Growing Together in Health Care

HHS Announces Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 20:34:00 +0000

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a program to honor clinicians and healthcare teams that help patients control high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and strokes.

According to a press release, the Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge recognizes "exemplary public and private practices and providers that achieve sustained hypertension control rates of 70 percent or above." The challenge aims to support the Million Hearts initiative in its goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.

Roughly 70 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but only half the members of that group have it under control. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the U.S.

To enter the challenge, applicants must provide information about their practice, share verifiable high blood pressure control data and describe how health information technology (such as electronic health records, team-based care, etc.) contributes to their success. The deadline for entering the challenge is October 31, 2015.

To learn more, click here.

CMS: 2016 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Prices Should Remain Stable

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:38:00 +0000

CMS projects that the average monthly premium for a basic Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will remain stable in 2016 at an estimated $32.50 per month. This projection is based on bids submitted by drug and health plans for basic drug coverage and calculated by the independent CMS Office of the Actuary.

Additionally, Medicare Part D enrollees will continue to savings on out-of-pocket costs as the Affordable Care Act closes the Part D so-called "donut hole" over time. Since the ACA was enacted, seniors and people with disabilities have saved an average of $1,598 per beneficiary on prescription drugs.

The Part D open enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7.

To learn more, click here.

"Two-Midnight" Rule Enforcement Delay Extended

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:34:00 +0000

CMS has extended the partial enforcement delay of the controversial "two-midnight" rule, which was originally set to expire on September 30, to December 31.

The Medicare rule requires patients be hospitalized for two midnights before they are deemed eligible for inpatient care. This can allow beneficiaries to qualify for skilled nursing coverage.

This means that Recovery Audit Contractors will not conduct post-payment reviews for claims that have admission dates between October 1 and December 31. Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) will conduct reviews to determine whether inpatient status is appropriate during that time period.

As of January 1, initial status reviews will be handled by QIOs, with Recovery Audit Contractors conducting follow-up reviews when the QIOs refers them.

To learn more, click here.

Do You Know the Six Types of Urinary Incontinence?

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 20:00:00 +0000

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary loss or leakage of urine. The type of incontinence a resident is experiencing can greatly impact the way that your facility addresses it. Keep in mind that a resident might suffer from several different types of incontinence at the same time.

There are six types of urinary incontinence:

Functional incontinence is a loss of urine that occurs in residents who cannot remain continent because of external factors, such as the inability to get to the toilet in time. These residents have sufficiently intact urinary tract function.

Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder has reached its maximum capacity and becomes distended. This type of incontinence is associated with the leakage of small amounts of urine.

Stress incontinence causes small amounts of urine leakage when intra-abdominal pressure on the bladder is increased (such as with sneezing, coughing, lifting, standing from a sitting position, climbing stairs, etc.). Stress incontinence is associated with malfunction of the urethral sphincter.

Transient incontinence refers to temporary episodes of incontinence that are reversible once the cause is identified and treated.

Urge incontinence, also referred to as overactive bladder, is caused by excessive contraction of the detrusor muscle in the bladder, which results in the strong urge to urinate even when the bladder is not full.

Report: Antipsychotic Use Down 21.7 Percent

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:10:00 +0000

According to a new report, antipsychotic use has gone down 21.7 percent among long-stay nursing home residents over the past four years.

The findings were released as part of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes' trend report. According to the report, the Partnership has "a mission to deliver health care that is person-centered, comprehensive and interdisciplinary with a specific focus on protecting residents from being prescribed antipsychotic medications unless there is a valid, clinical indication and a systemic process to evaluate each individual's need."

To learn more, click here.

