Researchers Identify Pathway in the Body as Cause of Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have identified a certain pathway in the body as the cause of type 1 diabetes. They say the pathway, ATP/P2X7R, triggers T-cell attacks on the pancreas that inhibit its ability to produce insulin. 

The researchers hope that their discovery can help change the face of type 1 diabetes treatment. Their findings could be used to develop a treatment that targets the pathway rather than controlling the symptoms of the disease. They anticipate that this revised treatment could also help prevent other complications associated with the disease. 

Although it would take years before potential treatments could even be tested on humans, the researchers are optimistic that their findings are a step in the right direction. 

To learn more, click here. 

Study: Topical Estrogen Effective in Helping Prevent Recurring UTIs

Researchers in Sweden have found that topical estrogen treatments can effectively replace antibiotics in preventing urinary tract infections in older women.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to postmenopausal women to help prevent recurring UTIs, but this practice is leading to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

The topical estrogen, which comes in vaginal cream and gel forms, helps stimulate antimicrobial substances in the bladder and closes gaps in cells lining the bladder, making it more difficult for bacteria to penetrate. The estrogen also demonstrated beneficial changes on the cellular level.

To learn more, click here.

Dispensing Solutions

Although they often operate behind the scenes, your environmental services staff plays a key role at your facility. They’re tasked with the non-stop challenge of keeping everything clean and sanitized to prevent the spread of infection, create a sparkling, homelike environment – and keep an eye on your facility’s bottom line.

Thankfully, new tools have come on the market to simplify environmental hygiene challenges. One option for saving space and reducing costs is to install custom dispensing systems. These systems, which are housed in slim, space-saving cabinets, can be configured to include multiple stations for both bottle and bucket fill. They can be mounted both horizontally and vertically to work with any available space and can easily be modified to meet changing requirements.

The dispensing systems work with concentrated chemicals that offer significant cost savings (some even more than 50 percent) over ready-to-use cleaning supplies. These concentrated products also save valuable storage room space.

If these systems sound like a good fit for your facility, reach out to your ProMed territory manager. We offer custom dispensing solutions tailored to your exact needs as well as high-quality cleaning products for use in housekeeping, laundry and kitchen applications. To learn more, call 800.648.5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. 

MDS 3.0: Researchers Recommend Strategies for Identifying Suicidal Residents

Researchers from the University of Rochester, Mississippi State University and West Virginia University have created an action plan for caregivers to use when asking residents about suicidal thoughts. The MDS 3.0 requires residents to answer questions about these thoughts and facilities have struggled to find the best way to approach the issue.

The researchers recommend using assessments such as the P4 screener to determine if residents are at a minimal, low or high risk of suicide. Based on the results, caregivers can then take actions described in the researchers' decision tree (such as referring the resident to a mental health provider). The researchers emphasize that all actions should be thoroughly documented.

To learn more and view the decision tree, click here.

Residents Benefit from Multidisciplinary Teams Including Pharmacist, Physician

A new study found that residents receive a better quality of care when they are treated by interdisciplinary teams that include a physician and pharmacist. Having these two individuals involved was shown to decrease falls, improve behavioral issues and result in fewer antipsychotic medications being prescribed.

To learn more, click here.

Report: Verbal Abuse Common for New RNs

According to a new report, almost half of all newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) were verbally abused at work by their colleagues within the past three months.

Forty-nine percent of nurses said they had been verbally abused between one and five times in the past three months. Five percent reported being abused more than five times. Abuse tended to be more common on day shifts than during the night or on weekends. Those who worked 12-hour shifts reported abuse more frequently. 

The most common types of verbal abuse reported were being ignored or being spoken to condescendingly. 

Not surprisingly, the nurses who reported verbal abuse also reported being less satisfied with their jobs and view their jobs negatively. They also wished to resign, according to the report.

To learn more, click here. 

ONC Launches Healthcare IT Website

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has launched a new website that offers resources for long-term and post-acute care providers.

The site emphasizes the importance of information technology (IT)'s role in the healthcare field - for example, in facilitating care transitions. The site also has information about funding and initiatives available to long-term care providers who choose to use healthcare technology.

Click here to view the website.

Better Compliance Is In Your Hands

We all know that proper hand hygiene helps prevent cross contamination and the spread of illness-causing germs – but that doesn’t mean that we always take the time to do what we should. How can you drive up hand hygiene compliance in your facility?

