Copper Not Just For Arthritis Anymore?

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

There was a recent study to determine if copper could serve as an antimicrobial agent. The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine published the study and it was found that copper did prevent outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections in a long-term care facility. Specifically, the risk of hand-transmitted healthcare-associated infection was significantly lower in the area equipped with copper surfaces. …

Are we doing the right things for pain management?

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

In a recent article written by J Bryan Conrad, PhD1; Ann Monis, PsyD2; Elizabeth B Hooper, PsyD2 in reference to a study on pain management for long term care facilities, pain was positively correlated with female gender, fractures, pressure ulcers, falls, sleeping disorders, cancer, unstable health conditions, a number of drugs and depression. The authors also found that a high number …

Seniors doing exercises

Healthy Lifestyle Decreases Dementia Risk

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

As caregivers for frail elders, we see the devastating progression of dementia on a daily basis. What if we could do something to impact the risk for developing this dreaded disease? A recent study conducted by Exeter Medical School in Exeter, United Kingdom used a “healthy lifestyle score” based on 4 modifiable lifestyle risks. The goal of the study was to identify if …

Dementia Screening – Primary Care Involvement

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Many seniors refuse their primary care providers recommendation to be screened for early-onset dementia, however, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found there was no harm from screening measured by symptoms of depression or anxiety. This is great news but what is troubling is the high rate of refusal to get follow up diagnostic …

You Can Run, but…

Peter FeeneyNews

The senior living industry has been improving the delivery of care for almost two decades.    The network that providers have–which includes other providers, their agents, our risk management consultants (including the one and only Angie Szumlinski), and HealthCap litigation managers–is deep and strong.  Thanks to leadership from AHCA/NCAL and their state affiliates (and I will put in a plug for HealthCap), providers can solve nearly any problem …

man sleeping with CPAP - sleep apnea

Sleep Apnea – Nothing to Snore At!

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

We all know someone, maybe ourselves, who suffer from sleep apnea and don’t get treatment right? Do you know the family member who shakes the house with their snoring? Well, it turns out that research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine has shown if sleep apnea is not diagnosed and treated, there is an increase in healthcare costs …

Caretaker Burnout

Burnout – The Risks

Angie SzumlinskiCase Study

We have all encountered that caregiver who begins their professional journey as the cheerleader, rah rah-ing everyone, hugging the residents, working the extra shifts and never complaining right? Well, what happens to that caregiver when they become exhausted emotionally, feel depersonalized and are less successful with their work? Sadly, this affects approximately half of all nurses, physicians and other clinicians …

Nurse walking with resident

Culture, Culture, Culture

Angie SzumlinskiCase Study, News

Isn’t that what everyone is talking about? “Change your culture and outcomes will improve”! “Its’ a culture problem”! We have all heard it and have probably said it when we are referring to centers that are struggling with resident care and outcomes. McKnight’s Clinical News recently published an article that discussed “poor work environments” and “missed care”. In the article, …

MDS Updates – Coming October 2020

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, Compliance

Good, bad or indifferent, CMS is changing the MDS effective October 2020! Surprisingly, there will no longer be a section G in OBRA and PPS assessments and will only appear on the Optional State Assessment (OSA). There are tons of questions regarding how this will impact how we document functional status. The limited coding instructions imply we will eliminate the …