Excess Deaths DHHS reported a 32 percent increase in deaths among Medicare patients in U.S. nursing homes last year. There were 169,291 more deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes in 2020 than in 2019. About 40% had COVID-19. Compared with 2019, death rates were higher every month last year, with two spikes, in April
CBS News reported on the dangers of bed rails. As a nursing home attorney, I am aware that the misuse of bed rails and bed handles kill hundreds of vulnerable adults every year. The side rails or metal bars used on beds to help patients pull themselves up or prevent escape. However, many suffer fatal
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services data shows more than 90% of coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations were unvaccinated people. Unfortunately, only 45% of South Carolinians are fully vaccinated. More than 170 million Americans are safe after the vaccination. Hopefully, vaccine hesitancy will decline further. DHEC’s Dr. Jane Kelly: “The overwhelming majority of people
Timely Discharge McKnight’s reported on a recent study in Health Affairs indicating that some patients could return home without a negative affect on their health. Researchers found home-based care or alternative payment efforts limiting lengths of stay “are well-founded.” That is good news for people who want to return or remain at home. Author J. Michael
National Center for Seniors Housing & Care released a new analysis showing CMS collects more money for penalties. The per-incident penalties increased more than eight-fold from 2016 to 2020, prior to the pandemic. CMS increased collection of per-incident penalties after updating the federal safety guidelines in 2017. The agency collected less than $5 million in total per-incident
Skilled Nursing News published an article about the nursing home industry’s failure to modernize with better technology. Better data monitoring would increase communication, safety, and quality of care. Dr. Frank J. Newlands is founder and CEO of Physicians Services Group. He stresses better documentation workflows and embracing more technologies to meet the needs of the