SDS File Update: August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:02:00 +0000

On July 7, we notified you that we are working diligently to provide you with updated SDS files from our manufacturer partners in accordance with OSHA’s Revised Communication Standard. Since that time, we have added SDS documents from the following manufacturers:

3M
Angelini
Bard
BioFreeze
Calmoseptine
CareFusion
Chase Products
Citrus II
Coloplast
Control III
DermaRite
DeRoyal
Dukal
International Direct (Embrace and Compliance)
iSens (CareSens)
Metrex
Rx Destroyer
Unilever (Suave and Dove)

We will continue to update you on a monthly basis regarding the SDS files that we have received from manufacturers and added to promedsupply.com so that you can continue to download them for your facility’s files. If you are in immediate need of a specific SDS file, please contact our Customer Care team at 800.648.5190.

To view and download the updated SDS files, please take the following steps:

Go to promedsupply.com
Log on to the site. (If you do not have existing login credentials, please call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190 to obtain them.)
On the right-hand side of the page, under the Search box, click on the blue “Download SDS forms” link. This will bring you to the SDS landing page.
On the SDS landing page, SDS files are organized by ProMed item number. To locate the file you need, you can either scroll through the list of files or use the Search box at the top of the list to quickly locate a specific product.
Click on the file name to open the file. The files are in PDF format. Once they are opened, they can be printed or saved to your computer.
For added convenience, SDS files are also posted under the “Specifications/SDS” tab on individual product pages.

Study: Spicy Foods Might Help You Live Longer

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:52:00 +0000

There's good news for people who delight in singeing their taste buds. New research shows that fiery foods such as chili peppers might actually help people live longer.

During the study, researchers analyzed the spicy food consumption of nearly half a million people between the ages of 30 and 70, excluding people who had cancer, heart disease or stroke. They then reviewed the records of 20,224 people who died during a seven-year follow-up period and discovered that the subjects who ate spicy foods six to seven times a week had a 14 percent lower risk of premature death for all causes than people who ate spicy foods less than once a week (the most common sources of spicy foods were fresh and dried chili peppers). Additionally, people who ate spicy food frequently also showed a lower risk of death from cancer as well as ischemic heart and respiratory system diseases.

So what causes this unexpected health benefit? The researchers think that it's capsaicin, a bioactive ingredient in chili peppers that has been tied to health perks such as increased fat burning.

Before you rush out to order extra-spicy kung pao chicken, however, keep in mind that spicy foods can also be irritants for people with incontinence or overactive bladders. They can also aggravate colds or sinus infections.

To learn more, click here.

Healthcare Facility Info Now Available on Yelp

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:38:00 +0000

Now you can find out if the taco place down the street is any good and check out the wait time at your local ER all on the same website. Yelp has partnered with ProPublica to give consumers quick access to information on healthcare facilities, according to a Washington Post article.

ProPublica is providing Yelp with data gathered from 4,600 hospitals, 15,000 nursing homes and 6,300 dialysis clinics, such as hospital emergency room average wait times, fines paid by nursing homes and how often people receiving dialysis treatment are readmitted to a hospital because of treatment-related infections or other problems. In return for providing this data, ProPublica will be given access the healthcare reviews posted by Yelpers for use in research for news stories, though they will not receive personal reviewer information other than what is already posted on the site.

Which much of the ProPublica data is already available on Medicare's Hospital Compare website, Yelp maintains that is presenting it in a more user-friendly format.

Currently, healthcare facilities only make up 6 percent of the businesses reviewed on Yelp. Yelp's executives hope that with the additional data posted, this number will increase.

To learn more, click here.

10 Tips for Fighting Fungal Infections

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:01:00 +0000

Fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch, can be spread very easily from person to person, making them a challenge for long-term care and other healthcare settings. Below, we’ve assembled 10 strategies to help you fight back against fungal infections and the itching, cracking and other bothersome side effects they bring.

