Labor Day Closure Reminder

Professional Medical will be closed Monday, September 1, 2014 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made Tuesday, September 2.

Please call our Customer Care department at 800.648.5190 if you have any questions or concerns.

Congress: Get LTC Staffing Info Directly from Payroll Systems

The Congressional Seniors Task Force is recommending that federal regulators start collecting nursing home staffing information directly from payroll systems rather than relying on self-reported criteria from facilities.

The recommendation comes in the wake of a New York Times article that criticizes CMS's Five-Star Quality Rating System. Because the Five-Star data is self-reported, the article said, facilities can increase their staff numbers in the weeks before a survey (AKA "staffing up"), leading to artificially inflated figures. The article also noted that staffing data is not routinely audited.

A provision of the Affordable Care Act requires nursing home staffing information to be based on actual payroll data, but this requirement has yet to be implemented despite a March 2012 deadline. The Congressional Seniors Task Force is asking CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to announce when the payroll data collection system will be available. 

To learn more, click here. 

10 Tips for Fighting Fungal Infections

Fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch, can be spread very easily from person to person, making them a challenge for long-term care and other healthcare settings. Below, we’ve assembled 10 strategies to help you fight back against fungal infections and the itching, cracking and other bothersome side effects they bring.

1. Advise residents to not share towels, combs or other personal items. 
2. Keep common areas clean. 
3. Encourage residents to wash their hands frequently. 
4. Apply an antifungal power or cream to residents after bathing, paying close attention to folds of skin where moisture might collect. 
5. To avoid contracting athlete’s foot, wash residents’ feet daily, dry them well and put on clean socks.
6. Encourage residents to remove their shoes while relaxing to expose their feet to air. 
7. Ask residents to wear waterproof sandals or “shower shoes” in communal bathing areas. 
8. Keep residents’ groin areas clean and dry, especially in warmer weather.
9. If residents are sweaty following an activity or outing, help them change into dry, clean clothes and underwear. 
10. Talk to residents and their family members about avoiding tight clothing and fabrics that do not “breathe.”

Professional Medical stocks a number of antifungal products that can help keep your residents comfortable and protected. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Study: Good Neighbors are Good for Your Heart

According to a new study, having good neighbors can be good for your heart.

In the study, published in Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, neighborhood and social cohesion was associated with a reduced chance of suffering a heart attack. Neighborhood cohesion was based on trustworthiness, reliability and friendliness.

The results support earlier studies that found an association between living in a good neighborhood and a reduced chance of heart attack or stroke.

To learn more, click here.

CMS: Missing Certification, Recertification Statements Major Reason for Claim Denial

According to a new memo from CMS, a major reason for claims being denied is failure to obtain certification and recertification statements from physicians or NPPs.

The memo outlines the components of acceptable certification and recertification statements. It also includes information on how and when to document the certification and recertification statements. CMS encourages billing staff to be made aware of these requirements.

To read the memo, click here.

Antipsychotic Use in Elderly Linked to Acute Kidney Injury

According to new research out of Canada, older people who take the antipsychotic drugs quetiapine (brand name Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) are about one-and-a-half times more likely to experience an acute kidney injury. These findings support ongoing efforts to reduce antispsychotic use in long-term care facilities.

Within 90 days of starting to take the drugs, about 1,000 of those studies were hospitalized for acute kidney injury, or AKI. By comparison, only 600 people in the group not taking antipsychotics were hospitalized for AKI.

Atypical antipsychotic use was also linked to higher rates of hospitalization for conditions such as pneumonia, heart attack and the inability to pass urine.

To learn more, click here.

Are Your Gloves Really a Great Value?

If you’re choosing gloves based on price alone, you might not be saving as much money as you think. To get an accurate figure on how much you’re paying for a case of gloves, you also need to consider how many of those gloves fail, wasting money, product and staff time.

To get started, locate the average failure rate of the type of gloves you are using:1,2

• Standard vinyl gloves: 41 percent
• Stretch vinyl gloves: 20 percent 
• Latex gloves: 10 percent
• Nitrile gloves: 2 percent 

Next, determine how much you are spending for a case of gloves. Let’s say you currently pay $29 for a case of standard vinyl gloves. As seen above, standard vinyl gloves fail an average of 41 percent of the time. When we multiply $29 x .41, we get $11.89. This is the gloves’ cost in failure, or the extra money that must be spent to replace the gloves that failed. When $29 and $11.89 are added together, we get $40.89, which is the true cost of the case of gloves. Suddenly, the vinyl gloves don’t seem like such a cost-effective option.

