Angie's Blog

HealthCap® USA

Angie Szumlinski, NHA, RN-BC, RAC-CT and BS

Director of Risk Management

Angie SzumlinskiMs. Szumlinski is a nationally-recognized leader in long-term care with experience as an Owner/Provider, Administrator, Director of Nursing, Corporate Quality Assurance Coordinator and independent consultant. Ms. Szumlinski conducts risk management visits at facilities across the country, touching every acuity level within the post-acute care spectrum. Ms. Szumlinski served as an Associated Board Member for NCAL, is a member of the AHCA/NCAL Quality Committee, NCAL Risk Management Committee, HCAM Legal/Clinical Committee and is a Senior Examiner/Team Leader for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program. Ms. Szumlinski is a Nurse Planner for the HealthCap® ANCC accredited education program.

Antibody Detection – Nursing Home Residents

Angie Szumlinski Studies

In a recent study, medical experts from several universities and the Veterans Administration found that vulnerable older adults can mount an antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and that antibodies are most likely to be detected within 15-30 days of diagnosis. That antibodies were detected in a large proportion of residents with no confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection highlights the complexity of identifying who …

One or Two Doses?

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

Arguments have been made that because COVID-19 is such a serious disease that is rapidly spreading throughout the world and because vaccines can be made and delivered at a relatively slow rate, a first dose should be given and the second dose delayed until a large amount of the population receives the first dose. To be clear, it is known …

Frailty and Comorbidities – COVID-19 Outcomes

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

A study conducted in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic had some very interesting variables and outcomes. The study was performed in an acute care setting with geriatric patients with the goal of analyzing whether frailty and comorbidities are associated with in-hospital mortality and discharge to home. The COVID-19 diagnosis was clinically confirmed by positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test, or, …

Toothbrush Disinfection – Protect Against COVID-19

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

Brazilian researchers have found that toothbrushes can act as reservoirs for microorganisms and favor the transmission of diseases such as COVID-19. Patients who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 have “high viral loads in saliva, nasopharynx and oropharynx” which can occur even in asymptomatic people. A recent study demonstrated that commercially available mouthwashes can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The results showed that …

Reopening Schools – JAMA Viewpoint

Angie Szumlinski Studies

On March 11, 2020, less than two weeks after community transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in the U.S., the World Health Organization declared that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was a global pandemic. By March 25, 2020, all kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) public schools in the U.S. had closed for in-person instruction. …

Saliva Nucleic Acid Testing (NAAT)

Angie Szumlinski Studies

Testing is the cornerstone of a successful public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nasopharyngeal swab nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) is the non-invasive criterion standard for diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it requires trained personnel, limiting its availability, and the technique cannot be easily or reliably performed in all populations (i.e., children and quarantined individuals).  Consequently, …

CDC Updates

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, Featured

The CDC has updated the Guidance on Testing Healthcare Personnel for SARS CoV-2: Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (Interim Guidance) – February 14, 2021 CDC Science Agenda for COVID-19 – February 15, 2021 Interim Guidance on Testing Healthcare Personnel for SARS-CoV-2 – February 14, 2021 U.S. COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants – …

Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a long-awaited proposed rule that would modify the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Among the changes proposed are: Dropping the requirement for healthcare entities to obtain and retain for six years patients’ signed acknowledgements of notices of privacy practices Reducing the time from 30 days to 15 days for covered entities to fulfill patient …

OSHA Investigating Complaints of Whistleblower Retaliation

Angie Szumlinski News

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now overseeing worker retaliation complaints filed under two new whistleblower statutes. According to a news release published February 19th, 2021, OSHA will be investigating the following: “Under the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, OSHA will investigate individual whistleblower’s complaints of retaliation for reporting criminal antitrust violations …

The Debate – One or Two Doses

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

Health experts have conditionally backed the U.K.’s decision to delay administering a second dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, warning that the need to suppress the new coronavirus strain “cannot be overstated.”  On December 30, 2020, following MHRA approval of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, the four UK Chief Medical Officers, based on a recommendation by the …