Advise residents to not share towels, combs or other personal items.
Keep common areas clean.
Encourage residents to wash their hands frequently.
Apply an antifungal power or cream to residents after bathing, paying close attention to folds of skin where moisture might collect.
To avoid contracting athlete’s foot, wash residents’ feet daily, dry them well and put on clean socks.
Encourage residents to remove their shoes while relaxing to expose their feet to air.
Ask residents to wear waterproof sandals or “shower shoes” in communal bathing areas.
Keep residents’ groin areas clean and dry, especially in warmer weather.
If residents are sweaty following an activity or outing, help them change into dry, clean clothes and underwear.
Talk to residents and their family members about avoiding tight clothing and fabrics that do not “breathe.”

Professional Medical stocks a number of antifungal products that can help keep your residents comfortable and protected. To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Labor Day Closure Notice

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:10:00 +0000

Professional Medical will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2015 in honor of Labor Day. All Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, September 8.

Customers who typically order on Monday for Tuesday delivery will need to place their orders by Friday, September 4.

Please call our Customer Care department at 800.648.5190 if you have any questions or concerns.

Study: Many Older Americans Poorly Controlling Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:07:00 +0000

According to a new study out of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, only one in three older Americans with diabetes have the disease under good control. Failing to properly manage diabetes can lead to long-term health problems ranging from kidney disease to blindness.

The researchers looked at three different measures to good diabetes control: hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. Of the individuals studies, 72 percent met the hemoglobin A1C level, 73 percent met blood pressure goals and 63 percent had good cholesterol levels. Only 35 percent of the individuals met all three targets.

The study also showed racial disparities, mostly in women. The researchers noted that black women were much less likely to have acceptable blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels than white women.

The researchers said their findings will be used to determine how clinical targets can better be met and how they should be addressed from a public health perspective.

To learn more, click here.

Study: Anticholinergics Increase Fall Risk In Older Men

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 14:47:00 +0000

A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older men who take specific commonly used medications have a higher risk of being injured in a fall.

The medications in question are those that have anticholinergic effects, which block the part of the brain that passes messages between nerve cells. These drugs are commonly prescribed to older people to help alleviate bladder problems, depression, psychosis, insomnia and respiratory problems. They can cause blurred vision, increased heart rate, sedation and confusion.

Interestingly, the researchers noted that the use of these drugs did not increase risks for women.

To learn more, click here.

Keep Residents Cool This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 20:36:00 +0000

The heat is fully cranked up here in Chicagoland! Are you taking steps to prevent heat-related emergencies at your facility? We assembled the following list to help you make sure you have all your bases covered.

Make sure your building is summer-ready

Make sure that the temperature in your facility is safe and comfortable.
Keep residents indoors in the air conditioning during heat waves.
Close blinds or curtains to keep direct sunlight from entering rooms.
Turn off unneeded lights (they emit heat).
Use extra circulating fans to keep to keep air moving within your facility. Avoid using fans directed at individuals when the ambient temperature exceeds 100° F.

Be ready for anything

Many states issue Hot Weather Bulletins. Monitor the television or radio for important local heat-related announcements and be sure to follow your state's protocols during warm weather.
Review your facility's emergency disaster plan. It should include:

Up-to-date emergency telephone numbers
Contingency plans in case the facility's air-conditioning system goes out
An evacuation plan in case residents need to be moved to a "cooling center

Be aware of the outdoor heat index (a measurement of what the hot weather "feels like") and take appropriate precautions.
Remember that exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by up to 15 degrees.

Keep residents hydrated

Consider establishing a hydration station in the facility, where water and other fluids are always available to residents and staff.
Encourage residents to drink plenty of fluids. Water and fruit or vegetable juices are best.
Offer residents extra fluids at regular intervals.
Popsicles or freeze-pops are another alternative to fluids.
If the resident has a fluid restriction, ask the physician for specific orders during hot weather.
Avoid caffeine or sodas because these cause a person to lose more body fluid.

Analysis: Healthcare Workers Feel Jobs are Meaningful

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 17:26:00 +0000

According to a new analysis from PayScale, a compensation data website, many jobs that rank high both in terms of pay and meaningfulness are in the healthcare industry.

