More Than Half of Healthcare Workers' Uniforms Could Be Hosting Bacteria

Here's some icky news - even though they might look clean, more than 60 percent of healthcare workers' uniforms examined in a recent study tested positive for pathogens, including those that cause MRSA, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. The germs were collected from the sleeves, waists and pockets of uniforms.

The findings led researchers to the conclusion that scrubs and uniforms could possibly transmit germs to patients. They also believe that the germs on uniforms could reflect poor handwashing practices.

In light of their findings, the researchers recommend that healthcare workers change into clean uniforms daily, improve their hand hygiene practices and don plastic aprons for messy jobs that could involve splashing or contact with body fluids.

To learn more, click here.

Evacuations Kept Residents Safe from Hurricane Irene

LeadingAge is reporting that mandatory evacuations in the New York City area and New Jersey helped nursing home residents and staff avoid tragedy during Hurricane Irene. Those who were evacuated are being transferred back to facilities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut this week.

Though the evacuations went much more smoothly than those during Hurricane Katrina, some problems were reported, including delayed medications, tests and other procedures.

To learn more, click here.

Sweet News: Chocolate May Be Good for Your Heart

The good news - chocolate might be good for your heart! The bad news - you're probably going to have a hard time convincing your cardiologist that you should indulge.

According to a new study, chocolate consumption might be linked to a one-third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. The reason for this is unclear, but the flavonols in dark chocolate are thought to be good for the blood system.

However, researchers are quick to point out that any health benefits that chocolate has might be outweighed by its high sugar and fat content. Still, we can dream, right?

Study: Long-Term Antibiotic Use Can Calm COPD Flare-Ups

A new study has found that long-term daily doses of azithromycin, an antibiotic, can help prevent life-threatening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups. COPD is a lung disease that includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

According to the study, those who took the antibiotic daily were 27 percent less likely to experience a flare-up in their symptoms than participants who took a placebo pill. Flare-ups can be caused by bacterial and viral infections.

The study's investigators hypothesized that azithromycin has anti-inflammatory properties that calm COPD. However, they caution that it has also been linked to irregular heartbeats and hearing loss in  people with hearing impairments and should be prescribed with caution.

To learn more, click here.

Join Us Today for the Barnes Foundation's Sizzlin' Summer Raffle!

The Barnes Foundation's Sizzlin' Summer Raffle is finally here! If you're in the New Lenox area, we hope you'll join us at the ProMed headquarters (1917 Garnet Court) from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for the drawing, a complimentary barbeque, children's games, a bake sale and exclusive day-of-event drawings.

There are some great prizes up for grabs, including:

• $2,500 grand prize
• $1,500 monetary prize
• Trump Tower Chicago Hotel and premier restaurant packages (2 winners)
• Electric grill and steak package
• Golf foursome package
• $100 cash prize (4 winners)

Raffle tickets are $10 each and you don't need to be present to win. Tickets will be sold here until 3:30 p.m. CST today. Good luck!

FDA Approves Botox for Bladder Control

The FDA has approved Botox for use in treating overactive bladder caused by damage to the nervous system, such as that which can occur with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.

Overactive bladder is caused by uncontrollable bladder contractions. It leads to frequent urination, the urgent need to urinate and the inability to control urination.

According to the FDA, a single injection of Botox into the bladder can relax the bladder and increase its storage capacity. This effect lasts for about nine months.

According to Botox's manufacturer, Allergan, about 60 to 80 percent of people with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries experience some form of bladder trouble.

To learn more, click here.

IA Redirects Funds Intended for Nursing Home Inspectors

Back in February, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad cut 10 of the state's 38 nursing home inspectors. That decision rankled the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the agency pushed for money to re-hire those inspectors.

State lawmakers allocated funding to the agency, but didn't specify that the money had to be used for the inspectors' salaries. Instead, the agency has determined that two-thirds of the $650,000 will be used for the general operation of the department's Health Facilities division and the remaining one-third will be dedicated to increasing oversight of the state's 188 residential care facilities for disabled Iowa residents.

Nursing home resident advocates are criticizing the decision, but the agency defended its decision, saying investigations have shown that there is actually not a need to restore the 10 inspector positions.

To learn more, click here.

