Food on the Brain

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Funny title, interesting study, maybe this is why humans have such a focus on food and pleasure. In a recent study initially conducted to identify the best body position for swallowing pills (I know, who studies that?) an incidental finding was that a part of the brain, “lit up” in response to pictures of food. It didn’t matter if the …

Change in Condition

Angie SzumlinskiNews

A recent lawsuit has been filed against 3 nurses, a nursing home, and a management company related to a resident’s death. The resident was admitted on September 29, 2020, and died of a urinary tract infection on October 31, 2020. She was admitted with an elevated white blood count, became lethargic during physical therapy, on October 15 presented with multiple symptoms …

COVID Again? Heartbreaking!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

On May 19, 2011, the CDC identified 10 public health achievements of the first decade of the 21st century. Hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of dollars were saved due to these achievements and the CDC Director at the time, Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., proudly announced that Americans are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives than ever …

Diabetes and Carbohydrates

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Prevention of type 2 diabetes is a major public health priority and evidence supports the crucial role of diet in preventing diabetes. No surprise, the most recent studies indicate that decreasing carbohydrate intake may prove to assist in preventing this disease.  Given the benefits of low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss and controlling glycemic levels, it isn’t rocket science, right? Well, …

Snacking – Of Course!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Being a “snacker,” I wasn’t surprised when I read the results of a recent study published in Geriatric Nursing on the benefits of snacking! The purpose of the study was to identify nursing home residents’ snacking preferences and to evaluate whether we must do a better job at addressing the meaning of food and the individual needs of our residents.   …

Close up of various colorful candy

Marijuana

Angie SzumlinskiNews

I knew I would get your attention! The use of medical marijuana is nothing new in this country, many people are able to manage pain, nausea, cancer treatments, etc. because of legalized medical marijuana. Fast forward and we now have legalized recreational marijuana in many states. You can purchase it at dispensaries around the country, you can smoke it, chew …

Elopement

Angie SzumlinskiNews

That dreaded phone ringing at 3:00 am, charge nurse on memory care unit, resident cannot be located. Your protocol for “missing resident” is in place, staff are trained and have done a great job initiating a search and following the protocol. Resident has not been located. As you drive to the center, you are on the phone with the local …

Ep 28: Ready or Not! Phase 3 is Coming October 24th

Andrea HauptPodcast

CMS will begin surveying against Phase 3 of Requirements of Participation for Nursing Homes on October 24, 2022. With around 180 pages of guidance, revisions, and updates affecting 52 F-tags, many providers are feeling anxious about the new guidance. Angie Szumlinski, Director of Risk Management for HealthCap talks with Crystal Bowens, the Associate VP of Regulatory Services for AHCA/NCAL about …

The Plane

Angie SzumlinskiNews

I’m sitting on a plane, and across the aisle are two middle-aged women, having a great visit, laughing, talking about their day at work, how happy they are to be going home and it happens. One of the ladies starts coughing, not that dry, hacky cough from being in a dry hotel room, but a nasty cough, that rumbly, yucky, …

The Big Debate Continues

Angie SzumlinskiNews

On December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. On January 1, 2020, WHO set up the Incident Management Support Team across their organization. On January 12, 2020, China publicly shared the genetic sequence of COVID-19 and the following day, January 13, 2020, officials confirmed a case of COVID-19 …