Eighty-two percent of healthcare practitioners felt their jobs were meaningful. This group includes individuals such as registered nurses, surgeons, specialized doctors, technicians and educators. This group also earned the highest median annual pay out of the 24 groups analyzed at $83,500 per year.

Seventy-eight percent of healthcare support workers, a group that includes home health aids, nursing aides, therapists and medical assistants, reported that their jobs were meaningful. Their median annual pay was $33,800.

To learn more, click here.

Keep Your Residents Safe in the Bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:35:00 +0000

According to the CDC, roughly 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die every year from fall-related injuries. Those who fall and survive are still likely to suffer injuries that result in permanent disability and a reduced quality of life.1

Many of the falls that occur each year happen in the bathroom, with the majority involving injuries occurring in or around the tub or shower and on or near the toilet.2 To help combat bathroom falls, the CDC recommends making environmental changes that allow residents to move around more safely.1 Such modifications could include installing grab bars and raised toilet seats, among other bathroom safety tools.

ProMed stocks a complete suite of bathroom safety products to protect your residents and give you peace of mind, including:

Portable commodes
Raised toilet seats
Shower and bath chairs
Bath lifts
Handheld shower sprayers
Grab bars
Tub rails
Bath steps

To learn more about any of these products, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com. We’re ready to help you create a comprehensive fall prevention plan!

References
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls in Nursing Homes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/nursing.html. Accessed July 2, 2015.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥ 15 Years – United States, 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6022a1.htm. Accessed July 2, 2015.

Study: Eye Drops Might Help Clear Cataracts, Reduce Need for Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:19:00 +0000

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have found that eye drops that contain a natural chemical could help seniors avoid cataract surgery.

The chemical, lanosterol, was shown to help prevent clumping of protein in the eyes that can lead to obstructed vision. The six-week study found that applying lanosterol drops to dogs with age-related cataracts decreased lens cloudiness and reversed the course of the disease.

The researchers noted that the drops likely won't clear up dense cataracts and that more research is needed before human trials could begin.

To learn more, click here.

Report: Nursing Home Employee Salaries Continue to Rise

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 17:27:00 +0000

A new report found that salaries for nursing home employees continue to increase. The "Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report 2015-2016," which is published by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service with an endorsement from LeadingAge, reported the following average salaries:

Executive directors: $171,008 (up 2 percent over last year)
Administrators: $119,197 (up 2.5 percent)
Assistant administrators: $96,380 (up 1.68 percent)
DONs: $93,290 (up 1.5 percent)
Assistant DONs: $69,003
Nursing supervisors: $66,109 (up 3.24 percent, the largest jump this year)
CNAs: $11.84 per hour (for-profit facilities) or $11.89 (non-profit facilities) (up 1.95 percent)

To learn more, click here.

Tips for Protecting Diabetic Feet This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 20:03:00 +0000

While it might feel great to kick off your shoes and feel the grass beneath your feet during the summer, it's important that people with diabetes remember they're more prone to foot-related complications and continue to take measures to prevent them.

Here are four tips to protect diabetic feet during the summer:

Forget the flip-flops. While flip-flops and other sandals allow feet to feel cooler, they're not supportive. Instead, consider a breathable, well-fitted athletic shoe that offers both support and comfort.
Don't overlook small cuts and scrapes. Many diabetics underestimate the havoc that can be wrought by a scrape, open blister or superficial cut. Diabetes lowers the body's natural defense against bacteria, thereby opening the door for cellulitis to set in. This infection can quickly spread into the bloodstream from a seemingly small wound on a foot or leg. Diabetics are a higher risk for cellulitis than non-diabetics.
Keep skin clean and dry. Fun at the pool and beach or any activity that results in sweating can result in extra skin moisture, which in turn can lead to an overgrowth of skin fungus and potentially an athlete's foot infection. If the infection makes its way into the foot skin through cracks and fissures, cellulitis can result.
Control blood sugar. When blood sugar is normal, the potential for foot complications is significantly lower. In the summer, this might mean saying no to the barbeque, pie, ice cream and other warm-weather goodies that pop up at celebrations.

