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Seasonal Influenza – CDC Call

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

The CDC will be hosting a call to discuss “Testing and Treatment of 2020-2021 Seasonal Influenza During the COVID-19 Pandemic” on Thursday September 17, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Per the World Health Organization’s FluNet platform from three Southern Hemisphere countries (Australia, Chile, and South Africa), low influenza activity was reported during June through August 2020, months that comprise the …

Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations?

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

Preventing influenza infections is a national health priority, particularly among geriatric and adults with frailty who reside in post-acute and long-term care settings. Older adults account for more than 70% of deaths from influenza, a reflection of decreased vaccine effectiveness in that age group. Per the AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine Policy Statement on Influenza …

COVID-19 vs. Influenza

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar but they are caused by different viruses. Although much attention has been given to COVID-19, the flu is showing much more of an impact on Americans. Download our latest informational poster.

"Be prepared" written on blocks

Influenza Pandemic Checklist – ASPR TRACIE

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

ASPR TRACIE is a healthcare preparedness information gateway that provides access to information and resources to assist providers in improving their individual emergency response plans. The most recent addition to the toolkit published online is the “Influenza Pandemic Checklist”. This tool is intended to assist health care providers and their partners in assessing their preparedness for an influenza pandemic. It …

Flu Season Caution Signs

Flu and You!

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

Scenario: Scheduled risk assessment visit at assisted living center; call from Executive Director “We are dropping like flies, can we reschedule?” Yep, the dreaded flu has hit with a vengeance! Per the CDC more than 1,300 people have already died from conditions worsened by the flu so far this season and there have been at least 2.6 million flu illnesses …

Hiring Nurses

Hiring more registered nurses and licensed independent practitioners, may be means of reducing Pneumonia and Influenza

Angie SzumlinskiNews

A recent study found that LTCFs with lower RSIRs had more licensed independent practitioners (nurse practitioners or physician’s assistants) among short-stay and long-stay residents, higher registered nurse hours/resident/day among short-stay and long-stay residents, and fewer residents for whom antipsychotics were prescribed among short-stay and long-stay residents. You can download the full study from Oxford University Press.

Nurse making vaccine injection to elderly patient

Nursing Facility Influenza Study Opens Enrollment

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements

A team of nationally recognized long-term care researchers from Brown University Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH, and Vincent Mor, PhD, are undertaking a large-scale quality improvement study to evaluate the impact of the annual influenza vaccine choice on long-term care facility residents’ hospitalization risk for the 2019-2020 influenza season. Nursing facilities that meet eligibility and agree to participate will be allocated …