A recent study suggests that one way is to install touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers. Researchers installed both manual and touch-free dispensers in a healthcare facility for two months and monitored how frequently each type of dispenser was used.  They found that the touch-free dispensers were used 20.8 percent more often than the manual dispensers, significantly increasing hand hygiene compliance.¹ Touch-free dispensers also have other benefits, including reduced contact contamination and less wasted product.

If you have serious concerns over hand hygiene compliance, a new, high-tech system from GOJO might be a good fit for your facility. Dubbed SMARTLINK, the wireless system tracks handwashing and sanitizing events as well as how many people enter and exit a room. The system is designed for facilities that have 100 beds or more and can work with existing RTLS systems. GOJO’s clinical team guides customized implementation of the SMARTLINK system, including an on-site audit, setup, baseline measurements and detailed improvement plans.

To learn more about how ProMed can help you improve hand hygiene compliance at your facility, give us a call at 800.648.5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com

Reference

1 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. 

Analgesics Involved In Greatest Number of Medication Errors

A new study shows that most nursing home medication errors involve analgesics.

"Analgesics" refers to a wide range of painkillers, including acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, such as morphine. This group of drugs accounts for 12.3 percent of errors.

The findings show that these drugs are more likely to be involved in medication errors regardless of how much they are used in a given facility.

After analgesics, the other drugs commonly involved in errors are:

1. Anxiolytics/sedatives/hypnotics
2. Antidiabetic agents
3. Anticoagulants
4. Anticonvulsants
5. Antidepressants
6. Laxatives
7. Opthalmic preparations
8. Antipsychotics
9. Diuretics

To learn more, click here.

Study: Common Drugs Can Trigger Alzheimer's

Researchers at Mt. Sinai Medical Center have found that some widely prescribed medications can trigger or slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers looked at 1,600 FDA-approved medications and found that 800 of them reduced amyloid beta accumulation and 240 of them promoted it. Amyloid beta plaques build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers focused primarily on drugs used to treat cardiovascular conditions. They found that some blood pressure medications, such as propranolol and nicardipine reduce amyloid beta production. Furosemide, on the other hand, had the opposite effect.

To learn more, click here.

FDA Moves to Fast-Track C. diff Treatments

The FDA has proposed a regulation that would fast-track potential treatments for C. diff, calling the infection a serious public health threat.

The proposed rule would enact a provision of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 known as Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now, or GAIN. The provision allows fast-tracked review of antibiotics and antifungal drugs designed to treat especially dangerous pathogens. It would also extend the market exclusivity of these drugs by five years.

C. diff is one of 18 pathogens that have been identified for GAIN inclusion.

To learn more, click here.

Rocking Away Depression and Anxiety

Anyone who has settled into a comfy rocking chair knows how soothing the back-and-forth motion can be. While it’s enjoyable for just about everyone, researchers have found that rocking is especially beneficial for nursing home residents with dementia. In fact, the repetitive, rhythmic motion of rocking can affect psychosocial well-being.

During one two-year study at a skilled nursing facility, residents with dementia were able to rock for an average of 101 minutes per day. The researchers saw improvements in resident depression/anxiety as well as reductions in PRN pain medication significantly related to the amount of rocking that was done. When study participants who enjoyed rocking continued doing so even after the study was complete, they demonstrated improved balance as measured by center of gravity.¹

The study’s authors also noted that reduced depression/anxiety and need for pain medication as well as improved balance all contribute to a better quality of life for the resident with dementia.¹ Rocking is also a safe, practical and non-labor-intensive source of relaxation for residents.

Despite rocking’s positive effects, many facilities have removed rocking chairs due to safety concerns. While old-fashioned rocking chairs might have contributed to falls, more modern designs address safety concerns and allow for safer transfers.

Professional Medical is proud to offer Thera-Glide safety gliders, which feature a patented auto-lock mechanism to help prevent falls. To learn more about these gliders as well as our complete line of fall prevention products, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. 

Reference

1 Watson NM, Wells TJ, Cox C. Rocking chair therapy for dementia patients: Its effect on psychosocial well-being and balance. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 1998 November/December: 296-308. 