Study: Cognitive Impairment Worsens Faster in Women

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 18:50:00 +0000

A new study out of Duke University found that women with mild cognitive impairment that can lead to Alzheimer's tend to deteriorate faster than their male counterparts.

The researchers studied 400 men and women in their mid-70s with mild cognitive impairment and followed up with them over the course of eight years. They administered a test called the Mini-Mental State Examination and determined that thinking and memory deteriorated twice as fast in women as in men.

The researchers stressed that their findings demonstrate the importance of making gender-specific Alzheimer's research a priority.

To learn more, click here.

Sanitize Your Hands on the Go

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 19:13:00 +0000

Summer is filled with picnics, fairs and time spent outdoors. These pastimes are great fun, but they can also be breeding grounds for germs. To protect yourself and your residents, slip bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer into your bag before heading outdoors.

For maximum efficacy, make sure that the sanitizer you’re using has an alcohol concentration of between 60 and 95 percent. Studies have shown that sanitizer in this concentration range is more effective at killing germs than non-alcohol based sanitizers and those with a lower concentration of alcohol.1

The proper application of hand sanitizer should take 20 to 30 seconds – don’t rush it! To ensure you’re getting optimum performance from your product, follow these steps2:

Apply a palmful of sanitizer to your cupped hand.
Rub your hands palm to palm.
Rub your right palm over the back of your left hand, then switch hands.
Interlace your fingers and rub your palms together again.
Interlock your fingers and rub them on the opposing palms.
Clasp your left thumb in your right palm and rub it in a rotational motion, then switch hands.
Clasp the fingers of your right hand together and rub them backward and forward on the palm of your right hand, then switch hands.
Wait until the sanitizer is dry on your hands before resuming activities.

While they’re great in a pinch – say, when you’re outdoors and there are no sinks available for washing hands – keep in mind that hand sanitizers might not be as effective as soap and water when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.1 If this is the case, be sure to wash your residents’ hands as soon as you return to the facility.

To learn more about the hand sanitizing options available from ProMed, as well as the other products in our comprehensive skin care line, contact your ProMed territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Show Me the Science – When to Use Hand Sanitizer. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html. Accessed June 24, 2015.

2 World Health Organization. How to Handrub? Available at: http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf. Accessed June 24, 2015.

HHS Proposes Major Changes to Improve Nursing Home Care

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:21:00 +0000

On July 13, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a proposal that would make "major changes to improve the care and safety of the nearly 1.5 million residents in more than 15,000 long-term care facilities or nursing homes that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs," according to a statement from the department.

Many of the proposed changes build upon improvements nursing homes have already made since 1991, the last time the conditions for participating in Medicare and Medicaid received a major update.

The changes include:

Making sure that staff are properly trained on caring for resident with dementia as well as in preventing elder abuse.
Ensuring nursing homes consider the health of residents when making decisions on the kinds and levels of staffing their facilities need to properly care for residents.
Ensuring staff members have the right skill sets and competencies to provide person-centered care and that the care plan developed takes the resident's goals of care and preferences into consideration.
Improving care planning, including discharge planning for all residents, with involvement of the facility's interdisciplinary team and consideration of the caregiver's capacity, giving residents information they need for follow-up and ensuring that instructions are transmitted to any receiving facilities or services.
Allowing dietitians and therapy provides the authority to write orders in their areas of expertise when a physician delegates the responsibility and state licensing laws allow it.
Requiring nursing homes to provide greater food choices for residents while also providing flexibility.
Update the nursing home's infection prevention and control program, including requiring an infection prevention and control officer and an antibiotic stewardship program that includes antibiotic use protocols and a system to monitor antibiotic use.
Strengthening rights of nursing home residents, including placing limits on when and how binding arbitration agreements may be used.

To learn more, click here.