CMS: Despite Reimbursement Cuts, Care Shouldn't Decline

Even with reimbursement cuts looming, CMS is confident that care will not decline at long-term care facilities.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, a CMS official said that the agency has plans in place to monitor changes in utilization and staff patterns to make sure that residents continue to receive high-quality care once reimbursement cuts are in place. The official added that they don't believe facilities will respond to payment changes by decreasing the quality of care they offer.

To learn more, click here.

Congratulations, Pam West!

Team ProMed congratulates Pam West on the birth of her first grandchild. Kerrigan Reese Simpson was born on August 13 and weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Her proud parents are John Simpson and Courtney West.

The Good News and Bad News about the CNA Shortage

Anyone going into the healthcare field has certainly heard that the demand for direct-care workers is expected to skyrocket over the next seven years. That's both good news and bad news for CNAs and home health aides, according to a new joint report from Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post.

Even with all of the anticipated job openings, home health aides and CNAs will likely face myriad challenges. Personal health aides make an average of just $12,300 annually, while nursing, psychiatric and home health aides make an average of $19,000. Additionally, almost one-third of all direct-care workers are uninsured. Close to half of them count on public assistance of some type, such as food stamps or Medicaid.

To learn more, click here.

GAO: Private Nursing Homes Have More Deficiencies Than Public

A new report out of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that private nursing homes rack up more deficiencies than their public counterparts.

The study took a a look at deficiencies cited on state surveys as well as nurse staffing levels and financial performance. In addition to have more deficiencies, private nursing homes were also more likely to have lower staffing ratios, though they did also have a larger ratio of RNs than public homes.

To learn more, click here.

ProMed Labor Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Monday, September 5, 2011 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery will need to place their orders by Friday, September 2, 2011. Please call our Customer Care department at 800.648.5190 if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you!

Elderly Women with Sleep Apnea 85% More Likely to Develop Dementia, Cognitive Impairments

Research out of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has linked elderly women who have sleep apnea with having an 85 percent higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

The researchers found that 45 percent of the study participants who had sleep apnea developed cognitive impairments, compared to 31 percent of the participants who did not have sleep apnea. The average age of the women in the study was 82.

Sleep apnea deprives the brain of oxygen, potentially causing damage. Up to 60 percent of elderly people suffer from sleep apnea or another sleep impairment.

To learn more, click here.

Last Call for Barnes Foundation Sizzlin' Summer Raffle Tickets!

Time is running out to purchase your tickets for the Barnes Foundation Sizzlin' Summer Raffle! The drawing will be held on Thursday, August 25. For just $10, you could be the winner of one of the many high-end prizes available, including:

• $2,500 grand prize
• $1,500 monetary prize
• Trump Tower Chicago Hotel and premier restaurant packages (2 winners)
• Electric grill and steak package
• Golf foursome package
• $100 cash prize (4 winners)

To purchase your tickets now, click here. While you don't need to be present to win, we hope you'll join us at ProMed's headquarters (1917 Garnet Court, New Lenox, IL 60451) between 3:30 and 5 p.m. for a complimentary barbeque, children's games, a bake sale and a special day-of-event auction.

Note: The Barnes Foundation was established by Professional Medical Founder and President Terry Barnes.

Disaster Preparedness? The Federal Gov't. Wants an App for That

In the wake of recent natural disasters, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is challenging developers to craft a Facebook app aimed at helping healthcare facilities - including nursing homes - improve their disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Entrants in the "Lifeline Facebook App Challenge" are tasked with creating an app that helps users establish three "lifelines," or friends who could be sources of support in the event of a natural disaster. According to the contest details, entrants are "encouraged to creatively leverage Facebook's existing networking and geo-locating capabilities to enhance the app's ability to increase personal preparedness, locate potential disaster victims and streamline information among social networks during disasters."

Sound right up your alley? Then click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for more details. There's big money to be won - cash prizes range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Federal Lawmakers Zero in on Injectables Shortages

Our friends over at Repertoire have posted an interesting entry on their blog devoted to the widespread shortage of injectables. Apparently, the issue has become serious enough to gain attention from federal lawmakers, who have proposed legislation that would give the market a heads-up about anticipated shortages.

From the numbers we've seen, it looks like the legislators have a good reason to be worried. A July-December 2010 study of 228 hospitals and other healthcare sites revealed that:

• 98 percent experienced shortages that resulted in increased costs
• 89 percent experienced shortages that maybe have caused a medication safety issue or error in patient care
• 80 percent saw shortages that resulted in a delay or cancellation of a patient care intervention

There are far more details on Repertoire's blog and it's really compelling reading. To read the complete entry, click here.

