Omnicare Clinical Services Podcast Series

In this episode, we dive into the latest infection control updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), focusing on the newly expanded Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for skilled care facilities. These precautions are designed to reduce the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We will explore: * What EBP entails and how it differs from traditional contact precautions * Which residents are affected and why they’re considered high-risk * Implementation strategies, including PPE use during high-contact care activities like dressing, bathing, and wound care * Practical challenges and benefits for facilities, staff, and residents Whether you're a nurse, administrator, or infection preventionist, this episode offers essential insights into how long-term care is evolving to meet the challenges of antimicrobial resistance.

In this episode, we dive into the critical issue of antibiotic overprescribing in long-term care. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to serious consequences—like C. diff infections, harmful drug interactions, and antibiotic resistance. For older, more vulnerable residents, these risks can significantly impact their quality of life, limiting their ability to participate in daily activities, social events, and the community around them. Join us as we explore the principles of antibiotic stewardship—a proactive approach to ensuring antibiotics are used only when truly necessary, and in the most effective way possible. It’s all about protecting our residents, improving outcomes, and supporting healthier, more active lives in long-term care.

Staying on schedule during medication pass is one of the most common challenges in long-term care. In this episode, Sue and Denise explore why timely medication administration is critical for resident safety. They also share practical strategies that both leadership and frontline staff can use to improve time management and streamline the med pass process.

For today’s topic, we will be discussing the process of Admitting a Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) patient to your facility. We will review what TPN is, when it is typically chosen as a nutritional option for residents, and considerations for needed admission documentation, storage considerations, and general tips for caring for your TPN residents.

In this episode, we will be discussing dehydration in the elderly. We will discuss the prevalence of dehydration in the elderly population, and the importance of prevention and identification of early signs and symptoms that may lead to better outcomes and prevention.  And finally, we will discuss key strategies that will optimize patient safety and improve quality care for our elderly population.