OK Considering Doing Away with Requirement That Administrators Have 4-Year College Degrees

If it passes, a bill in Oklahoma would take away the requirement that nursing home administrators in the state have four-year college degrees.

The bill, which was introduced by Senator Greg Treat, has already met opposition from the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Long-Term Care Administrators, which sets requirements for administrators.

Senator Treat argues that people who work in nursing homes learn the ins and outs of the profession and should have a shot at becoming an administrator even without a degree.

The bill has passed the Senate and is now being debated in the House of Representatives.

To learn more, click here.

Independence Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5, 2013 in honor of Independence Day.

Orders placed by noon on Friday, June 28 will be delivered by Wednesday, July 3. Orders placed after noon on June 28 will be delivered the week of July 8.

Please call our Customer Care Team at 800.648.5190 with any questions or concerns.

We wish you and your team a safe and happy Independence Day!

FDA Panel Recommends Looser Restrictions on Avandia

On Thursday, an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend looser restrictions on Avandia, the controversial diabetes drug. In 2010, use of the drug was limited to people with type 2 diabetes who could not control their illness with other medications. This limitation was based on studies that showed an increased risk of serious heart problems in people taking Avandia.

Since the initial restrictions were put in place, additional studies were conducted that suggest Avandia may be safe for a larger group of patients.

The decision to whether to modify the restrictions now rests with the FDA commissioner.

To learn more, click here.

CDC: Nursing Home Occupancy Holding Steady

A new report from the CDC shows that the nursing home occupancy rate was steady at 82 percent between 2000 and 2011. However, while occupation remained consistent, the number of Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes fell from 16,389 in 2000 to 15,702 in 2011.

Other information included in the report:

• The number of Medicare-certified SNFs increased from about 14,800 in 2000 to nearly 15,100 in 2010 
• CCRCs and nursing homes accounted for roughly 6 percent of total 2011 healthcare expenditures, down from 22 percent in 2010 

To learn more, click here.

Report: PCA Training is Inconsistent, Inadequate

A new report from the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute warns that training standards for personal care aides (PCAs) is lax and inconsistent. PCA is the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S., with the number of PCAs projected to grow 71 percent by 2020.

Unlike CNAs and home health aides, PCA training programs are not well-defined or federally regulated. Instead, the training programs are left to the states or even the PCA's employer. Twenty-three states have no specific training standards of any kind and 27 states task agency-employers with setting their own standards.

This lack of standardized training makes it difficult for seniors to judge the qualifications of a PCA and can also make it difficult for PCAs to change jobs.

To learn more, click here.

Obesity: A Weighty Issue for Your Facility

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of youth in the United States are obese. Adults age 60 or over are more likely to be obese than younger adults, with 36.6 percent of men and 42.3 percent of women over the age of 60 being reported as obese.¹

Obesity is calculated by taking a person’s weight in kilograms and dividing it by their height in meters squared, rounded to one decimal place. This determines an individual’s body mass index, or BMI. Adults with a BMI of 30 or greater (for example, a person who is 5’4” and weighs 174 pounds) are considered obese.

Obesity increases an individual’s risk for a number of health conditions, including hypertension, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, strokes, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and type 2 diabetes.

The increasing number of obese seniors coming to your facility can also create logistical problems. Standard-sized furniture and equipment might not be able to accommodate residents with bariatric proportions. Fortunately, manufacturers are in tune with the rise in obesity and have developed products with this population in mind.

Professional Medical offers a comprehensive suite of products for the bariatric resident, including:

• Beds and accessories
• Commodes and shower chairs
• Lifts and transfer solutions
• Wheelchairs and recliners
• Dynamic air mattresses
• Foam mattresses

      Our highly trained territory managers are ready to help you address your facility’s specific bariatric product needs. To connect with us, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NCHS Data Brief, No. 82. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db82.pdf. Accessed May 30. 2013. 

Probiotics Can Reduce C. diff Symptoms By 64%

It might be time to reach for the yogurt. Researchers have found that probiotics can reduce the risk of C. diff-associated symptoms by 64 percent among people who are taking antibiotics. Probiotics are small organisms that help maintain the gut's natural balance of organisms in the intestines. 

Probiotics appear to help prevent the diarrhea associated with C. diff infections. However, while they can eliminate symptoms of a C. diff infection, probiotics do  not appear to reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with the bacteria. 

To learn more, click here.