Compliance Continuing Education: A Winning Blend of Convenience and Value

Is one of your biggest challenges educating your staff on an ongoing basis? Why not let ProMed eliminate the guesswork and hassle? Our Compliance Continuing Education (CCE) Program covers more than 20 wide-ranging categories and the courses are appropriate for the majority of your nursing staff, including nurses, CNAs and licensed nursing home administrators.
The CCE Program's current offerings include:

• 52 courses geared toward nurses with 62 available CEUs
• 30 courses for CNAs, including eight streaming video courses on the topic of nurse aide skills
• 13 advanced CNA courses
• 11 courses for licensed nursing home administrators with 12 available CEUs

The courses can be completed anywhere your staff members have Internet access. Contact your ProMed territory manager or call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190 to learn more - and be sure to ask about our money-saving payment options!

Study: Vascular Disease Risk Factors Could Lead to Cognitive Decline

A new study has found that the risk factors that frequently lead to vascular disease - including diabetes, smoking, being overweight and having high blood pressure - can lead to cognitive decline later on in life.

Specific details included:

• People who had diabetes in mid-life lost brain volume faster in the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for forming, storing and processing memories)
• Subjects who smoked in mid-life lost overall brain volume faster than non-smokers
• Obese participants and those who had high blood pressure were more likely to perform poorly on tests involving executive functioning or planning

The study's authors hope that their findings will be useful in screening people for at-risk dementia and encouraging individuals with risk factors to make modifications to their lifestyles.

To learn more, click here.

Skypeing the Miles Away

The Hope Institute for Children and Families, a ProMed customer, recently shared on their Facebook page that the children who call Hope home will now be able to Skype (video chat) with their families! The staff at Hope will set up times for the students and parents to connect.

Have you considered using Skype at your facility, or are you already using it? How is it working out for you? We think this would be a great way for residents and family members to stay connected across the miles that separate them.

No Medicare Drug Premium Increases in 2012

CMS has announced that Medicare average prescription drug premiums (currently around $30) will not be increasing in 2012. Additionally, data is showing that more people are receiving free preventive services and many Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug "donut hole" are enjoying a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs.

Details released by CMS include:

• Between January and July of 2011, 51.5 percent of people with Original Medicare received one or more free preventive services.
• During the same time period, more than one million Americans with Original Medicare took advantage of the Medicare's new Annual Wellness Visit (last year, the figure was just under 800,000)
• Almost 900,000 Americans with Medicare have benefited from the 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the Medicare Part D donut hole in 2011 so far
• $461 million was saved on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries through June 2011

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, hailed these findings as proof that the Affordable Care Act (AKA the "healthcare law") is delivering on its promise of providing better health care for people on Medicare.

To learn more, click here.

Report: Clean Living Not the Only Key to a Long Life

Here's some good news for people looking to live a good, long life without giving up all of their vices. A major study found that many very old people (those 95 and older) are the picture of bad health behaviors, indulging in smoking, drinking and eating a poor diet while shunning exercise and maintaining an obese body weight.

The bad news is that the researchers concluded that the reason these people are able to live as long as they do has more to do with their genes than their lifestyle. And since genetics are a game of chance, just because a relative lived to be 105, that doesn't mean that other family members will as well.

According to the most recent census data, about 1 in 4,400 Americans lives to be 100 or older.

To learn more, click here.

Nursing Home Compare Website Changes Complete

The much-touted overhaul of CMS's Nursing Home Compare website is complete! Consumers who visit the site will now be able to file complaints directly with state survey agencies and view the complaints that states receive about specific facilities.

Other new additions include more quality of care information and data about the number of civil money penalties and other actions taken against nursing homes in the last three years.

To visit the site, click here.

CMS Planning 11.1% Medicare Payment Cut, Effective Oct. 1

Amid reports that providers have been overpaid to the tune of $2 billion above federal projections since late last year, CMS has announced that it plans to trim Medicare payments by 11.1 percent starting October 1.

CMS Administrator Donald Berwick was quoted as saying the adjustment is necessary in order for the agency to pay skilled care operators properly in the coming fiscal year. However, industry groups, including LeadingAge and the American Health Care Association, are accusing the agency of making cuts beyond what is necessary for budget neutrality.

To learn more, click here.