ProHeal Liquid Supplements Heal Residents from Within

DermaRite’s new ProHeal line of liquid supplements was designed to take wound care to the next level. Each of the four ProHeal formulations was developed to assist with specific health concerns.

ProHeal™ is a medical food developed for the dietary management of wounds as well as other conditions that would benefit from extra protein intake, including hypoalbuminemia, involuntary weight loss, anorexia, protein calorie malnutrition, muscle wasting conditions such as AIDS and cancer, dialysis and bariatric surgery.

ProHeal™ Critical Care is a concentrated blend of hydrolyzed collagen and whey protein for maximum protein content and absorption. It also contains vitamin C and L-Arginine for collagen synthesis and increased blood flow to wound areas as well as zinc and copper, co-factors in connective tissue reproduction.

FiberHeal™ combines the laxative and stool-softening effects of fiber and FOS with all-natural sorbitol, which aids in gentle elimination without diarrhea. As part of a healthy diet, FiberHeal helps maintain regularity, lower cholesterol levels and support blood sugar control.

UTIHeal™ creates an environment that inhibits the growth of infection-causing bacteria while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the urinary tract. The concentrated cranberry-based formula also contains vitamin C, D-Mannose and Erythritol as well as FOS (Inulin) to promote urinary tract health and infection prevention.

To learn more about the Proheal line, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com for additional information.

AAP: Use Millimeters, Not Teaspoons or Tablespoons, When Prescribing Liquid Meds to Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling for medications to be measured in millimeters, not tablespoons or teaspoons, in order to cut down on accidental overdoses among children.

The problem with tablespoons and teaspoons arises when people use the same utensils they use for meals to dole out medication. These utensils don't necessarily hold an exact tablespoon or teaspoon, potentially leading to an unintentional overdose. Unintentional overdoses cause more than 70,000 children to visit the emergency room each year, and measuring and delivery errors are among the most common causes of these visits.

The AAP recommends that millimeter-based dosing be used exclusively when prescribing and administering liquid medications. These medications should preferably be administered using syringes with metric markings, allowing for precise measurements.

Additionally, the AAP is asking that dosing devices, such as syringes, only include relevant markings and not feature markings significantly larger than the prescribed dose.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Slow Feedings Can Worsen Dysphagia

A new study has found that a slow-but-constant feeding pace can actually worsen dysphagia by increasing the duration of mealtimes and tiring the muscles used for swallowing. 

During the study, participants were fed a meal and instructed to eat it within 30 minutes without resting. This length of time was chosen because it reflects high-intensity eating with continual chewing and swallowing, similar to what happens when residents are fed by a meal assistant. 

The researchers studied oral function before and after the meal and discovered that tongue pressure and the number of voluntary swallows were significantly lower in participants over the age of 70. They also observed that the initiation of swallowing was prolonged by meal consumption and aging and that oral fatigue set in after the meal.

To learn more, click here. 

FDA Approves New Treatment for Diabetic Retinopahy

The FDA announced on Wednesday that it has approved a new treatment for diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetic macular edema. The treatment, Eylea (afibercept), is an injection.

According to the FDA, diabetic retinopathy, or DR, is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in adults in the U.S. In 2008, 33 percent of adults with diabetes had some form of DR.

Eylea is administered by a physician as an injection into the eye once a month for five months and then once every two months. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other appropriate interventions to control blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.

The FDA notes that the most common side effects associated with Eylea including bleeding of the conjunctiva, eye pain, cataracts, floaters, increased pressure inside the eye and separation of the interior jelly of the eye form the retina. Serious potential complications include infection within the eye and retinal detachment.

To read the FDA's press release, click here.

Study: Many People With Alzheimer's Undiagnosed or Unaware of Diagnosis

A new report from the Alzheimer's Association revealed that most people who are living with Alzheimer's disease either are not aware of their diagnosis or have not been diagnosed at all.

According to the report:

• Only 45 percent of seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer's or their caregivers are aware of the diagnosis (by comparison, 90 percent of more of people diagnosed with cancer or cardiovascular disease are aware) 
• Among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's, only 33 percent are aware they have it
• Among all people living with Alzheimer's, only about half have ever been diagnosed 

The report estimates that roughly 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including 200,000 under the age of 65. Nearly two-thirds of those are women.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death for seniors. Alzheimer's deaths jumped 71 percent between 2000 and 2013 while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, decreased during the same time period.