Your ProMed territory manager is ready to help you determine if you are using the gloves that best fit your clinical and financial goals. We can also help you apply our exclusive savings strategies to other popular product categories. To get started, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

References

1. Kerr LN, Chaput MP, Cash LD et al. Assessment of the durability of medical examination gloves. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2004;1:607-612.
2. Rego A, Roley L. In –use Barrier Integrity of Gloves: Latex and Nitrile Superior to Vinyl. American Journal of Infection Control. 1999; 27 (5) 405-10.

Let's Design Better Care Together

When you’re ready to make a change at your facility, turn to the experts. Professional Medical has partnered with Basic American to offer a complimentary interior design program to enhance resident comfort and wellness. We want to help you create a warm, home-like environment that your residents and their families will enjoy.

As soon as you start thinking about updating your facility, give us a call. The Basic American design team and ProMed will be with you every step of the way, from planning to design and implementation. You’re also welcome to join us on a visit to Basic American’s 11,000 square foot showroom in Atlanta to meet with their team and gain inspiration for your own facility.

Through this partnership, not only will you avoid having to pay an interior designer's hourly charges, you'll also be partnering with a team of professionals who are in tune with the specific challenges of designing for long-term care. Our team is detail-oriented and aware of the codes and regulations that need to be taken into account when designing a space that is both attractive and functional.

We provide the following services, all at no charge:

• Space planning
•  Schematic design
• Design development
•  Furniture selection
• Color and materials selection
• Custom furniture and millwork design
• Artwork selection
• Graphics and signage
• Accessories and lighting specifications
• Installation administration
• In-house purchasing

Whether you're looking to spruce up or completely overhaul resident rooms, dining areas, activity spaces, common areas or office settings, experienced interior designers are ready to help you create the perfect look for your facility.

To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager or call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190.

Labor Day Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Monday, September 1, 2014 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made Tuesday, September 2.

Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery will need to place their orders by Friday, August 29.

Please call our Customer Care department at 800.648.5190 if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you!

The Aging Lung: Understanding Changes and Challenges

Our lungs have two primary jobs: to get oxygen and air into the body and to remove carbon dioxide, a waste gas that the body produces when it uses oxygen, out of the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, the natural aging process can make these jobs more difficult.1

Because the body works as a system, many of the age-related changes that impact lung function actually originate in other parts of the body. The following is an overview of physiological changes that occur as we age and explanations of how these changes affect the lungs.1

Bones

As we age, our bones become thinner and change shape. When the ribcage changes shape, it can become less able to expand and contract during breathing.

Muscles

The diaphragm, the muscle that supports breathing, can become weaker as we age, making it more difficult to inhale and exhale.

The nervous system

Older people might experience some loss of function in the part of the brain that controls breathing. As a result, it becomes more difficult to both get oxygen into the lungs and expel carbon dioxide. Additionally, the nerves in the airway that trigger coughing are not as sensitive to particles such as smoke and germs. This can lead to large, difficult-to-expel amounts of particles collecting in the lungs.

The immune system

The immune system naturally becomes weaker as we age. Because of this, it is more difficult for the lungs to fight off infections and other diseases. The lungs also have a more difficult time recovering from exposure to harmful particles.

All of these changes can lead to complications such as lung infections, shortness of breath, low oxygen levels and abnormal sleeping patterns.

Understanding these changes and knowing which products can help support aging lungs are critical to helping your residents continue to lead comfortable, fulfilling lives. Your Professional Medical territory manager is ready to tell you more about our comprehensive Respiratory Care Management product category. To connect with us, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference
1 MedlinePlus. Aging changes in the lungs. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004011.htm. Accessed August 6, 2014.

Study: Animal-Assisted Therapy Helps Reduce Need for Pain Meds

A new study out of Loyola University in Chicago has found that patients recovering from surgery require less pain medication when they also receive animal-assisted therapy, or AAT.

