In this issue of LTC Connection, we wanted to remind you to subscribe to Embrace magazine if you haven't already! We're hard at work on a new issue that you won't want to miss. We're also sharing an intriguing proposal on the topic of nurses acting as doctors' agents for pain medications and shining a spotlight on our Environmental Solutions product category.

We're thrilled to hear that you're enjoying the second issue of Embrace magazine! We're currently developing the third issue and plan to have it to our subscribers in October. This issue will focus on the holidays, including suggestions for celebrations at your facility, tips on addressing nutritional concerns and ways that you can help banish the "holiday blues." We'll also introduce you to a prominent figure in the Ohio long-term care arena and spotlight a facility that excels at giving back to the community – plus much more! If you haven't subscribed yet, what are you waiting for? Subscriptions are available at no charge to ProMed customers and signing up is a snap. Simply visit www.embracethemagazine.com and click on "Subscribe." The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, or ASCP, strongly supports allowing nursing home nurses to act as agents on behalf of physicians for the purpose of prescribing pain meds. The group has asked the DEA to consider incorporating this change into the Controlled Substances Act. According to ASCP's president, Shelly Spiro, "Recognizing nurses as agents of the prescriber and chart orders as valid prescriptions will eliminate the regulatory bureaucracy creating delays for patients in need of pain relief." Currently, the DEA defines "agent" as someone employed by the prescribing physician. Because most physicians who prescribe pain meds to nursing home residents aren't actually employed by the nursing home, nurses at these facilities technically can't act as their agents. To view our original blog post on the ASCP's recommendation, click here. Our Environmental Solutions products don't just remove contaminants – they eliminate them to help you stop infections and redefine "clean." Products include: •   Floor and Carpet Care (Mops, Brooms and Brushes) •   Chemicals/Janitorial and Odor Control •   Bags and Can Liners/Waste Receptacles •   Universal Paper and Dispensers •   Food Storage and Serving Products •   Facility Maintenance and Safety •   Laundry Care •   Proprietary Paper and Dispensers If you're a registered user on promedsupply.com, you can view items in this category by clicking on Online Catalog and then selecting Environmental Solutions. If you're not registered on the site yet, your ProMed Customer Care Professional will be happy to get you set up.