To learn more and view the report, click here.

This Spring, Upgrade to Microfiber

Spring cleaning time is finally upon us! If you’re not getting the sparkling clean that you want as you prepare your facility for warmer temperatures, it’s time to take a look at microfiber.

Microfiber strands are several hundred times smaller than strands of cotton. During the manufacturing process, the microfiber strands are split, creating open spaces in the strand. These tiny openings help microfiber strands get into miniscule nooks and crannies to lift and trap dust, grime and moisture without damaging delicate surfaces.

Microfiber strands are also positively charged. Dirt and dust are negatively charged, so they’re attracted to microfiber like a magnet. Impurities stay trapped in the microfiber until they are rinsed out or released in the laundering process.

Microfiber products are perfect for both wet and dry applications and can be used on floors, walls, windows, furniture, restrooms, showers and more!

Other benefits of microfiber:

It’s more efficient

• Eliminates streaks, reducing cleaning time
• Absorbs up to seven times its weight
• Cleaning solutions go farther

It’s better for your bottom line 

• Reduced water and chemical use
• Lasts five to 10 times longer than conventional materials
• Cleans more efficiently, reducing labor and chemical costs

It’s better for the environment

• Fewer chemicals are used when clenaing with microfiber
• Uses less water, helping to preserve natural resources

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

Let Us Furnish You with Quality

You already trust ProMed for the disposable medical products that help you meet your residents’ daily needs, but did you know that we also offer durable furnishings? We can connect you with everything you need to create a comfortable, homelike environment.

Our skilled territory managers can help you select the following:

• Powered reclining loungers
• Safety gliders
• Head- and footboards in a variety of finishes
• Bedside cabinets
• Three- and four-drawer dressers
• Roomy wardrobes
• Armchairs upholstered in fabrics designed to stand up to institutional use
• Durable tables for dining and activities

Contact your ProMed territory manager now to start the new year with a fresh new look for your facility! You can also give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Compliance® Continuing Education: A Winning Mix of Convenience and Value

Is one of your biggest challenges educating your staff on an ongoing basis? Let ProMed’s Compliance Continuing Education Program help! Our exclusive Web-based educational program will provide you and your team with the in-services that you need to update and reinforce clinical knowledge.

Compliance Continuing Education covers more than 20 wide-ranging categories. The courses are appropriate for the majority of your staff, including:

• Nurses
• Licensed nursing home administrators
• Registered dietitians/dietetic technicians
• Social workers
• Respiratory therapists
• CNAs and general staff

Because the program is Web-based, courses can be completed anywhere you staff has Internet access!

To learn more, please contact your territory manager or give us a call at 800.648.5190.

Senate Bill Would Make It Easier for LTC Facilities to Admit Veterans

A new Senate bill would give veterans easier access to long-term care facilities.

The Veterans Access to Extended Care Act was introduced on March 16. It would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to avoid onerous reporting requirements that often delay or prevent placement in skilled care and other settings, according to McKnight's.

The VA is authorized to enter into contracts with long-term care facilities for veterans, but complicated federal reporting requirements have dissuaded many facilities from admitting them. On the other hand, nursing homes don't face the same difficult reporting requirements when veterans are accepted through the Medicare program.

In 2013, the VA issued a proposed rule that would make VA and CMS reporting requirements the same. The Veterans Access to Extended Care Act would make that permanent.

To learn more, click here.

Have You Tried Our Flushable Wipes?

ProMed’s exclusive Embrace® and Compliance® Flushable Washcloths are the newest products from the brands you know and trust for their superior performance and great value. The wipes are made of naturally biodegradable fibers that disperse just like toilet paper during flushing. They’re the perfect addition to your skin care routine!

Additional features:

• Biodegradable
• Dispersible
• Safe for sewers and septic systems when used as directed
• Latex- and alcohol-free
• Contain skin-softening aloe
• pH balanced and hypoallergenic

Our wipes are comparable to Cottonelle FreshCare Flushable Cleansing Cloths, DUKAL Flushable Wet Wipes, Dynarex Flush Away Flushable Wipes, Medline ReadyFlush Biodegradable Flushable Wipes, PDI Hygea Flushable Cleansing Cloths and TENA Flushable Washcloths.

