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.

ECMO – The Doctor is In

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, News

The “father of ECMO”, Dr. Robert Bartlett, was recently interviewed regarding mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19. Understanding that some patients do not respond to mechanical ventilation, some hospitals began using a resource-intensive technology known as “Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation” (ECMO) as a treatment of last resort. What is ECMO? It is a modified heart-lung machine that takes over the function …

Optimism!

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, Health, News

In an article published in the Washington post on July 14, 2020, Joseph Allen, an assistant professor of exposure assessment science, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-author of “Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity” had some interesting perspective on optimism with COVID-19! When someone contracts the …

Positive for COVID-19? Are You Sure?

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

A recent study was performed after 2 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were discharged from one hospital in China only to redevelop symptoms later and have a positive test for COVID-19. Researchers decided to collect nasopharyngeal and anal swabs from 58 other patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 and discharged before February 27, 2020. All patients were treated in Loudi, …

Dick Van Dyke and Tai Chi

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

We have all seen the infomercials for Tai Chi but recent studies are proving that they may be right! In a recent article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Tai Chi is identified as being beneficial for at least 4 chronic conditions, Cancer, Osteoarthritis, Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In case you don’t know what Tai …

Tips – Nursing Safe Practices

Angie Szumlinski Health, Studies

In a recent article published in Medscape Nurses, seven tips for nurses on safe patient handling were discussed. With the current pandemic situation, many nurses are performing additional duties outside of their normal day, such as bundling tasks. The goal, of course, is to assist in preventing the spread of infection by limiting the number of “visits” into a resident …

Coronavirus – Airborne?

Angie Szumlinski Announcements, Health, News

As we continue to navigate through the pandemic, we are constantly bombarded with “new” information. Much of this information increases our anxiety and confusion and unfortunately there is no end in sight. However, staying current with recommendations from the experts and applying them to your day-to-day operations may prevent the spread of infection and protect your residents and staff! The …

Anticholinergic Drugs and Dementia

Cardiovascular Risk with Rosiglitazone (Avandia)

Angie Szumlinski Studies

Researchers have known for a long time that medications to manage blood glucose levels can have a negative impact on cardiovascular status. Yale School of Medicine recently conducted a study with more than 130 trials involving over 48,000 adult patients that compared rosiglitazone with any control for at least 24 weeks. Patient Level Data was available for 33 trials which …

Family visiting grandfather in nursing home

Family Oversight – Quality of Care – Essential?

Angie Szumlinski Health

In March, after an outbreak of COVID-19 in a Seattle nursing home launched the pandemic in the United States, long-term care facilities generally shut their doors to visiting family and friends. This ban followed guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which regulates most nursing homes: Facilities were ordered to restrict visitors except for “compassionate care” for …

Mask Mandates – Unknown Social and Behavioral Consequences?

Angie Szumlinski Studies

Recommendations to wear non-medical face masks to control the spread of COVID-19 vary widely and have changed over time. At the beginning of the pandemic, some countries advised against wearing masks, partly because the supply of highly protective medical N95 masks was too low. In June 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed their recommendations and now recommends that healthy …

ALF Providers- Last Chance!

Angie Szumlinski News

On Friday, July 31st, NCAL issued a reminder to assisted living providers urging them to submit their information to be considered for possible CARES Act Provider Relief Funds. While these funds are not guaranteed, providing your facility’s information will ensure you have your best chance at securing funds if this distribution happens. Please read their notice below, and submit your …