ProMed Labor Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, September 3 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 4. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Care department at (800) 648-5190. 

We wish you and yours a safe and happy Labor Day! 

Study: Rosacea Linked to Tiny Facial Mites

Scientists are now able to link tiny mites that crawl across our faces, unfelt and unseen, to the development of skin-reddening rosacea. They're hopeful that this new finding might lead to more effective treatments for the condition. 

The mites, scientifically known as Demodex folliculorum, spend their daylight hours in our sweat glands. When they die, bacteria in their digestive tracts spills out into the glands. That's not a problem for the majority of us, but when people have a particularly large number of mites on their faces, the release of this bacteria can overwhelm the immune system, causing rosacea. 

These findings are leading scientists to theorize that dietary changes might be effective for preventing rosacea.  The mites feed on dead skin cells and sebum, the oily substance released by sebaceous glands. Eating lower-fat foods, according to the researchers, can lead to a more "normal" sebum that could prevent the mites from multiplying. 

To learn more, click here. 

Hand Hygiene Deficiencies Linked to Staffing Levels

In a recent study, researchers tied an increase in the number of hand hygiene deficiencies observed in nursing homes to inadequate staffing levels.

The researchers found that nursing homes with proportionately fewer RNs, LPNs and aides were significantly more likely to have hand hygiene deficiencies than facilities with more staff. Additionally, nursing homes in states with lower Medicaid reimbursement rates were also more likely to have lapses in handwashing.

The study also noted that inspectors, spurred by increased awareness of healthcare-acquired infections, are becoming more vigilant about looking for hand hygiene lapses. Between 2000 and 2002, inspectors issued hand hygiene deficiencies in fewer than 7.4 percent of facilities. By 2009, that number had jumped to 12 percent.

To learn more, click here.

Are You Using an Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Log?

Therapeutic use of medical-grade oxygen supplied via an oxygen concentrator requires trained clinical assessment, a prescription, in-servicing and instruction on the use, service, maintenance and support of the system you choose. We also suggest keeping a maintenance log that notes the following about your concentrators:

• Unit’s serial number
•  Hours at time of service, from the digital hour meter
• What maintenance was performed (i.e. changed battery, which filters, etc.)
• Date maintenance was performed
• Signature of who performed said maintenance

      We suggest keeping a copy of this maintenance log inside the unit case or in the rear pouch. 

Note: Concentrator care and components will vary by manufacturer and brand. Please consult your owner’s manual for specific guidance regarding your machines. 

Scientists Working on a "Smart" Catheter

Scientists at the University of Michigan are hard at work on a "smart" catheter that would release bacteria-killing nitric oxide when an infection is beginning to develop. They presented their findings at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, which was held in Philadelphia last week.

Currently existing "unintelligent" catheters can release antibiotics continuously, but these substances can quickly become depleted, lessening their effectiveness. The "smart" catheter would deliver the medication only when an infection is first detected.

The smart catheter would sense changes in the pH level around the catheter. Specific changes in pH indicate the critical point when bacteria have formed a sticky film on the catheter, signaling a developing infection.

To learn more, click here.

HaloShield® Delivers a Knock-Out Punch to Linen Odors and Bacteria

Keeping linens smelling fresh can be a daunting task as dampness creates the perfect home for odor-causing bacteria. HaloShield, an antimicrobial coating applied to textiles such as reusable underpads, was developed to reduce bacteria and permanently eliminate unpleasant odors. Facilities need only to launder textiles in bleach to recharge HaloShield’s odor-controlling power. Despite its strength, HaloShield will not irritate sensitive skin.

Reusable underpads treated with HaloShield eliminate unpleasant, embarrassing urine odors caused by incontinence. Within 10 minutes of contact with the underpad, 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria are eliminated. The underpads are also quick-drying and better for the environment than disposable underpads.

ProMed now offers reusable underpads treated with HaloShield. Your territory manager is ready to tell you more! To connect with us, visit www.promedsupply.com or give us a call at (800) 648-5190. 

