by Keri McDermott | Oct 13, 2020 | Featured, Nursing Home Quality
According to a recent Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) study, the number of individuals reporting mental health symptoms [anxiety or depressive disorders] has jumped from 11% in 2019 to 36.5% in June 2020. This affects us all in one way or another. Nursing homes...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 12, 2020 | Cardiac Care, Featured
Earlier this week, Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., issued a Call to Action urging Americans to recognize and address hypertension control as a national, public health priority. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 9, 2020 | Featured, Medication Safety
Poll shows only 29% of adults who take five or more prescription drugs have had a comprehensive medication review. A new survey from the University of Michigan indicates that older adults do not check with a pharmacist to look for possible interactions in their...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 9, 2020 | Featured, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Patient Safety
The Federal Task Force on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria has released an updated National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria. This updated plan provides strategic actions to address antibiotic-resistant infections over the next 5 years,...
by Keri McDermott | Oct 9, 2020 | CMS News, Covid-19, Featured
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and...
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...