Occupancy Rates at LTC Facilities Up - Again!

Since it's Friday and most of us are in a good mood - or a little tired from getting up at the crack of dawn to watch the royal wedding - let's add another reason to be happy! According to data from the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing & Care Center, occupancy in senior housing rose 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 and is up 0.6 percent from this time last year.

This is the fourth consecutive quarter that occupancy rates have risen. Researchers are taking this as an indication that occupancy has moved past the bottom it hit in the first quarter of 2010.

To learn more, click here.

Nursing Homes Ready to Celebrate the Royal Wedding

When Kate Middleton makes her way down the aisle of Westminster Abbey tomorrow to marry Prince William, she'll have the eyes of the world upon her. Once the two share their first kiss as man and wife, it's time to start the celebration - and nursing homes around the country are joining in the fun!

At The British Home in Brookfield, Illinois, two men dressed as Beefeaters will guard a wedding cake, women will don white gloves and elaborate hats and guests will raise their glasses in a toast to the happy couple. They'll also enjoy authentic English tea prepared by the Daughters of the British Empire.

Renaissance Gardens in Novi, Michigan, will be hosting a Royal Wedding Dinner Reception to honor the prince and his new bride. In addition to a spread of food fit for a queen and "paparazzi" on hand to photograph the guests, residents will also be encouraged to share details of their own romances and reminisce about weddings of the past.

Tell us - are you excited for the royal wedding? Will you be celebrating it at your facility?

Study: Safe Lifting Programs Reduce Expenses, Injuries

A new study conducted by the University of Maryland and National Council on Compensation Insurance found that long-term care facility operators can reduce expenses and injuries by installing mechanical lifts. Facilities that implement safe lifting programs generally incur lower worker's compensation costs and see fewer on-the-job injuries.

In general, long-term care facilities have higher-than-average on-the-job injury rates, and many of these injuries happen when workers are lifting and moving residents. Unless proper interventions are taken, injury rates are expected to increase as the LTC industry grows.

To learn more, click here.

Congratulations, Mike Gardiner!

Team ProMed congratulates Territory Manager Mike Gardiner and his wife on their new addition! Kamryn Elizabeth Gardiner was born on April 21. She weighed in at 8 pounds, four ounces and was 21 1/2 inches in length.

New ProMed Distribution Center Up and Running - and Impressing Customers!

Since 1968, Professional Medical has operated out of the Chicago suburbs – and now we’re growing! We’ve opened a new distribution center in Solon, Ohio, located at 30305 Solon Road. This strategically located facility will allow us to provide our customers in Ohio and the Northeast with even faster service. In many cases, orders will be delivered within one day.

We’ve been receiving great feedback on the service provided by our ProMed Express truck drivers based out of the new facility, including the following note from Sue Shrodes, the Central Supply Manager at Samaritan Care Center in Medina, Ohio:

“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what an AMAZING job your truck drivers are doing with deliveries since the opening of your Solon warehouse using ProMed drivers. First of all, they are very professional, very courteous, very helpful in every way – all deliveries have been made before 4:00 p.m. as requested. In our limited storage area, they are careful to stack all boxes out of the way of computers and walk paths. They always pull the packing list and have it posted on the top box, easy to find.”

This new location is just another way that ProMed helps make improving care easier! To learn more about the Ohio distribution center, we invite you to contact your ProMed territory manager or call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190.

Japanese Nursing Home: Escape Drills Helped Us Save Residents During Tsunami

A nursing home in the oceanside Japanese town of Minamihama is crediting their regular evacuation drills with saving their residents during the recent tsunami.

The facility staff practiced emergency drills so regularly that they were able to lower the time needed for evacuation from 20 minutes to five minutes within three years. During the four annual drills, staff wrapped residents in blankets and moved them to higher ground. Staff members were assigned to help specific residents.

According to the facility's supervisor, if it had taken them 20 minutes to evacuate the facility on the day of the tsunami, they wouldn't have made it to safety. All residents and employees of the facility survived the tsunami.

To learn more, click here.

Reminder: Professional Medical Closed on April 22

Professional Medical will be closed Friday, April 22 in honor of Good Friday/Easter. Product orders that were placed after noon on Monday, April 18 will be delivered the week of April 25.

From our team to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Please call our Customer Care Department at 800.648.5190 if you have questions or concerns.

The Majority of Patients Hospitalized for Medication Injuries are Seniors

New data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows that more than half (53 percent) of patients hospitalized following bad reactions to medication are seniors over the age of 65.

The reactions were caused either by taking or being given the wrong drug or dosage, which can be caused by everything from an overdose to a pharmacy error. The top five categories of drugs that caused injury or illness are:

• Corticosteroids
• Painkillers
• Blood thinners
• Drugs used to treat cancer and immune system disorders
• Heart and blood pressure medicine

To learn more, click here.