What You Need to Know Now about the CMS 2012 Nursing Home Action Plan

On July 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2012 Nursing Home Action Plan, which went into effect immediately.

The Action Plan consists of five interrelated and coordinated approaches, each of which addresses one or more objectives of CMS' Three-Part Aim for improving healthcare in the U.S.:

1.     Improving the individual experience of care;

2.     Improving the health of populations; and

Reducing the per capita cost of care for populations.

The five components of the Action Plan and additional details about each are listed below.

1.     Enhance consumer engagement
Meets objective: 1
CMS plans to provide the public with a wider array of easy-to-understand information. For example, the Nursing Home Compare site (available at www.medicare.gov) has undergone a major overhaul.

2.     Strengthen survey processes, standards and enforcement
Meets objectives: 1, 2, 3
CMS is engaged in several ongoing initiatives to improve the effectiveness of both standard and complaint surveys.

3.     Promote quality improvement
Meets objectives: 1, 2, 3
CMS continues to increase its involvement in Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes as part of their efforts to meet quality improvement goals. The agency also encourages facilities to embrace resident-centered care.

4.     Create strategic approaches through partnerships
Meets objectives: 2, 3
CMS has partnered with State Survey Agencies (SAs), Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and Advancing Excellence Local Area Networks (LANEs) to address quality improvement at the state and national levels.

Advancing quality through innovation and demonstration
Meets objective: 3
CMS is involved in a number of projects that seek to transform health care by finding new ways to pay for and deliver care while simultaneously improving care and lowering costs. 

To read the plan in its entirety, click here. 

Medicare Antifraud Efforts Seeing Results

The $340 million in that Congress has devoted to Medicare fraud prevention over the next 10 years should keep law enforcement busy and significantly crack down on fraud, according to experts.

According to CMS, the number of defendants facing healthcare fraud charges has jumped sharply in the past year. Taxpayers Against Fraud, a group that helps providers sue fraudulent individuals, also feels that the Obama administration's strategy for fighting fraud is more systematic than previous administrations.

On the other hand, several long-term care provider groups feel that Medicare fraud patrols unfairly target skilled nursing facility payments for therapy and rehabilitation.

To learn more, click here.

Fight Infections with Hand Hygiene

Infections are a major problem in long-term care facilities, with an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 infections per resident occurring annually. These infections account for up to half of all nursing home resident transfers to hospitals.¹

Infectious organisms can be transmitted either through direct contact (e.g., skin to skin) or indirect contact (for example, through air, water or inanimate objects).¹ One of the easiest and most effective ways to halt infections is through proper hand hygiene.

Depending on the situation, hand hygiene can include either washing the hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub. According to the CDC, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are appropriate for use when hands are not visibly soiled and before having direct contact with residents.²

In addition to establishing hand hygiene policies and procedures for your employees, you might also want to consider placing hand sanitizer in high-traffic areas of your facility, where interaction among staff, residents, family members and guests can increase the likelihood of germ transmission. Hand sanitizers are also now available in convenient touch-free dispensers, which can be mounted on stands and placed throughout the building. Touch-free dispensers have been shown to increase hand hygiene compliance by 20.8 percent.³

Your ProMed territory manager is ready to talk to you about creating a comprehensive hand hygiene program! Give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at www.promedsupply.com.

References

1 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Facilities (Rev. 70, 01-07-11). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2012.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. MMWR. 2002;51(RR-16).

3 Larson EL, Albrecht S, O’Keefe M. Hand hygiene behavior in a pediatric emergency department and a pediatric intensive care unit: comparison of use of 2 dispenser systems. Am J Crit Care. 2005 Jul;14:304-11; quiz 312. 

ProMed Labor Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, September 3 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 4. Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery will need to place their orders by Friday, August 31. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Care department at (800) 648-5190. 

We wish you and yours a safe and happy Labor Day!

