Congratulations to the Walters Family!

Team ProMed congratulates Jereme Walters and his wife, Natalie, on the birth of their twin son and daughter on September 29 (and we also congratulate Barb Walters on her new great-grandchildren!). Conner weighed in at four pounds, seven ounces and his sister, Callie, was four pounds, six ounces. Congratulations to the Walters family!

Women Face Higher Short-Term Mortality Following Hip Fractures

New information out of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research reveals that women in their seventies face a doubled risk of dying within a year of breaking a hip.

The researchers also found that short-term mortality (dying within a year) for women in their eighties tripled for otherwise healthy women who suffered hip fractures, but overall mortality for this group remained the same.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Rising Healthcare Costs Linked to "Too Much Care"

A nationwide survey published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that 42 percent of primary care physicians make more referrals to specials and order more tests than they would prefer to do. The reason? For 76 percent of that group, it was fear of malpractice lawsuits.

According to a researcher at the University of Chicago, this fear also exists in LTC facilities and frequently spurs skilled nursing facilities to transfer patients to hospitals too frequently.

To learn more, click here.

Congratulations, Lindsey Rolando and Chris Baron!

Team ProMed congratulates Lindsey Rolando and Chris Baron on their September 24 nuptials! Lindsey and Chris met here at ProMed, where she is a pricing analyst and he is a picker in our  warehouse. Best wishes, you two!

An Apple a Day Keeps a Stroke Away?

It appears there might actually be something to that old adage "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Dutch researchers have found that eating fruits and vegetables with white flesh, such as apples and pears, can help protect against a stroke.

To learn more, click here.

PDI Issues Wipe Recall

Professional Disposables International Inc. (PDI) has issued a voluntary recall of non-sterile alcohol prep pads because of potential bacterial contamination.  
The recall was announced after the FDA visited the company's manufacturing plant and tests showed the presence of bacillus cereus on the pads. Bacillus cereus is the same bacteria that triggered prep pad recalls, a plant shutdown and lawsuits against the Triad Group and H&P Industries. However, PDI stressed that the levels of bacteria that were detected were low enough that the products remained within allowed specifications and that the recall was being done out of an abundance of caution.

To learn more about the voluntary recall and view the affected lot numbers, click here.

Medicare Confusing to More Than Half of Seniors

Confused by Medicare reform? You're not alone. According to a new report, only 46 percent of seniors and baby boomers have a strong understanding of how Medicare works, and 50 percent of people over the age of 60 have a poor understanding of Medicare reform. This could lead seniors, especially low-income seniors, to make uninformed choices about their health care.

Other report findings include:

• 39 percent of all seniors rate their ability to navigate Medicare options as fair to poor
• Only 47 percent of limited-income seniors are familiar with Medicare's Extra Help program (and only 13 percent have applied for help through it)
• Less than 31 percent have heard of the Medicare Savings Program

To learn more, click here.

Banish Bacteria During Bathing

When you think of water, you picture something clean and pure, right? Unfortunately, bacteria can thrive in water, potentially leading to infections.

An Infection Control Today article took a look at water that enters healthcare facilities through water distribution systems and found that it can contain bacteria ranging from Legionellae (which cause Legionnaires’ disease), opportunistic molds and Chryseobaterium meningosepticum, which can cause meningitis.1

In light of these findings, a number of experts have encouraged facilities to eliminate using water wherever possible. When water cannot be eliminated, it should be monitored closely and disinfected either chemically or through heating.1

Reducing water use during bathing
The staff and residents at your facility can come in contact with the bacteria in water in any number of ways, including ice machines, showerheads, bathtubs, toilets and taps. One opportunity for cutting down on water use is with bathing and perineal care. Many rinse-free cleansers – available in foam, cream and gel formulas – can be applied and removed with soft, dry cloths, eliminating the need for water.