During the study, patients were divided into two groups. One group received daily visits from specially trained dogs for an average of five to 15 minutes. The other group did not receive visits. When study data was evaluated, it was determined that the need for oral pain medication was significantly less (28 percent) in the animal-assisted therapy group.

According to the study's lead author, "The animal-human connection is powerful in reducing stress and in generating a sense of well-being. This study further demonstrates the positive influence animals can have on human recovery."

To learn more, click here.

Eat Your Veggies!

Just in case you need more reasons to dig into summer's abundant vegetables, check out the following four ways that they can lead to a healthier you!

1. They fight bloat. Veggies contain a lot of fiber, which helps flush waste and gastric irritants out of the body. Fiber also helps prevent constipation by keeping the digestive tract moving. 
2. They hydrate the skin and help fight wrinkles. Many veggies are 85 percent to 95 percent water. They also contain phytonutrients and vitamin C, which can help prevent premature aging. 
3. They reduce stress. Vegetables contain key nutrients, including magnesium and vitamin C, that are quickly depleted during stressful times. They also contain tension-reducing omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins to help fight depression and anxiety. 
4. They protect your bones. Like dairy foods, vegetables contain high levels of calcium and vitamin D. Some veggies also contain bone-builders such as vitamin K, magnesium, potassium and prebiotic fiber. 

To learn more, click here. 

Study: Drug Cures Alzheimer's Symptoms in Mice

Researchers at Yale have found that a drug can reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice, giving them hope that it could do the same thing in humans.

The researchers found that the drug, known as TC-2153, prevented a particular protein from impairing learning and memory functions. In the study, a single dose was enough to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's, allowing the mice to learn and recall motor skills, spatial information, signals and object memory.

To learn more, click here.

Bill Calls for Certified Hospice Inspections

Rep. Tom Reed, a New York Congressman, has introduced a bill that would require certified hospice programs to undergo standard surveys at least once every three years. Skilled nursing facilities are already required to undergo surveys in order to maintain Medicaid and Medicare certification.

To fund the inspections, the bill proposes transferring $25 million from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for fiscal years 2014 through 2016.

If it passes, the bill would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and would be in effect six months after the date of enactment.

To learn more, click here.

Collaborative Cost Management: A Roadmap to Continuous Savings

Professional Medical is dedicated to helping you strike a balance between delivering great care and managing costs. Our exclusive Collaborative Cost Management (CCM) program is a three-step cycle of evaluation and implementation that will help you realize continuous savings while delivering exceptional care.

Step 1: Immediate Impact

We’ll use our Compliance Price/Product Comparison (CPC) tool to analyze your current equipment and spend while offering solutions to help you improve care, save time and reduce costs. To ensure all goals are met, we will provide hands-on implementation that includes on-site education, tracking and analysis.

Step 2: Evaluation

Using our unique Per Patient Day (PPD) system, we’ll assess efficiency and identify opportunities to eliminate waste, shrinkage and mismanagement. The system generates monthly reports, broken down by patient day, to provide baseline data that identifies areas in which you have the greatest opportunities for savings.

Step 3: Improvement Strategies

We’ll work with your organization’s leadership to offer solutions and collaborate on the optimal improvement strategy. Our team will also conduct a Smart Choice Business Review (SCBR) to ensure you are continuously taking advantage of everything ProMed has to offer.

This cycle is ongoing, sustainable and evolves with your organization’s needs, helping you to both realize how far you have come and provide a pathway to where you want to go.

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

IL Congresswoman Proposes Bill to Increase Minimum Direct Care Nurse Hours

A bill proposed by Congresswoman Jan Schankowsky of Illinois would require long-term care facilities to use the services of at least one RN to provide "assessment, surveillance and direct are to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week." "Surveillance" was defined as "the ongoing acquisition, interpretation and synthesis of residents' data for clinical decision making."

According to Congresswoman Schankowsky, nursing facilities are caring for increasingly more complex residents but are not required to have an RN on duty for more than eight hours a day. She said that the need to change this "could not be more urgent."

If the bill passes, it will amend Titles XVIII and XIX under the Social Security Act and go into effect after the first day of the first calendar quarter one year after the date of enactment.

To learn more, click here.