by Keri McDermott | Oct 6, 2020 | Featured, Patient Safety
Advance care planning addresses a question that often goes unspoken: “What matters to you?” If faced with a medical crisis, advance care planning outlines decisions about the healthcare an individual would want to receive. These decisions are based on...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 1, 2020 | Featured, Quality of Care Transitions
As a patient or family caregiver, there are several steps you can take to help you be a more informed and effective member of the care team during the transition back home after hospitalization. By knowing what to expect, you may be able to avoid healthcare...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 1, 2020 | Behavioral Health Outcomes, Featured
Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions found by health professionals in the elderly and is associated with substantial impairment of reduced mobility, avoidance of activities, depression, sleep impairment and isolation. Pain is one of the most common...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 29, 2020 | Behavioral Health Outcomes, Featured
Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. Despite mental illnesses’ reach and prevalence, stigma and...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 28, 2020 | Featured, Immunizations, Nursing Home Quality
Flu season is here and that means we all need to take the necessary precautions to make sure we stay healthy. The National Healthcare Safety Network offers two new features for long-term care facilities to track weekly influenza vaccination data beginning with the...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 28, 2020 | Covid-19, Featured, Nursing Home Quality
CMS asked us to pass along this memo on NHSN Point of Care Laboratory Reporting/SAMS access for COVID-19. Upgrade SAMS Access to Utilize New Point of Care Laboratory Reporting Pathway in NHSN CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network will release a new reporting...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 28, 2020 | Featured, Patient Safety
As the temperatures drop, the risk of a fall increases. Slippery driveways, cluttered entries and lack of handrails are just a few of the home hazards contributing to fall-related injuries and even death for older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 22, 2020 | Featured, Medication Safety
Access to geriatric care improves the quality of life for patients and residents in our communities. Great Plains Quality Innovation Network is partnering with the University of North Dakota to improve access to care for patients with complex conditions in rural and...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 22, 2020 | Behavioral Health Outcomes, Covid-19, Featured
Those with symptoms of COVID-19 may receive a nasal or throat swab test to confirm a diagnosis. For the growing number of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders, diagnosis is a far more complex process. According to a recent study from the...
by Keri McDermott | Sep 21, 2020 | Covid-19, Featured, Nursing Home Quality
For maximum flexibility, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now offers three online, self-paced options for COVID-19 infection control training for nursing homes. While completion of any of these trainings is no longer tied to Coronavirus Aid,...