Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare 2020 and 2021 have been very challenging years for all healthcare staff.  June 17th through the 24th this year is CNA Week.  During this week, we honor and celebrate the careers of all Certified Nursing Assistants, especially those CNAs working in the LTC and AL industry. …… Continue reading CNA Week: June 17 -> 24, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Tuesday, June 15, 2021, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. WEAAD was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world…… Continue reading June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On June 2, 2021, the Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology issued a 3-page letter to Corporate Executives and Business Leaders with the same title/subject as this blog.   Below are some key excerpts from that letter: Federal…… Continue reading What The White House Urges You to Do to Protect Against the Threat of Ransomware

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As COVID-19 vaccines continue rolling out across the country, CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers and keeping you updated on the latest COVID-19 resources from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for…… Continue reading June 2021 is National COVID-19 Month of Action

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Botulism is serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks nerves and causes muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death. Foodborne botulism is one of the five main kinds of botulism. This month, CDC published the first comprehensive clinical care guidelines for botulism in the Morbidity…… Continue reading CDC Publishes 1st Comprehensive Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Two recent CDC publications show antibiotic prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased across outpatient and nursing home settings. The studies show a 33% decrease in antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and an overall decrease in antibiotic use among nursing home residents. However,…… Continue reading New CDC Research Shows Antibiotic Prescribing Rates Decreased Across Various Healthcare Settings

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued QSO-21-18-Hospitals/CAHs on Friday, May 7, 2021.  This is an advance copy of Interoperability and Patient Access Rule – Admission, Discharge, and Transfer Notifications for Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) Interpretive Guidance. The Interoperability and Patient Access final rule (CMS-9115-F) published May…… Continue reading Admission, Discharge, and Transfer Notifications for Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) Interpretive Guidance

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare May 6th is National Nurses Day.  National Nurses Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the important role nurses play in society.  It kicks off the annual observation of National Nurses Week, which ends on May 12th – the birthday of Florence Nightingale (200th birthday in…… Continue reading National Nurses Week: May 6 – 12, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP                                                                                                                                        Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC joins the World Health Organization (WHO) in observing World Hand Hygiene Day. Today and every day, we want to remind everyone that practicing good hand hygiene, such as handwashing and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, is a simple yet effective way to help prevent…… Continue reading May 5th is World Hand Hygiene Day

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The submission deadline for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH), and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Programs is approaching. IRF-PAI and LTCH CARE Data Set assessment data and data submitted to CMS via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National…… Continue reading IRF/LTCH/SNF QRP May 17, 2021 Submission Deadline Reminder