Buy Five Wheelchairs, Get Free Shipping!

For a limited time, when you purchase five or more select wheelchairs or geri recliners in any size or any combination, you'll receive free shipping! Use the promo code WCFREESHIP when you check out online or mention it to our Customer Care team if you place your order over the phone. 

ProMed Partners with DUKAL

Professional Medical now offers high-quality DUKAL products! Our strategic partnership with DUKAL allows us to streamline our product offerings in the following categories:

• Basic wound care
• Dressings
•  Isolation products
•  Examination supplies

We have personally tested DUKAL’s products and are confident that you will enjoy benefits such as gauze pads with less fraying, dressings that are soft against fragile wounds and large, highly saturated alcohol prep pads. 

Established in 1991, DUKAL’s dedication to providing quality products has led to them becoming a well-known and highly respected manufacturer. The company is driven by its motto, “Quality.Value. Performance.” DUKAL shares our vision of finding the perfect balance between delivering great care and managing costs. Through our partnership, you can expect to receive better overall quality and service.

To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.  

Study: Residents Often Change Mind on Advance Directive, Caregivers Should Discuss Issue Regularly

New research from the University of California-Irvine highlights the importance of caregivers having ongoing discussions with residents about their wishes.

The researchers found that of residents who entered a nursing home with a full-code CPR order, 40 percent switched to do-not-resuscitate status within five years. Residents who were hospitalized or transferred to another nursing home were most likely to change their status. Additionally, black residents were more likely to change their status than white residents.

The researchers noted that advance directive information was removed from the MDS following recent changes. They recommend that this information is reinstated.

To learn more, click here.

Buy Five Foam Mattresses, Get One Free!

For a limited time, when you purchase five or more of our foam mattresses in any size or combination, you'll receive one for free! Use the promo code CFOAMB5G1 when you check out online or mention it to our Customer Care team if you place your order over the phone. Click here to view our selection! 

Study: Nursing Care Facilities Fifth Most Dangerous Place to Work

According to a new study from Allsup, nursing care facilities are the fifth most dangerous workplace. This was determined using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is based on the rates of injuries that are serious enough to involve days of job transfer or restriction.

Nursing care facilities are ranked behind amusement parks and arcades, animal slaughtering and processing, beverage manufacturing and foundries.

The U.S. average for injuries in nursing care facilities is 2.6 per 100 full-time private industry workers, but some states have a much higher rate. In Maine, for example, the rate is 5.1. Other states with high rates include Minnesota (3.5), Wisconsin (3.0) and Utah (2.7).

Community care facilities for the elderly also make the list of most dangerous workplaces, coming in at number 8 with an average of 2.2 injuries per 100 workers.

In Maine, nursing and residential care facilities were determined to be the most dangerous place to work. Maine sees an average of 7.1 cases involving days of job transfer or restriction per 100 workers. Nursing and residential care is also the most dangerous workplace in Indiana, with 4.3 cases per 100 workers.

To learn more, click here.

Prevention, Better Care Help Prevent Diabetes-Related Leg Amputations

The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" appears to hold true when it comes to diabetic foot ulcers, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that better foot ulcer care contributed to a nearly 50 percent decrease in diabetes-related leg amputations between 2000 and 2010. According to the study's authors, caregivers did a good job of preventing the ulcers from developing in the first place. They also saw orthopedic treatments for foot ulcers rise by 140 percent during the time period studied.

To learn more, click here.

Our Washcloths Just Got Even Better

We’ve taken our already-great premoistened washcloths and made them even better. ProMed’s exclusive Embrace® Skin Caring Washcloths (600-WC5N1) are now manufactured using a dot-embossed cloth for superior cleansing. To help you save valuable storage room space, the 600-5N1 and 600-5N1-VP SKUs have been combined into one 72-count package. We have not changed the washcloths’ skin-pampering blend of natural ingredients, which includes aloe, vitamin E, chamomile and sweet almond oil.

Our Compliance® Skin Caring Washcloths (600-WC4N1) have also received a facelift. They’re now manufactured using a thicker, more durable cloth and we’ve added sweet almond oil to the formulation to soothe delicate skin. The Compliance washcloths now have 80 wipes per package.

The increased package count for both the Embrace and Compliance washcloths will allow you to order these products less often. You’ll still receive the same great quality and price per wipe as the previous packaging.

ProMed strives to honor the environment whenever possible. To that end, both the Embrace and Compliance washcloths are now produced using eco-friendly wind energy and pure glacial aquifer water. They are proudly made in the USA.

The new and improved washcloths should already be arriving at your facility. We’d love to hear your feedback on them and hope you’ll swing by our Facebook page to share your thoughts.

If you have any questions at all about these upgraded products, please contact your territory manager or give our Customer Care team a call at (800) 648-5190. 

People Who Inspire Us: The Pole-Vaulting Grandma

Every so often, we come across a story that inspires us and we think you might enjoy as well. Such is the case with this CNN article about Flo Meiler, a 79-year-old track star who is also a grandmother of five and great-grandmother of two.

