As more and more types of respirators are hitting the market to meet increased demand, counterfeit respirators are becoming a concerning issue. False marketing and deceitful labeling may entice customers to try a new brand that may not actually be providing appropriate protection. One major misrepresentation these respirators have is false NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approval. …
Results from a new Cleveland Clinic-led study suggest that melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is commonly used as an over-the-counter sleep aid, may be a viable treatment option for COVID-19. According to the findings published today in PLOS Biology, a novel artificial intelligence platform developed by Lerner Research Institute researchers to identify possible drugs for COVID-19 …
Island City Assisted Living Many of our HealthCap Heroes have stepped up for their residents because they love them like family, having worked years in their facility and spent countless hours at their side. This wasn’t the case for our most recent HealthCap Hero, Donna Ruggiano, who joined the staff at Island City Assisted Living in the midst of the …
Early reports from frontline clinicians in global epicenters describing extreme shortages and bedside rationing of ventilators and intensive care unit beds prompted a national conversation about how to respond to similar challenges in the United States. Hospitals and health care systems drew on frameworks developed by the Institute of Medicine (OM) and other national organizations to guide care in resource-limited …
Dr. David Grabowski, a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School said in a recent article published in McKnight’s Senior Living, “I think we’re going to see some big, big changes going forward”. “COVID-19 has revealed the fragility of nursing homes’ business model and our underinvestment in high-quality, long-term care”, said Grabowski. The Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality …
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) conducted an online survey of its 11,922 U.S.-based infection preventionist members on October 22-November 5, 2020. Results from the survey are based on responses from 1,083 infection preventionists located throughout the United States. Here are a few interesting findings regarding PPE and medical supplies: PPE Crisis Standards of Care For …
It’s hard to imagine a time when we were scared about another contagious disease, but in 2003 many of us working in hospital preparedness were incredibly worried about SARS. Although the number of cases was initially low, some estimates show that 10% of infected patients died. When a group of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security mapped …
Create posters/flyers that you can hang and distribute in your facilities about the importance and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Consider having a poster contest with staff and/or residents, with the person who creates the best poster about the COVID-19 vaccine winning a prize. Everyone can vote. Hold regular team meetings/group huddles to allow for education about the safety and …
Researchers from Imperial College London have investigated which products create the longest-lasting protective layer between PPE and skin. They custom-built a “tribometer” to assess friction and used it to test the friction between skin and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is a common component of PPE. What they found was, the best lubricants were those that were not absorbed into the skin, …
