CMS Returning to Certain Pre-COVID-19 Policies for Long-term Care
CMS Returning to Certain Pre-COVID-19 Policies in Long-term Care and Other Facilities Actions continue to protect the health and safety of nursing home residents The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to continue to protect nursing home residents’ health and safety by announcing guidance that restores certain minimum standards for compliance […]
Patterns of Potential Moral Injury in Post-9/11 Combat Veterans and COVID-19 Healthcare Workers
“Moral injury has been defined as the “psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioral and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations.”1 Since this definition was introduced in 2009, the subsequent decade of research focused almost exclusively on military veterans. Among military personnel, the killing of […]
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Second Booster Dose of Two COVID-19 Vaccines for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals
FDA Authorizes Second COVID Booster
Community fights to save Alzheimer’s care home
Now we are starting to see nursing homes and assisted living facilities struggle to pay their bills. Many are being forced to sell to larger investment companies or just going out of business. This is only the beginning, there was a great article published by the Honolulu Advertiser today. I think this will be our […]
New Recommendations for Use of 15-Valent and 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugant Vaccine, 2022
What is already known about this topic? Currently, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) (PCV13) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) are recommended for U.S. adults. Recommendations vary by age and risk groups. What is added by this report? On October 20, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended 15-valent PCV (PCV15) or […]
Get free at-home COVID-19 tests
It’s time to order you free COVID-19 tests. Key things to remember is: If you are symptomatic, and your rapid test is negative you should follow it up with a PCR test. Rapid tests have a harder time picking up Omicron. When in doubt get advice from your physician. Get vaccinated now don’t wait until […]
VESTEX Scrubs, T-shirts and Jackets to protect you from fluid, bacteria, and viruses.
Don’t risk taking body fluids, bacteria or viruses home anymore. VESTEX is the company to go to. They are approved by the FDA and work the way advertise. They are worth every penny. Tried, Tested and Loved. The global VESTEX® brand franchise has been in development for over a decade. For thousands of consumers around the […]
Guidance for the Interim Final Rule – Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination
Memo # QSO-22-07-ALL Posting Date 2021-12-28 Fiscal Year 2022 Summary CMS is committed to ensuring America’s healthcare facilities respond effectively in an evidence-based way to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE). •On November 05, 2021, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC). This rule establishes requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccine […]
NIOSH-approved N95 Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
For a list of approved N95 mask visit the link below don’t buy counterfeit masks. This list is reviewed and updated weekly. Manufacturers Listed from A to Z – 3M The N95 respirator is the most common of the seven types of particulate filtering facepiece respirators. This product filters at least 95% of airborne particles […]
Ranking Seven COVID-19 Antigen Tests by Ease of Use: Report
Some COVID-19 rapid antigen home test kits are much easier to use than others, according to an analysis by ECRI, an independent, nonprofit patient safety organization. ECRI evaluated seven rapid COVID-19 antigen tests available for purchase online and in retail stores since December. None of the tests were rated as “excellent” in terms of usability and some […]
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
As of December 23, 2021 Due to concerns about increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, this guidance is being updated to enhance protection for healthcare personnel (HCP), patients, and visitors, and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections. These updates will be refined as additional information […]
Most Children and All Teens Can Get COVID-19 Vaccines
CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. Widespread vaccination for COVID-19 is a critical tool to best protect everyone, especially those at highest risk, from severe illness and death. People who are fully vaccinated can safely resume many activities that they did prior to the pandemic. Children […]
Checklists for Infection Preventionists Working in ORs
New infection preventionists can use this checklist to perform IP rounds in the surgical suite, decontamination areas, and sterile processing area. Preventing surgical site infections has long been the goal of hospitals across the United States. Important components for preventing SSIs are: Implementation of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2017 updated […]
Postcards From the Edge: Lessons Taught by COVID-19
One thing that will haunt me and many health care personnel in both acute care and LTCFs forever is that so many people died without a family member at their bedside. I reached out to people in different disciplines, settings, and states. I wanted to know what lessons we’ve learned from the carnage caused by […]
This Way to the OR, Infection Preventionists
Many infection preventionists trust that everyone working in the operating room knows what they are doing and many times shy away from going into the OR. That’s a mistake. In fall 2016, I was on my way to work at 8 AM on a Monday when my cell phone rang. It was the surgical department […]