A nursing home in the Bronx began a cannabis program in 2016 and is having good results: The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, in the Bronx, first launched its “innovative” new cannabis program in 2016. With it, the facility provided educational sessions and a fact sheet on the often-misunderstood drug to both residents and their family members. About 10 residents have participated so far, and they have reported that cannabis has helped to lessen the severity of chronic pain and reduce opioid … [Read more...] about Use of Marijuana in Nursing Homes? Obstacles to Medical Marijuana Weaken.
Elderly patients at risk at Nursing homes that overmedicate
National reports by Human rights advocates say that nursing homes are overprescribing antipsychotics to patients. According to the latest data from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, known as CMS, the percentage of long-term nursing home residents being given antipsychotic drugs dropped from about 24 percent in late 2011 to under 16 percent last year. Yet advocacy groups reveal that misuse of drugs remains a major problem in nursing facilities. The findings outlined in a … [Read more...] about Elderly patients at risk at Nursing homes that overmedicate
Hospice Care Website lists 777 Hospice Agencies in Texas
For terminally ill patients and their loved ones, finding the right Hospice care can be a daunting decision. Options for quality and strength of the facility providing end-of-life care in the Texas depends on the hospice chosen, according to data released from Medicare data released by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (CMMS). Now available to the public, the “Hospice Compare” website — at medicare.gov/hospicecompare — displays information on almost 3,900 hospices nationwide.The … [Read more...] about Hospice Care Website lists 777 Hospice Agencies in Texas
Palliative Care and Hospice Management and Leadership Intensive on July 28th
AXIS Medical Education and Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization will host a one day intensive for Hospice and Palliative Care leaders on July 28th. The educational activity will help providers and leaders in Hospice and Palliative care to engage, interact, and focus on timely issues that will lead us into the future. Throughout the intensive, participants will focus on exceptional hospice and palliative care service delivery, regulatory/policy issues, compliance concerns, dialog about how … [Read more...] about Palliative Care and Hospice Management and Leadership Intensive on July 28th
HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
HHSC has posted information on the August 27th - 28th Statewide Learning Collaborative Summit, including the livestream link and agenda, on the Dates and Deadlines page. Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC … [Read more...] about HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
The Feds’ War on Pain Management Physicians
Heroic civil liberties lawyer, Harvey Silverglate writes about the war on physicians who attempt to alleviate the chronic pain of their patients. I just started reading his new book, Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent, and will be writing more about that. In the meantime, read this column. Not only are the Feds attempting to "to effectively control the practice of pain relief medicine", they are now prosecuting people who try to educate the public about the issue under … [Read more...] about The Feds’ War on Pain Management Physicians
Pitfalls of Pain Management
You all know that Pain Management is a quality of care concern for DADS. Facilities have been cited for failing to adequately and systemically deal with pain being suffered by residents.Nursing facilities must, of course, obtain physician's orders for pain medication and increasing dosages and types of medications. Today, there was a column in the New York Times by Sally Satel regarding the criminal liability risks assumed by physicians who are managing pain with narcotics.(You may need to … [Read more...] about Pitfalls of Pain Management