Colorado Branch of AHCA Raising Funds for LTC Worker Killed in Colorado Shooting

The Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living, the Colorado affiliate of the AHCA, is working to raise money for the two young daughters of an Aurora movie theater shooting victim who worked in the LTC industry. To learn more, click here.

Rebecca Wingo, 32, was a customer relations representative at Schryver Medical, a mobile medical imaging company that serves the long-term care market. To learn more about Rebecca's life, click here.

The Schryver Memorial Fund is a 509 fund that was established in Rebecca's memory. If you are interested in contributing, you may send a check payable to the Colorado Health Care Association to:

Arlene Miles
Colorado Health Care Association
225 E. 16th Avenue, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80203

Cocktails for a Cause Tickets are Available Now!

Professional Medical is a proud supporter of the Barnes Foundation, which was established by Terry Barnes, ProMed's founder and president. The foundation's upcoming fourth annual fundraising event, Cocktails for a Cause, will benefit the The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Care Center at Silver Cross Hospital right here in New Lenox, Illinois. 

Cocktails for a Cause will be held on September 28 at CD & Me in Frankfort, Illinois. Event tickets are $25, which includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and one entry into a raffle for $1,000 (winner need not be present to win). The event will also include live music, a DJ, a raffle and silent auction.

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here. 

Could You Cut Wound Care Costs?

When it comes to wound care, your number one goal is obviously to deliver the best possible care. However, many facilities also have the opportunity to reduce costs without sacrificing quality or performance. 

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you could trim your wound care budget:

Does my PPD spending align with the severity of wounds in my building?
Your spending should be a reflection of your residents' acuity.

Are there less-expensive yet equally effective alternatives to the products I am currently using?
An identical wound care product from a different manufacturer might be offered at a lower price. Also, keep in mind that there are a number of available products that can perform several different wound care functions, eliminating the need to purchase multiple products.

How am I ensuring that the caregivers at my facility are using the products correctly?
Misuse can lead to wasted product – and wasted money. If you choose to add or change products, make sure that your staff is properly in-serviced on the products.

Your ProMed territory manager would be happy to meet with you and discuss a personalized strategy for lowering wound care costs at your facility. Just give us a call at (800) 648-5190 to set up an appointment! 

Forbes Picks the 25 Best Places to Retire

Planning to retire soon? Forbes magazine has assembled their annual list of the Best Places to Retire. This year, they've expanded their list from 16 cities to 25. While there's a slightly bigger bias toward warm climates - which reflects retirees' wishes - there are still a number of towns right here in the Midwest that are mentioned!

Towns were selected based on day-to-day economic issues (home prices, tax burden on retirees and cost of living) as well as weather, availability of doctors, serious crime rates and encouragement for an active retirement.

Here's the list:

1. Albuquerque, New Mexico
2. Alexandria, Louisiana
3. Asheville, North Carolina
4. Atlanta, Georgia
5. Austin, Texas
6. Bloomington, Indiana
7. Boise, Idaho
8. Cape Coral, Florida
9. Columbia, Missouri
10. Columbia, South Carolina
11. Corpus Christi, Texas
12. Fargo, North Dakota
13. Fort Myers, Florida
14. Huntsville, Alabama
15. Knoxville, Tennessee
16. Las Cruces, New Mexico
17. Lynchburg, Virginia
18. Pensacola, Florida
19. Phoenix, Arizona
20. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
21. Salt Lake City, Utah
22. San Antonio, Texas
23. Savannah, Georgia
24. Tucson, Arizona
25. Tulsa, Oklahoma

More Americans Have Chronic Health Conditions

A new government report found that nearly half of all U.S. adults over the age of 65 have at least one chronic health condition, such as hypertension or diabetes. Broken down by gender, 49 percent of men and 42.5 percent of women reported that they had at least two chronic health conditions.

The data was culled from 2010 information. Previous data from 2000 showed that 39.2 percent of men and 35.8 percent of women had multiple chronic health conditions.

