A proposed rule announced last July at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging could improve the care and safety of residents of longterm care facilities or nursing homes that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
If finalized, unnecessary hospital readmissions and infections could be reduced, quality of care increased, and safety measures strengthened.
Changes include updating the nursing home’s infection prevention and control program, including requiring an infection prevention and control officer.
The focus on longterm care addresses an uptick in nursing home infection rates. A recent study from Columbia University School of Nursing suggested that more must be done to protect residents of these facilities from preventable complications.
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