Pre-moistened washcloths are another good option for both perineal and full-body cleansing. These cloths often contain skin-soothing ingredients, such as aloe. More advanced formulations cleanse, moisturize, freshen and soothe the skin, reducing the need for multiple products. Manufacturers of these products have also taken other steps to reduce the risk of cross contamination, such as adding single-washcloth dispensers to their packaging.

Additional information
The CDC maintains a Healthy Water page on its website that can be found at www.cdc.gov/healthywater. The page offers guidance on using water safely in areas ranging from the medical field to private drinking water systems.

Reference
1 Burns S. Water: Is it a Breeding Ground for Bacteria in Your Facility? Infection Control Today. Available at: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2002/10/water-is-it-a-breeding-ground-for-bacteria-in-you.aspx. Accessed September 14, 2011.

Nurses Optimistic about Job Security, Less So about Retirement

An online survey of nurses revealed that although the majority are satisified with their job security and finances, their view of their ability to retire is far less rosy.

Among the findings:

• 79 percent of respondents feel secure in their jobs but are anticipating changes due to healthcare reform and rising increases
• More than half expect more demanding hours, less qualified workers and more nurses to leave the profession
• About 79 percent plan to work past retirement age to keep up with basic living expenses
• 42 percent believe they they will never be able to fully retire

To learn more, click here.

Proposed Legislation Would Speed Pain Relief, Ease Regulations

Senator Herb Kohl, the chairman of the Senate's Special Committee on Aging, has proposed legislation that would allow nursing home staff acting on a physician's verbal instructions to order and administer controlled medications to residents in urgent need of pain relief.

The legislation, known as the Nursing Home Resident Pain Relief Act of 2011, would allow nurses and other licensed personnel to act as "facility designees" when ordering and administering controlled painkillers. Currently, physicians must submit prescriptions for controlled painkillers in writing before the medications can be dispensed, which means that residents can go for long periods of time without adequate pain relief.

To learn more, click here.

Want Job Satisfaction? Work in a Nonprofit Nursing Home

A study out of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that employees at nonprofit nursing homes have greater levels of satisfaction with their facilities than their counterparts at for-profit homes.

The respondents on the survey were evenly split between workers at for-profit and non-profit facilities. A solid 80 percent of nonprofit employees said they would recommend their facility to a friend, compared with 72 percent of for-profit workers. Similarly, 66 percent of nonprofit workers ranked their facility as "excellent" or "very good" in terms of overall safety, compared to 57 percent of for-profit employees.

To learn more, click here.

Finally, Some Good Employment News!

The news on employment has been pretty gloomy lately, so it's always nice to see something positive! The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced that 3,900 assisted living jobs were added in August.

Health care continues to be a bright spot for job seekers. Over the past year, 305,900 jobs were added.

To learn more, click here.

More Caregiver Vaccinations = Fewer Flu Outbreaks

A new study has found that nursing homes with a higher rate of vaccinated caregivers have a much lower number of flu outbreaks. The study, conducted at the University of Oklahoma, found that when between 51 and 75 percent of caregivers are vaccinated, the odds of a flu outbreak at a given facility decrease by 87 percent.

However, the researchers also found an unexpected link between higher rates of vaccinated residents and a greater probability of flu outbreaks. The researchers suspect this might be from facilities overvaluing the protection afforded by vaccinating the residents and undervaluing vaccinating employees.

To learn more, click here.

Eating to Combat Overactive Bladder

For people with overactive bladder (OAB), what they eat can be directly tied to how many trips to the bathroom they make.

The following foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, contributing to urine leaks (please note that not all people will be sensitive to all items):

• Alcoholic beverages
• Carbonated beverages
• Caffeinated drinks (such as soda and hot cocoa)
• Drinks containing artificial sweeteners
• Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated)
• Tomatoes and tomato-containing products (such as marinara sauce)
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Highly spiced foods
• Corn syrup
• Honey
• Chocolate

Other tips for managing the symptoms of OAB:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Including fiber, such as fruits, veggies and whole grains (this helps prevent constipation, which can worsen OAB)
• Drinking just the right amount of fluids - not too much, and not too little (around six glasses a day) - water is ideal, but cranberry, grape, cherry and apple juices are also gentle on the bladder

To learn more, click here.

