The New York Academy of Medicine is actively recruiting nursing homes to join an interactive community of practice to advance improvements in COVID-19 preparedness, safety and infection control.

Join thousands of nursing homes now. Time is running out!

Supported by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network is open to any Medicare or Medicaid-certified nursing home across the country at no cost.

Nursing homes eligible to receive funding from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) that actively
participate in the 16-week Network training can receive $6,000 in compensation for participating.

Training will also increase your expertise and support better compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state guidelines. Participation requirements include two. nursing home representatives attending a 1.5 hour, interactive peer-to-peer sharing webinar each week.
The Approach
The Network will operate as a 16-week interactive virtual community of practice utilizing the ECHO model. The model is based on the idea that to learn complex ideas, guided mentorship is needed in an “all teach, all learn” environment.

The weekly Network sessions are designed to create space to hear directly from nursing home staff about the challenges they are facing through discussion of real cases.

All participants are encouraged to share best practices and learn from their peers – while benefiting from the guidance of nursing home and quality improvement experts. Each Network session will include a short lecture combined with case-based presentations and discussion.

The Goals
The Network aims to help nursing homes implement evidence-based best practices to:
  • Keep SARS-CoV-2 from entering nursing homes where it has not entered
  • Identify residents and staff who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 early
  • Prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 between staff, residents, and visitors
  • Provide safe and appropriate care to residents with mild and asymptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2
  • Ensure staff have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to implement best-practice safety measures to protect residents and themselves
  • Reduce social isolation for residents, families, and staff during these difficult times
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