McKnight’s reported that Becton Dickinson or BD will investigate why their COVID tests failed. Trump selected BD as one of two companies  to distribute COVID-19 point-of-care testing devices to each nursing home. Becton Dickinson supplied nursing homes with at least one Quidel Sofia 2 Instrument or BD Veritor™ Plus System. They are not very accurate

CDC v. Trump Robert Redfield is Trump’s director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Redfield called the Atlanta-based agency “the best science-based, data-driven agency in the world.” He says to use a mask or other face covering. He is a well-respected doctor and scientist. Trump is neither. Under oath, Redfield testified that a

By Laura Karas for Harvard blog. Immunity from liability disincentivizes nursing homes from expending the time, money, effort, and resources needed to keep residents safe. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the stakes of the issue: granting legal immunity to nursing homes for COVID-related care is tantamount to leaving our most vulnerable out on the street

INDUSTRY FAILURES Wired Magazine had an article about the failures of the nursing home industry during the pandemic. With the history of neglect and abuse, should the industry change? Is it time to restructure long term care? The failure to prepare and respond to infections and contagious diseases was reckless. The failures caused thousands of

Trump rewards the nursing home industry again. Besides removing fines and enforcement and giving millions with no conditions, the industry gets another favor. This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rescinded the proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR). The Rule added transparency to the Medicaid payment process to eliminate fraudulent practices. The rule established

The Texas Tribune published an article on the damage isolation has on nursing home residents. And some families say the damage to their loved ones from prolonged isolation has already been done. Scientists have long studied the effect of social interaction on the brain. Unfortunately, the pandemic has offered a sad occasion to measure the consequences