Study: Seniors May Experience Short-Term Memory Loss During Hospitalization

A new study out of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine reveals that seniors may experience temporary memory loss for up to a month after being hospitalized.

Hospital-induced memory loss could make seniors less likely to remember discharge instructions and other critical information, the researchers noted. These findings should also serve as a reminder to healthcare professionals and family members that even though a senior is no longer sick enough to be in the hospital, they might not necessarily be ready to be on their own.

To learn more, click here.

Kudos on a Great All-Around Effort from Team ProMed

Samaritan Care Center, Medina, Ohio

ProMed's number one goal is to ensure that we are doing everything possible to help make improving care easier for our customers. That's why it means so much to us to receive letters like this one, which was sent to Regional Sales Manager Ted Walsh:

Good morning Ted, hope you are doing well today.

I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what an AMAZING job your truck drivers are doing with deliveries since the opening of your Solon warehouse using ProMed drivers. First of all, they are very professional, very courteous, very helpful in every way – all deliveries have been made before 4:00 p.m. as requested. In our limited storage area, they are careful to stack all boxes out of the way of computers and walk paths. They always pull the packing list and have it posted on the top box, easy to find.

I also want you to know what a pleasure it is working with Scott Stachowiak. He stops in each month to check our needs and let us know the latest Professional Medical has to offer – he is always professional, knowledgeable and never pushy!

Also Natalie Lenz and Leanne are wonderful to work with on every level.

Almost daily I have vendors trying to become our suppliers….but I can tell you as long as you have great people working for you providing excellent service, it will be tough for anyone to take your business away!

Have a great day.

Sue Shrodes, Central Supply Mgr.
Samaritan Care Center, Medina, Ohio

25 States See Dramatic Increases in LTC Insurance Policyholders

According to the 2011 LTC Sourcebook, produced by the American Association of Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), 25 states have seen a double-digit jump in the number of residents who have LTC insurance.

Specifically:

• The number of Alaskans with LTC insurance jumped almost 130 percent
• Wyoming and Vermont saw increases of 62 percent and 48 percent, respectively
• The states with the largest percentages of LTC insurance policyholders are California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois

AALTCI also reported that many LTC insurance prospects are seeking insurance agents out, something that hasn't been common before. To learn more, click here.

Study: Vitamin D Can Slow Macular Degeneration

A new study out of New York University's Lagona Medical Center has found that Vitamin D can delay the onset of macular degeneration in women. Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that can take away an individual's vision. It affects one in 10 Americans over the age of 40.

Women are more likely than men to develop macular degeneration. Some scientists believe this is tied to estrogen loss. The researchers in the NYU study concluded that women under 75 who had high levels of Vitamin D in their blood were less likely to develop macular degeneration later on in life, possibly because of Vitamin D's anti-inflammatory effect.

Vitamin D can be found in:

• Natural sunlight
• Leafy vegetables
• Fish
• Vitamin supplements

To learn more, click here.

National Agencies Target Antimicrobial Resistance

The CDC, FDA and National Institutes of Health recently joined forces to announce a public health action plan targeting antimicrobial resistance. The plan includes goals for surveillance, prevention and control, research and product development.

Citizens are encouraged to take part in the following ways:
- Not insisting physicians prescribe antibiotics
- Not saving the medications or sharing them with others

Healthcare providers can participate by:
- Providing prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections
- Prescribing antibiotics appropriately
- Following infection prevention techniques (such as handwashing) that will prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria

To learn more, click here.

Study Examines Smartphone Use in Health Care

A new study is taking an in-depth look at how members of the healthcare community stay connected and receive critical messages. The data in "Industry Survey Results: Smartphone Trends" was collected by Amcom Software from more than 300 healthcare organizations.

Key findings included:

• Healthcare organizations communicate using a wide variety of devices, including pagers, smartphones, traditional cell and desk phones, Wi-Fi phones, Vocera badges, email systems, tablets and more.
• Different staff members tend to rely on different devices. For example, nurses often rely on Wi-Fi phones, housekeeping staff frequently use pagers and physicians are likely to use smartphones.
• The BlackBerry was the most popular smartphone among healthcare workers, with notable growth from Android and iPhone.
• 54.5 percent of respondents send job-related alerts or pages to personnel on their smartphones.
• Many hospitals are looking to implement critical messaging to tablets, regular cell phones and wireless in-house phones within the next two years.
• Lack of coverage and security were cited as the biggest barriers to smartphone adoption.

To read the white paper, click here. (Note: Registration is required.)

ProMed's Modified Easter Delivery Schedule

Professional Medical will be closed Friday, April 22 in honor of Good Friday/Easter. Orders placed by noon on Monday, April 18 will be delivered by Thursday, April 21. Orders placed after noon on Monday, April 18 will be delivered the following week. The office will be closed on Friday, April 22.