Pack a "Senior Summer Survival Kit" to Fight the Heat

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 17:06:00 +0000

It's shaping up to be a hot weekend here in Illinois! Is your facility ready? If you haven't already, we recommend creating "Senior Summer Survival Kits" to help your residents and loved ones cope with the hot weather.

These kits are low-cost and easy to assemble. Examples of contents include:

A reusable water bottle to encourage proper hydration
Copies of all prescriptions and health insurance cards
Phone numbers of healthcare providers and information about any health conditions
Sunscreen (at least SPF 30) to prevent serious burns
Hand-held fans

Happy Friday from our team to yours!

CMS: Fraud Payment System Identified $820M in Improper Payments in Three Years

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 19:01:00 +0000

CMS announced that their Fraud Prevention System identified or prevented $820 million in improper payments during its first three years.

The Fraud Prevention Service, or FPS, was launched in 2011. In 2014 alone, the system identified $454 million in inappropriate payments, which resulted in administrative actions against 2,000 providers. These actions included having billing privileges revoked or being referred to law enforcement, among other consequences.

CMS has plans to ramp up FPS in the future. The agency wants to use the system to identify early leads for intervention for Medicare Administrative Contractors as well as to stop claims for medical review by Recovery Audit Contractors prior to payment.

To learn more, click here.

Let Us Help You Achieve a Perfect Survey

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 15:02:00 +0000

Have you exhausted all of your go-strategies for boosting your facility’s survey results? Maybe it’s time for a fresh perspective. ProMed is ready to help!

Compliance Solutions: For the Perfect Survey Every Day, our exclusive Web-based survey preparation tool, is available at no charge to dedicated ProMed customers. The site will help you prepare for both the traditional and QIS survey and includes access to:

The actual forms that surveyors use
Exclusive tips from industry veterans
Resources for tracking your survey preparedness
Case studies to help you address how you would handle specific challenges in your own facility
And much more!

New information is added on a monthly basis and the site is regularly updated to reflect updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

To learn more and register for Compliance Solutions: For the Perfect Survey Every Day, contact your ProMed territory manager or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

Catheterization: What, How and When?

noreply@blogger.com (ProMed) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:11:00 +0000

Generally speaking, urinary catheters are used to drain urine from the body. The three primary types of urinary catheter are indwelling, intermittent and external. We created the following chart as a brief overview of these three catheter types, including how they work and when they can appropriately be used.1,2

Type: Indwelling (Foley) catheter

How It Works

Left in the bladder
Collects urine and empties it into a drainage bag
May be inserted through the urethra or directly into the bladder via a small hole in the belly (urostomy)
A small inflated balloon on the end of the catheter prevents it from sliding out (the balloon is deflated before removal)

When Is It Used?

For both short and long periods of time
When residents have acute urinary retention or bladder outlet obstruction
For accurate measurement of urinary output in critically ill residents
During and following select surgeries
When residents require prolonged immobilization
Following spinal cord injuries
To improve comfort during end-of-life care

Type: Intermittent catheter

How It Works

Inserted into the bladder only when urine needs to be drained and then removed

When Is It Used?

For short-term use, such as after surgery

Type: External (condom) catheter

How It Works

For male use only
A condom-like device is placed over the penis
A tube connected to the catheter leads to a drainage bag

When Is It Used?

Typically used when residents have seriously functional or mental disabilities, such as dementia, rather than urinary retention problems

The CDC cautions that indwelling catheters should only be used for appropriate indications and left in place only as long as needed. They should never replace proper nursing care for incontinent residents.2

Catheters are available in several different materials, such as silicone and latex, and with multiple features. Your highly trained ProMed territory manager is ready to help you select the exact catheters to meet your residents’ need. To get started, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Sources

1 U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Urinary catheters. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003981.htm. Accessed June 16, 2015.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections, 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/cauti/02_cauti2009_abbrev.html. Accessed June 15, 2015.