Clinical Updates

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains a significant health concern, particularly for older adults and those with underlying risk factors.

Recent CMS updates are increasing scrutiny around the use of psychotropic medications in long-term care settings.

The new year is an ideal time to confirm regulatory readiness and strengthen compliance processes. Download this quick checklist to ensure your facility is prepared for 2026 and beyond.

COVID-19 vaccination guidance continues to evolve as immunity patterns, circulating variants, and population risk factors change. In long-term care and medically complex populations, questions frequently arise about the appropriate timing of vaccination after infection, eligibility for additional doses, and the interchangeability of vaccine products across age groups.

As we close out 2025, the holiday season is in full swing—and with it comes flu season and other circulating viruses.

Over the past year, CMS has updated its survey guidelines and introduced several new areas of focus. Updates have also been made to the Nursing Home Care Compare website and the Five-Star Rating System. Because survey results directly affect Five-Star ratings — and those ratings can impact facility insurance contracts, financial stability, and more — being prepared is more important than ever.

High-alert medications are those with a high risk of causing significant harm if used incorrectly. They often have narrow therapeutic indices, complex dosing requirements, and similar names or packaging to other drugs.

As we enter mid-fall and illnesses such as the influenza virus are on the rise, it is important to review the available vaccines, guidelines, and changes that have occurred. This guide will help consolidate key vaccine information into a single document for your reference and convenience as well as provide access to VIS and consent forms. Though this provides some general information, it is important to look at individualized patient needs and prescriber specific recommendations.

Embecta is a new fully disposable insulin patch pump for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. This patch pump has a larger reservoir holding 300 units of insulin allowing for extended use for up to 3 days to better accommodate higher insulin needs as seen with Type 2 Diabetes. The pump patch also is great for individuals who are doing multiple daily injections to manage their diabetes therefore improving compliance and convenience for individuals.

The minimum staffing standards final ruling was confirmed on April 22, 2024, thereby holding nursing homes accountable for staffing to provide safe and quality care for residents living in such facilities. This final rule has new comprehensive minimum nurse staffing requirements with the goal to reduce risks to residents, reduce medication errors, and improve on quality care. The ruling and implementation is outlined below:

As 2024 gets underway, it's time to prepare for any new guidelines that take effect this year and reflect on the areas that were identified in 2023 that need the most improvement.

On June 5, 2024, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBAC) and FDA panel met and unanimously voted for the JN.1 strain for the new fall 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine formulation. A week later, based on updated data, the FDA asked the vaccine manufacturers to focus on the KP.2 and KP.3 strains of the JN.1 lineage as they are becoming the more dominant strains. It is anticipated that the change requested by the FDA will not cause any delays in the manufacturing of the new formulations.