Meiler holds a total of 15 world records and 12 U.S. records in pole vault, 60-meter hurdles, 4 x 100 meter relay, steeplechase, discus, 200-meter hurdles and hammer throw. This is even more impressive when you take into account that Meiler didn't take up track and field until she was 60 and pole vaulting when she was 65.

To learn more and read an interview with Meiler, click here.

Average Salary of CCRC Directors Up to $148K

Thinking of a career change? According to a new report, the average continuing care retirement community (CCRC) executive director now makes $148,007 per year. This is close to a 6 percent increase since 2012.

Nursing home administrators now make an average of $99,783, up 2 percent from 2012. On the other hand, the average salary of nursing home assistant administrators dropped 7 percent to $79,000.

To learn more, click here.

Tips for Staying Cool

With sweltering heat blanketing much of the country, now is a great time to take the following simple steps t help protect your residents from heat-related illnesses.

• Make sure that the temperature in your facility is safe and comfortable. 
• Keep residents indoors in the air conditioning during heat waves. 
• Close blinds or curtains to keep direct sunlight from entering rooms. 
• Turn off unneeded lights (they emit heat). 
• Use extra circulating fans to keep air moving within your facility. Avoid using fans directed at individuals when the ambient temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Research Links Aspirin to Colorectal Cancer Decline in Women

New research shows that low-dose aspirin can help prevent colorectal cancer in women. Aspirin has already been shown to have potential preventative properties for other cancers, including melanoma.

The long-term study lasted for 18 years and involved 40,000 women age 45 and older. The participants were randomly assigned to take either 100 milligrams of aspirin or a placebo every other day.

The researchers did not find a link between colorectal cancer and and aspirin use during the first 10 years of the study. After women took it for more than 10 years, however, the benefits became more clear. The researchers observed a 42 percent reduction in colorectal cancer among the group of women taking aspirin, relative to the women who were not.

The researchers did not find that age or other factors were significantly associated with the study results.

To learn more, click here.

Infection Prevention 101: The Laundry Room

Do your facility’s laundry practices halt the spread of infections? Linens notoriously play host to soil and microbes, which can travel if items are laundered improperly. CMS notes under Tag F441 §483.65(c), Linens, that “personnel must handle, store, process and transport linens so as to prevent the spread of infection.”¹ We’ve created the handy checklist below to serve as an overview of the key points of the agency’s guidance.¹

Bagging Contaminated Laundry

• Bag and contain contaminated linen at the point of use to avoid contaminating the air, surfaces and persons in other areas
• Double-bagging is only recommended if the outside of the bag is visibly contaminated or wet
• Leak-resistant bags are recommended for linens contaminated with blood or body substances
• No special precautions or categorizing is recommended for linens originating in isolation rooms

 Stocking the Laundry Room

•  The laundry area should have handwashing facilities and products
• PPE (i.e., gloves and gowns) should be available for workers to wear while sorting linens

 Washing Tips

• Don’t leave damp linens in machines overnight
• Destroy microorganisms in laundry through hot water washing at temperatures above 160° F for 25 minutes
• Low-temperature washing at 71° to 77° F plus a 125-part-per-million chlorine bleach rinse has been found to be effective and comparable to high temperature wash cycles

Bedding Replacement

• Replace mattress covers with tears or holes (patches do not provide an impermeable surface over the mattress)
• Clean and disinfect mattress covers between residents using an EPA-approved germicidal detergent
• Fabric mattress covers should be laundered between residents
• Launder pillow covers and washable pillows in hot water between residents and when they are contaminated with body substances
• Discard mattresses if fluids have penetrated the mattress fabric

Professional Medical stocks everything you need for your laundry room, including carts, chemicals, dispensers and color-coded bags. To learn more, contact your territory manager, visit us online at promedsupply.com or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

Reference

1 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities (Rev. 70, 01-07-11). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/

Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed July 10, 2013.  

Cushions, Lap Positioners: Buy 5, Get 1 Free!

For a limited time, when you purchase five or more of our cushions or lap positioners in any size or combination, you'll receive one for free! Use the promo code CUSHB5G1 when you check out online or mention it to our Customer Care team if you place your order over the phone. Click here to view our selection!

FDA Propses "Action Level" for Arsenic in Apple Juice

The FDA has proposed an "action level" for arsenic in apple juice. This level, 10 parts per billion (ppb) is the same level that the EPA set for arsenic in drinking water.

The agency stresses that the levels of arsenic in apple juice are very low, but that by setting an action level, they are hoping to prevent public exposure to occasional lots that contain arsenic levels above those permitted in drinking water.

The action level is designed to act as guidance to the apple juice industry. The FDA will take the action level into account when considering enforcement action if it finds that a product exceeds the allowed level of arsenic.

Inorganic arsenic may be found in food because it is present in the environment, both as a naturally occurring mineral and due to past use of pesticides containing arsenic. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and has also been linked to skin lesions, developmental problems, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes.

To learn more, click here.

Seniors Falling Short on Getting Flu, Pneumonia Vaccines

Overall, seniors in the U.S. are doing a great job of taking care of their health, but they're still falling short when it comes to flu and pneumonia vaccinations, according to a CDC report.

