CMS: Facilities Aren't Prepared for Widespread Disasters CMS has issued a proposed rule that aims to establish nationwide emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating providers, including long-term care facilities. According to the proposed rule, current emergency preparedness guidelines aren't sufficient to ensure that facilities are prepared for widespread disasters that could affect most or all of the facilities in their area and tax the ability of local, state and federal emergency management officials to provide assistance. The agency is proposing the following additional requirements to help LTC facilities be prepared for emergencies they might face now or in the future: Develop and annually update a plan based on an "all-hazards" approach that focuses on being prepared for a full spectrum of emergencies and disasters. Develop and implement policies and procedures based on the emergency plan and risk assessment, which must be reviewed and updated at least annually. Develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan that complies with both federal and state law. Additionally, LTC facilities must develop a method for sharing pertinent information from the emergency plan with residents and their families or representatives. Develop and maintain training and testing programs, including initial training in policies and procedures. Have generators on hand and develop policies and procedures that address providing alternate sources of energy to maintain temperatures that protect resident health and safety and allow for the safe and sanitary storage of provisions. These sources of energy also need to power emergency lighting and allow fire protection and alarm systems to continue to function. LTC facilities should also consider their individual residents' power needs, such as motorized wheelchairs and CPAP machines. To view the proposed rule in its entirety, click the link above. Your ProMed territory manager is ready to meet with you and help you review your emergency preparedness plan. We can connect you with the products you need to ensure you're prepared, including beds that roll at any height, transfer boards, fire prevention materials, batteries, first aid kits and more. To connect with us, contact your territory manager directly, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Study: Blood Test Can Predict Alzheimer's Disease Researchers have developed a blood test that is astonishingly accurate at predicting a healthy individual's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. During the study, the researchers tested the blood of hundreds of healthy people for lipids, which are a byproduct of DNA and RNA. Five years into the study, 28 of the people they tested had developed Alzheimer's. The researchers examined the lipids of these 28 seniors and found that they had low levels of 10 particular lipids when compared with healthy seniors. To confirm their findings, they then looked at the blood of 54 other people who had Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment and found that those individuals also had low levels of the lipids in question.

The test was able to catch Alzheimer's disease before the individuals were exhibiting any symptoms, suggesting that the disease begins to develop long before people's memories begin to fail. The lead researcher suggested that perhaps lipid levels start decreasing at the same time that brain cells start dying. Although a great deal of work still needs to be done, the developers hope the test will one day be available in doctors' offices and replace current testing methods that are often expensive, unreliable, impractical and sometimes risky, such as PET scans and spinal taps. It will likely be quite a while before the test finds its way to physicians as it still needs to be validated by other labs and with larger groups of people. To learn more, click here.

The Liberty Bed provides all of the key features you're looking for at an affordable price point. This easy-to-assemble bed's 360-degree mobility allows it to be moved from room to room at any height and move over thresholds at even its lowest position. Additional Features: 450 lb weight capacity Conforms to UL standards for use as an approved resident transport in the event of an emergency Strong, supportive grid deck offers a "no-sag" mattress support surface Resident-friendly quiet, smooth operation using three DC motors Surface treated with SilverSolutions, an antimicrobial that kills more than 99.9% of odor- and stain-causing bacteria Ideal for use with overbed tables and patient lifts Easy-to-use pendant hand control is shock-resistant, waterproof and durable Four locking casters secure the bed at any height Adjustable brackets allow the bed to be used at both 76" and 80" lengths Built to conform to UL 60601-1 and IEC601-2-38, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 601 standards

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