Contact your ProMed territory manager to learn more about the new wipes! You can also give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com for additional information.

St. Patrick's Day Trivia

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we've rounded up some bits of trivia for you to share with your residents!

• St. Patrick was not actually Irish by birth. He was a Romano-Britan Christian missionary born in England.
• The first official St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City in 1762.
• An estimated 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed around the world on St. Patrick's Day.
• Although it's customary to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, the color was long considered unlucky in Ireland. Folklore held that faeries were fond of stealing people, especially children, who wore too much green.
• Although St. Patrick is credited for driving dangerous animals, especially snakes, out of Ireland, this is unlikely. Snakes have never been native to Ireland. Instead, snakes were probably representative of druidic religions, which started to vanish from Ireland after St. Patrick planted the seeds of Christianity.
•  As recently as the 1970s, pubs in Ireland were required to be closed on St. Patrick's Day because it is a national religious holiday.
• On St. Patrick's Day, workers in Chicago use 40 pounds of vegetable dye to temporarily dye the Chicago River green.

Oh, and if you raise a pint with your friends on St. Patrick's Day, be sure to toast by saying "Slainté!" (pronounced SLAN-cha). It's the Irish word for "health." 

Mayo Clinic: Short Sleep Cycles Lead to Increased Blood Pressure

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that consecutive or prolonged periods of shortened sleep can have negative effects on heart rates and blood pressure.

During the study, study participants (who were between the ages of 19 and 36) were closely monitored over a 16-day period that included nine consecutive days of abbreviated sleep (four hours) or normal sleep (nine hours).

On average, systolic and diastolic blood pressure for sleep-deprived participants averaged 115/64 mm Hg, while participants who  got plenty of sleep saw an average of 105/57 Hg. Blood pressure normally drops in healthy people during a full night's sleep, but that didn't happen among the sleep-deprived participants.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Severe Sepsis Patients Frequently Rehospitalized with Preventable Conditions

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more than 40 percent of re-hospitalizations of severe sepsis patients are for diagnoses that could have been prevented.

The study's authors found that these patients are frequently re-hospitalized within 90 days of having severe sepsis. However, 42 percent of them had "potentially preventable readmission diagnoses," including pneumonia, hypertension, dehydration, asthma, urinary tract infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, perforated appendix, diabetes, angina, congestive heart failure, sepsis, acute renal failure, skin or soft tissue infection and aspiration pneumonitis.

To learn more, click here.

Tips for Researching Health Conditions Online

When we're feeling under the weather, many of us have a tendency to hop online and search for our symptoms - only to be met with frightening or worrisome search results. According to CNN, there are a few pointers we should use when researching illnesses online (none of which, of course, replace calling a physician!).

1. Give more credence to Web addresses that end in .org and .edu when search for reliable health information, and check to see who is funding the collection of that information. 
2. Be wary of information that is shared in healthcare forums. While crowdsourcing information on a symptom can be helpful, this relies on the knowledge of other forum participants, which can be hit or miss.
3. Try not to get too emotional or convince yourself of a "worst case scenario" that you run across. Instead, try using reliable tools such as the Mayo Clinic's symptom checker. 
4. If you find information online that you think is truly helpful, print it out and take it to your doctor so the two of you can discuss it together rather than relying on it as a diagnosis. 

To learn more, click here. 

ProMed Good Friday/Easter Closure Notice

Professional Medical will be closed Friday, April 3 in honor of Good Friday/Easter.

Orders placed by noon on Monday, March 30 will be delivered by Thursday, April 2.

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

Let Us Meet Your Home Care Needs

ProMed earned its reputation in the industry by serving nursing homes, but we also offer products to meet essential home care needs.