As of 2010, about 68 percent of seniors had received a pneumonia vaccine at some point in their lives. Sixty-seven percent reported receiving a flu vaccination in the previous year. The CDC's goal for seniors is 96 percent. 

To learn more, click here. 

Study: Reading, Writing Slow Dementia

A new study has found that reading and writing throughout old age can slow down dementia.

The researchers examined the brains of 300 older adults who were given annual memory and thinking tests for about six years. The participants also answered questions about whether they read, wrote and participated in other mentally stimulating activities throughout their lives. The researchers found that the brains of the adults who stimulated their minds had fewer physical signs of dementia, such as lesions, plaques and tangles.

The participants who were mentally active late in life saw a rate of decline that was reduced by 32 percent. Those with infrequent activity experienced a decline 48 percent faster.

To learn more, click here.

Navigating Support Surfaces

Gel and foam and air, oh my! There are a lot of support surfaces on the market and it can be tricky to match your residents with the product that best fits their needs. We created the chart below to help you weigh your options.¹ Keep in mind that these components can be used alone or in combination.

Support Surface	Type of Support*	Description
Solid foam	Static	Porous polymer material that conforms according to applied weight
Gel-infused foam	Static	Provides the support and conformity of foam with the addition of gel that allows for rapid heat dissipation and better breathability
Convoluted foam (i.e., channel-cut or "egg crate" foam)	Static	Cuts in the supportive foam create a pressure-reducing, anti-shear surface
Gel	Static	Semisolid (can range from soft to hard) with elastic, pressure-redistributing properties
Alternating pressure mattresses and overlays	Dynamic	Provides pressure redistribution by cycling through loading and unloading via inflation and deflation
Low air loss	Dynamic	Provides a flow of air to assist in managing the skin’s heat and moisture

* Static pressure redistribution devices are non-powered devices that may be indicated when a resident is at risk for pressure ulcer development or delayed healing. Dynamic pressure reduction surfaces are powered devices that are indicated if a resident can't move into a variety of positions without placing weight on a pressure ulcer, if their weight completely compresses a static device that otherwise maintains its original integrity or if they have a pressure ulcer that is not healing as expected and it is determined that the pressure could be contributing to the delay.

Professional Medical offers a complete line of support surfaces to meet your residents' needs. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, visit us online at www.promedsupply.com or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

Reference

1 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Terms and Definitions Related to Support Surfaces. Available at: http://www.npuap.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/NPUAP_S3I_TD.pdf. Accessed July 2, 2013.

Study: Paid Sick Days Help Decrease Flu Transmission

According to new research, giving employees paid sick days would reduce flu infections in the workplace. This is in line with the CDC's recommendation that people with the flu stay home for 24 hours after their fevers break, a recommendation that is often ignored by employees who aren't paid for sick days.

The researchers also found that instituting "flu days," or paid days employees could use to recover from the flu, significantly reduced workplace flu transmission. One flu day resulted in a 25 percent decrease in flu infections and a two-day policy resulted in a nearly 40 percent decrease.

To learn more, click here.

ProMed Independence Day Closure Reminder

Professional Medical will be closed on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5 in honor of Independence Day. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Care team at (800) 648.5190.

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

ProMed’s Sizzling Summer Savings

We all like saving money. That’s why we wanted to share our current product promotions with you and ensure that you’re getting the most for your facility’s hard-won earnings,   

The promo codes listed below can be entered at checkout on promedsupply.com or mentioned to our Customer Care representatives when placing an order over the phone.  

Buy Five Wheelchairs or Geri Chairs, Get Free Shipping!

Promo code: WCFREESHIP

Qualify by buying five or more select wheelchairs and geri recliner chairs in any size or any combination.

Buy Five Wheelchair Cushions or Lap Positioners, Get One Free!

Promo code: CUSHB5G1

Qualify by buying five or more select cushions and lap positioners in any size or any combination.

Buy Five Foam Mattresses, Get One Free!

Promo code: FOAMB5G1

Qualify by buying five or more foam mattresses of any size or any combination.

There’s no need to stop with one promo code. Unlike many retailers, ProMed allows you to use multiple codes to maximize your savings! The same code can also be used multiple times in a single order. For example, let’s say that you purchase 10 foam mattresses. You would then be eligible to receive two foam mattresses for free using the FOAMB5G1 promo code.

We’ll continue to tell you about new promotions in Mr. B’s Equipment Specials, on promedsupply.com and in our quarterly equipment catalogs! For more information about these promotions, contact your ProMed territory manager or give us a call at 800.648.5190.

Nursing Homes Improving Their Five-Star Ratings

According to new data released by CMS, a substantial number of nursing homes improved their overall Fire-Star Quality Rating between 2009 and 2011.

While one-third of facilities maintained the same rating, 41 percent improved their rating while 27 percent saw a lower rating. The percentage of facilities with a one-star rating decreased from 23 percent to 16 percent while four- and five-star ratings increased from 35 percent to 43 percent.

To learn more, click here.