CHS Pharmacy News 

April 2021

Business Hours

Normal business hours are 9 AM – 5:30 PM M-F, and 9 AM – 3PM Saturday and Closed on Sunday
*Emergency services available 24/7/365

CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Recommendations on Visitation*

Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident, or visitor, unless certain scenarios arise that would limit visitation for unvaccinated residents if; 1) the COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10 percent; and 2) less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated; residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions; or residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

As always, CMS and CDC continue to recommend facilities, residents, and families adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection, including physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet between people).

Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives**

Handwashing 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 handwashing, 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.

Preventing Falls***

“Falls are all too common in the geriatric population, and they have devastating consequences. They are the leading cause of injury and death by injury in adults over the age of 65 years. Fear of falling is a defined geriatric syndrome that may contribute to further functional decline in an already frail patient.”

• Risk Factors: previous falls, decreased strength, gait/balance impairments, use of psychoactive medications, depression.
• Possible Interventions: increase exercise, dose reductions on psychoactive medications, monitor for hypotension or hypoglycemia.

Screening and assessment with simple interventions provide meaningful results with overall fall reduction.

Definitions

“Pressure Ulcer”- A pressure ulcer is any lesion caused by unrelieved pressure that results in damage to the underlying tissue(s). Although friction and shear are not primary causes of pressure ulcers, friction and shear are important contributing factors to the development of pressure ulcers****.

April Trivia*****

1. If you were born in April, what would your flower be?
2. If you were born on the 15th of April, what would your zodiac sign be?
3. Which U.S. President was born on the 13th of April 1743?
4. Which classic board game is honored on the 13th of April?
5. The titanic hit the infamous iceberg on which day in April?

April Answers

1. Sweet Pea
2. Aries
3. Thomas Jefferson
4. Scrabble
5. 14

1. * cms.gov
2. ** cdc.govl
3. *** Lee A, Lee KW, Khang P. Preventing falls in the geriatric population. Perm J. 2013;17(4):37-39. doi:10.7812/TPP/12-119
4. **** KDADs, Appendix PP, pg 231
5. ***** triviachamp.com