We are your go-to source for items from the best brands in the business, including:

• Aluminum, steel and other specialty rollators 
• Enteral pumps, including our exclusive Compliance® pump, and accessories 
• Walkers in multiple configurations, including bariatric models, side walkers, knee walkers, the unique LiftWalker and a full line of accessories to create a walker that matches your lifestyle 
• Standard, folding and quad canes, including styles for bariatric users 
• Adjustable beds and accessories 
• Shower chairs and benches for safer, simplified bathing 
• A wide variety of raised toilet seats, commodes and accessories 
• Standard and reclining wheelchairs in a wide range of sizes 
• Powered and non-powered support surfaces
• TENS units and electrodes  
• Nebulizer units and ancillary items 

Since these products come from ProMed, a company trusted to meet the needs of long-term care since 1968, you can rest assured that they’ll deliver best-in-class performance and value.

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

Study: Pain Frequently Under-Detected, Poorly Managed in Dementia Residents

A new study in the journal BMC Geriatrics found that pain in people with dementia is under-detected and poorly managed in both acute in long-term care.

The researchers determined that this could be related to limited evidence showing the reliability, validity and clinical utility of pain assessment tools for use with the elderly.

While self-reporting is considered to be the gold standard for reporting pain, this option is frequently not feasible for residents with later-stage dementia.

The researchers examined 28 pain assessment tools that could possibly help with this issue, but ultimately determined they could not specifically recommend any of them due to a lack of comprehensive evidence on their reliability, validity, feasibility or clinical utility.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Adults Get Flu Twice a Decade, On Average

According to a new study out of Imperial College London, adults over the age of 30 only catch the flu about twice a decade. However, they noted, many other pathogens can present flu-like symptoms, making it difficult to determine how often people really have influenza.

Children, on the other hand, were found to get the flu every other year, on average.

During the study, the researchers analyzed blood samples and looked at antibody levels against nine different strains of flu that circulated between 1968 and 2009.

The study's authors noted that rhinovirus and coronavirus both present similarly to the flu, possibly leading people to assume these illnesses are influenza.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Nurses' English Skills, Accents Can Impede Care

A new study found that nurses' English skills or accents can impede care.

The study, which involved 1,600 nurses in 98 nursing homes in five states, revealed that about 15 percent of LTC nurses reported that their English proficiency or accents created communication problems with residents.

The study noted that both nurses born and educated in another country and those born abroad but educated here reported communication problems at about the same rate. Regional accents and speech also contributed to communication issues.

The researchers said their results show that current English competency tests might be insufficient and not adequately assess an individual's ability to communicate complex issues regarding care.

To learn more, click here.

Compliance Continuing Education: A Winning Mix of Convenience and Value

Is one of your biggest challenges educating your staff on an ongoing basis? Let ProMed’s Compliance Continuing Education Program help! Our exclusive Web-based educational program will provide you and your team with the in-services that you need to update and reinforce clinical knowledge. 

Compliance Continuing Education covers more than 20 wide-ranging categories. The courses are appropriate for the majority of your staff, including:

• Nurses
• Licensed nursing home administrators
• Registered dietitians/dietetic technicians
• Social workers
• Respiratory therapists
• CNAs and general staff

Because the program is Web-based, courses can be completed anywhere you staff has Internet access!

To learn more, please contact your territory manager or give us a call at 800.648.5190

Protect Yourself from Wintertime COPD Flare-Ups

Unfortunately, it looks like we still have plenty of winter left to endure. During this cold weather, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are more likely to experience disease flare-ups involving increased coughing and other exacerbated symptoms. This is partially due to the respiratory viruses (such as colds and flu) that make the rounds when weather turns cold.

HealthGrades recommends taking the following steps to avoid wintertime flare-ups:

• Protect yourself from respiratory infections by staying away from sick people, practicing good hand hygiene and getting vaccinated against flu and pneumonia (check with your doctor before receiving the vaccines). 
• Shield yourself from the cold by checking the weather before going outdoors (keep a close eye on wind chill). If you can, stay inside when it gets very cold outside. If you must go out, wear a knit scarf or mask around your face and mouth as well as a hat, mittens and multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing topped with a weatherproof jacket. 
• Stay away from aggravating elements, including secondhand cigarette smoke, smoke from wood-burning stoves, chemical fumes and dust. It's also a good idea to have your furnace checked to make sure it isn't leaking irritating particles. 
• See your doctor regularly throughout the cold months and follow his or her suggestions on caring for yourself.