by Keri McDermott | Sep 30, 2016 | Archived
The unfortunate experience of having to return to the hospital after recently being treated is all too common. Potentially avoidable hospital readmissions that occur within 30 days of a patient’s initial discharge are estimated to account for more than $17 billion in...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 29, 2016 | Archived
Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the long anticipated final rule entitled Reform of Requirements for Long Term Care (LTC) facilities. This rule includes requirements for all LTC facilities to develop, implement and...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 23, 2016 | Archived
Like clockwork, the flu virus shows up each October, making millions of people miserable until it loses steam sometime in May. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 21, 2016 | Archived
Antibiotic resistance – when bacteria stop responding to the drugs designed to kill them – is a healthcare “hot topic” and possibly the most significant infectious disease threat we currently face. The Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 15, 2016 | Archived
The World Heart Federation (WHF) recognizes World Heart Day on September 29 to increase awareness about heart disease and stroke, the world’s leading causes of death, which claims 17.3 million lives each year. The observance promotes preventive measures that reduce...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 9, 2016 | Archived
On September 6, MedCityNews reported that hospitals and community groups are working to improve transitions of older patients when they are discharged from a hospital by strengthening communication with doctors and tracking them across health systems. Why? A lack of...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 9, 2016 | Archived
The CDC’s recent Vital Signs report found that 7 in 10 patients with sepsis had recently interacted with healthcare providers or had chronic diseases requiring frequent medical care. These healthcare encounters can be opportunities for healthcare providers to prevent,...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 8, 2016 | Archived
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is embracing innovation and taking advantage of technology to fuel changes that will lead to better care, smarter spending and a healthier America. That was the key message from the second annual CMS IT...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 2, 2016 | Archived
Healthy Aging Month® is designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. The observance encourages community events that provide inspiration and practical ideas for adults over the age of 50 to improve their physical, social, mental and...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 2, 2016 | Archived
The Home Health Quality Improvement Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs) offer patient and clinician resources, videos and tools on a wide variety of clinical, safety and health-related topics. We want to draw attention to the BPIP for Underserved Populations...