November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Diabetes is a serious disease, and it affects many older adults.   Did you know that older adults with diabetes are at higher risk* for depression or cognitive impairment compared with others their age who do not have diabetes. Having depression or cognitive impairment can make diabetes self-care challenging. Having tools that…… Continue reading November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Nearly 16 million people in the U.S. have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. COPD, also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, is more than twice as common in rural areas. Air pollution from occupational exposures to dust, fumes, smoke, or chemicals from jobs like farming, mining, or…… Continue reading November is National COPD Awareness Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2023 WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) co-hosted a roundtable discussion on the cybersecurity challenges that the U.S. healthcare and public health (HPH) sector system faces, and how Government and industry can work together to close the gaps…… Continue reading CISA, HHS Release Collaborative Cybersecurity Healthcare Toolkit

CDC has toolkits and resources for a variety of audiences to help prepare for the fall and winter respiratory virus season. Toolkits are tailored toward older adults, pregnant people, parents, people with disabilities, and many more. 

The healthcare provider toolkit is the newest resource, which includes materials on how to talk with patients about flu,…… Continue reading CDC Toolkits, Resources Are Available for Fall and Winter Virus Season

Each year, October is recognized as Depression Awareness Month to increase understanding and provide education about depression and other mental health issues and their impact. According to the NIH – National Institutes on Aging:    “Depression in older adults may be difficult to recognize because older people may have different symptoms than younger people. For some…… Continue reading October is National Depression Awareness Month

Handwashing with soap and water is one of the simplest, most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy. Keeping hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as the common cold or flu. Each year on October 15, CDC works with global partners and colleagues to…… Continue reading Global Handwashing Day 10/15/23

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Updated videos are available on these topics: BIMS and BIMS Summary Score: Stopping and Coding an Incomplete Interview Explainer Video(3m23s)             This video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) should be stopped, and how to code…… Continue reading CMS Posts Updated Item Set Videos

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Patient safety research is growing, spanning across more healthcare settings, and considers a wide array of contextual factors. The combination of emerging patient safety threats and the growing amount of published patient safety research, patient safety resources, and accrediting body standards makes it increasingly difficult to…… Continue reading AHRQ Effective Healthcare Protocols for Patient Safety Available on Multiple Topics

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rulerequires that covered entities and its business associates conduct a risk assessment of their healthcare organization. A risk assessment helps your organization ensure it is compliant with HIPAA’s administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. A risk assessment also helps reveal areas where…… Continue reading Security Risk Assessment Tool Updated