CHS Pharmacy News
December 2020
Upcoming Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve: 9 AM – 3 PM
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: Normal Business Hours
New Year’s Day: Closed
*Emergency services available 24/7/365
Normal business hours are 9 AM – 5:30 PM M-F, and 9 AM – 3PM Saturday and Closed on Sunday
Older Adults Form COVID Pods to Ward Off Isolation This Winter*
“Older adults in all kinds of circumstances — those living alone and those who are partnered, those in good health and those who are not — are similarly deliberating what to do as days and nights turn chilly and coronavirus cases rise across the country.”
“Some are forming “bubbles” or “pods”: small groups that agree on pandemic precautions and will see one another in person in the months ahead. Others are planning to go it alone.”
“It is recommended that older adults in this situation reach out to others with similar interests — people they may have met at church or in book clubs or art classes, for instance — and try to form a group. Similarly, they recommend that families or friends invite a single older friend into their pods or bubbles while maintaining appropriate health precautions.”
Pay Status Changes
To streamline billing procedures for both residents and facilities, please contact our pharmacy team regarding any resident pay status changes. Examples include, but not limited to: Medicare eligibility, Medicare A Skilled, Medicaid Pending and admission/discharge for Hospice Services.
Vaccinations & Quality Measures
Resident’s influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status are incorporated into the communities CMS Quality Measures. It is important to review immunization status for new admissions and on an annual basis.
Upcoming CE Programs
12p -1p CST; 1-hour CE Programs for Administrators & Nursing
*Presented by National Institute for Health Education & Training; Contact CHS Pharmacy to find out more
- December 2, 2020: Dementia: Quality of Care & Quality of Life
- December 23, 2020: Court Decisions Regarding FFCRA Rules
- January 6, 2021: VAX FAX: Strategies Moving Forward
- January 27, 2021: Nursing Rehab: Restorative Nursing Practical Application
Controlled Substance Diversion Prevention
**Always review the facility’s policy and procedure manual, administration, and the consultant pharmacist for final guidance
- prior to administering a dose of the medication, a count of the medication should be performed to confirm that the count is correct
- must be kept under double-lock
- must be counted at least daily, even if not given, and documented on the controlled medication log
- if the order is discontinued or if the medication has expired, it must continue to be counted until proper disposal can be completed
Hand-washing: Clean Hands Save Lives**
Hand-washing helps prevent illness. It involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses. Regular hand-washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
- *Managedhealthcareconnect.com
- **Handwashing – Clean Hands Save Lives. (2019, October 8). Retrieved from cdc.gov