opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, according to electronic health record system vendor athenahealth. Read More »
In the latest issue of JAMA, two authors from the National Institutes of Health suggest ways to make the Choosing Wisely initiative more useful to healthcare professionals and the general public. Read More »
A new system will try to ensure that hospices conduct the proper assessments and address patient questions and concerns about pain, respiratory status, medications and patient preferences, according to an April 8 notice in the Federal Register. Read More »
Some healthcare professionals are raising concerns that more stringent glucose monitoring system standards proposed by the FDA would affect availability of the devices for use in nursing homes and other settings. Read More »