Happy National Assisted Living Week!

National Assisted Living Week (NALW) kicks off this Sunday, September 11 and runs through September 17! The theme of this year's celebration, sponsored by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), is "Forever Proud."

Since 1995, NALW has been a way for residents, staff, family members and communities to celebrate all that assisted living has to offer.

"Forever Proud" was selected as this year's theme because the celebration kicks off on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. According to the NCAL, "it was important for the theme to reflect the pride we feel as citizens and active members of the community. The events of 9/11 were tragic, but they also brought our country together. Countrymen helping countrymen and a spirit of rebuilding helped to foster a renewed sense of national pride for many."

To learn more and download planning materials, click here.

AHCA, Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Urge HCWs to Voice Concern Over Cuts

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care are encouraging healthcare workers to contact their legislators and encourage them to "preserve, protect and defend quality skilled nursing and rehabilitative care for seniors and people with disabilities."

The organizations are concerned that planned cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will threaten the senior population's access to quality care and maintain that nursing homes, SNFs and assisted living facilities can both create local jobs and help defend against rising healthcare costs.

To learn more and contact your legislator, click here.

CMS Proposes Covering Obesity Therapy

CMS is proposing coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obese individuals who are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B. This would include screening for obesity, a dietary assessment and intensive behavioral counseling and therapy designed to promote weight loss via diet and exercise.

To qualify, individuals need to be competent and alert and meet with a qualified primary care physician or care provider. Even though skilled nursing facilities would not be eligible for reimbursement, this program could spell good news for facilities struggling to keep up with the costs and modifications associated with bariatric residents.

The public is encouraged to click on the plan. Click here to view the memo and then click the orange "Comment" button to leave feedback.

Achoo! Fall Allergies are Here Again

The bad news? Pollen levels are on the rise, pollen seasons are longer and more and more people are developing allergies. The good news? There are ways to fight back.

Fall allergies, chiefly triggered by pollen from the ragweed plant, mold and dust mites, will likely last up to 27 days longer than usual in the northernmost spots of North America. Why is this happening? According to scientists, we're using more carbon-based fuels, which generate greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) that trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. As a result, plants and trees flower earlier each spring and frost over later in the fall, extending allergy season. Carbon dioxide also boosts the amount of pollen each plant generates, increasing pollen levels.

Does it seem like more and more people around you have allergies? You're not imagining things. The number of Americans who have allergies is two to five times higher than it was five years ago. Why is that? Experts point to several theories:

• We're too clean - that is, our immune systems are quicker to overreact to otherwise harmless substances such as pollen. This is due to our bodies being exposed to less dirt and bacteria.
• On the flip side, our environmemt is too dirty. Pollution (including exhaust fumes) can trigger allergic flare-ups.
• Our diet isn't helping. Processed, preserved foods throw up the bacteria balance in the gut, setting us up for allergic sensitivity.

So what's the good news? Well, there are more treatment options on the market than ever before, including non-sedating antihistamines, steroid sprays and eye drops. Experts also suggest eating whole, fresh foods in an effort to normalize gut bacteria.

Click here to learn more.

Labor Day Closure Reminder

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, September 5 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday product deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 6. If you have any questions at all, please contact our Customer Care department at (800) 648-5190.

Team ProMed wishes you and yours a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

Check Out Our New Embrace Article on Hand Hygiene!

We've just added a new online-exclusive Embrace article to embracethemagazine.com! With fall just around the corner and kids heading back to school, we thought this was the perfect time to talk about hand hygiene. We know kids bring germs home from school - could they be bringing them to your facility when they come to visit residents?

Of course, kids aren't the only ones with germs on their hands. That's why residents, staff and guests all need to work together and do their part! Click here to read the article and view hand hygiene tips for everyone in your facility.