The increases were due mainly to rises in three conditions: hypertension, diabetes and cancer. These increases may be due to more new cases or people living longer with the conditions because of advances in medical treatments.

To learn more, click here.

CDC: New Strain of Swine Flu Spreading through Midwest

According to the CDC, a new strain of swine flu in humans is spreading - right here in the Midwest. Since mid-July, 152 cases of the illness have been found: 120 in Indiana, 30 in Ohio, one in Illinois and one in Hawaii. The CDC expects that this number will continue to rise.

In Indiana, the illness is mostly being seen in people 16 years old and younger. According to the state's health commissioner, these cases are largely tied to close or indirect exposure to swine, often at state or county fairs. In other instances, the illness was spread from the swine to farmers or veterinarians.

Swine flu is spread like any other flu: when someone coughs or sneezes, droplets are spread onto surfaces. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways of preventing transmission.

To learn more, click here.

Aging Baby Boomers Optimistic about Future

A new poll found that baby boomers are upbeat about aging and expect that the next phase of their lives will be better than the last - but they're also worried about their financial future and long-term health costs.

Baby boomers are one of the fastest-growing segments of the population, with boomers turning 65 at a rate of 10,000 per day for the next decade.

More than 75 percent of the seniors who were polled are optimistic, think the best is yet to come and expect that they will have the same quality of life - if not better - during their next decade. However, about of third of older Americans do not think they will be able to afford long-term care.

To learn more, click here.

CMS: ACA Medicaid Expansion "Truly Voluntary"

A CMS official has explained that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act will be "truly voluntary."

According to Cindy Mann, director of CMS' Center for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, states can sign up to expand Medicaid as early as January 2014 or at any point after that and they can exit the program if they are unhappy with it. The Affordable Care Act calls for states to extend eligibility to people with incomes of up to 133 percent above the federal poverty level.

Mann also said that while there is no Medicaid implementation deadline, states would miss out on federal funds the longer they choose to wait.

To learn more, click here.

Late-Onset Alzheimer's Harder to Detect, Less Aggressive

New research is showing that Alzheimer's disease progresses more slowly in adults over 80. However, this makes it more difficult to detect and treat. Caregivers are less likely to notice the disease developing in the very old because the symptoms may be less apparent at first than they are in other age groups.

The study was performed by researchers at the University of California, who used data compiled by the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

To read the study, click here.

Exercise Can Improve Symptoms of Residents with Both Depression and CHF

Exercise can improve the symptoms of people who are suffering from both depression and congestive heart failure, a new study found.

Depression and congestive heart failure (CHF) are common in nursing home residents and up to 75 percent of people with CHF also develop depression.

The researchers found that residents who were assigned to an exercise program that included 90 to 120 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week experienced a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than those who did not exercise. They also gained more stamina and had improved cardio-respiratory fitness.

The participants who exercised primarily used treadmills and stationary bikes.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Nursing Homes Residents' Desire for Intimacy Often Discouraged, Overlooked

A new study has found that nursing home residents are often deprived of consensual sexual relationships out of concerns for their safety and lack of formal policies for handling these relationships. Of particular concern are the sexual habits of those with dementia.

The researchers note that it is important that nursing homes begin to implement policies to ensure that the sexual needs of residents are met. During the study, residents expressed to the investigators that they would like their sexual needs acknowledged.

To read the study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, click here.

Good News: Nursing Home Salaries on the Rise

The average salaries of skilled nursing facility managers rose slightly in 2012, according to a new report.

The Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service's 2012-2013 Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report found that:

• Salaries of DONs rose 1.2% (to ($82,186)
• Marketing director salaries rose 1.7% (to $51,000) and 
• Administrator salaries rose 1.2% (to $94,678)

Although the increases were not large, the researchers were still encouraged by them because the numbers from the previous year were relatively flat. 

To learn more, click here.