Please call our Customer Care Department at 800.648.5190 if you have questions or concerns.

Team ProMed Members Featured in Repertoire Cover Story

Two members of ProMed's sales team, Joe Green and Keith Kennedy, were featured prominently in this month's Repertoire magazine cover story! Click here to see what Joe and Keith had to say about using social media to connect with customers.

Shopping Provides Good Low-Impact Activity, Feeling of Involvement for Seniors

Researchers in Taiwan found that seniors who shop nearly every day stay healthier longer than those who don't get out of their homes as frequently.

The researchers say their findings fit into the "active aging" concept, which posits that people who remain active through physical, social and economic activity experience healthier aging. Shopping in particular is associated with low-impact physical activity and helping seniors feel more involved in their communities.

To learn more, click here.

Tom Stuart Promoted to Senior Picker

Team ProMed congratulates Tom Stuart on his promotion to Senior Picker! Tom has been with ProMed for just over three years and in that time has shown us time and time again how much of a hard-working, versatile employee he is. He has proven on many occasions his willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done by picking, receiving and even making deliveries.


Congratulations, Tom!

American Heart Association: Elderly Heart Failure Patients Face Higher Risks After Discharge to Nursing Homes

According to the American Heart Association, elderly heart failure patients who need skilled nursing care after they are discharged from hospitals are at a higher risk of poor outcomes and even death.

The researchers analyzed data from 15,459 Medicare patients (with an average age of 80) who were discharged from a hospital after being treated for heart failure for three or more days. Their findings revealed:

• 14 percent of the seniors who were discharged to skilled nursing care facilities died within 30 days after hospitalization
• 4 percent of those who were discharged to their homes died within a month
• 27 percent of the patients were re-admitted to the hospital within a month of being discharged
• 24 percent of those discharged to their homes were re-admitted to the hospital

To learn more, click here.

Study: Obese Elderly Need to Diet, Exercise

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is dispelling the belief that exercise can cause the elderly to lose muscle and bone mass. Instead, the researchers are recommending that obese residents over age 65 participate in a diet and exercise program to improve their overall health and well-being.

The study's participants were divided into three groups. One group was on a resticted-calorie diet. The second group was on the same diet, but also participated in 90-minute exercise routines three times a week. Members of the third group, a control group, did not diet or exercise. Participants in the group that both dieted and exercised lost an average of 9 percent of their body weight while retaining lean body mass, increasing oxygen consumption and improving their strength and balance. The diet-only group also lost weight, but they didn't see similar overall improvements in their health. Members of the control group did not lose weight or show any physical improvements.

At least 20 percent of elderly people are obese, and that figure is expected to grow. Obesity worsens the age-related decline in physical function, which can cause frailty, impair quality of life and result in increased nursing home admissions.

To learn more, click here.

CMS: Physicans Must Meet with Those Seeking Hospice, Home Health Certification

CMS has begun to implement a new law that requires physicians to meet face-to-face with individuals who are seeking to become certified for Medicare home health and hospice services. The law, part of the Affordable Care Act, technically went into effect on January 1, but CMS granted struggling agencies more time to adjust to adjust to the new requirements.

Physicians who make certification decisions are now required to provide documentation that states they met with the patient in person. For home health, this must happen within 90 days before the start of care or 30 days after the start of care. Hospice physicians or nurse practitioners must meet with a hospice patient prior to the patient's 180-days recertification and for each subsequent recertification. This must happen no more than 30 days prior to the start of the hospice patient's third benefit period.

To learn more, click here.

Thad Perkins Named March Employee Spotlight Award Winner

Team ProMed congratulates Thad Perkins on being named the March 2011 Employee Spotlight Award winner! Thad is a Web/Interactive Designer and has been with ProMed for a year and a half.

“Since Thad started at ProMed, he has shown himself to be a hard worker and one to never let obstacles get in the way,” said Director of Marketing Kristin Simanis. “He always works to find ways around a problem and come up with a solution, many times better than what we were trying to do in the first place.”

When we asked Thad why he enjoys being a member of Team ProMed, he said, “My favorite part of working for ProMed is the opportunities that they give you to be an expert in your area of expertise. They trust your skills and knowledge and are confident in your decision making, and at the same time they give you the opportunity to learn and develop.”

Thad also praised the people around him. “I would also like to add that I appreciate the team that I work with every day,” he said. “It is a very collaborative effort and I appreciate their input and contributions in all the projects we work on and the segments of the business that we push to grow.”

As the Employee Spotlight Award winner, Thad will be able to proudly display the Torch of Excellence trophy at his desk for the month of April. He was also given a $100 cash award.

Congratulations, Thad!