In a recent website posting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted two successful infection prevention success stories from Massachusetts. As the CDC noted, “Many long-term care facilities across the country are taking actions to implement CDC guidance and keep residents and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories highlight a small selection of the ongoing work of those facilities.”
Identifying infections and acting early protects residents
Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Hebrew SeniorLife
In April 2020, Massachusetts nursing homes became a hotspot for COVID-19 infections and deaths. Governor Baker responded by providing additional funding to assist all nursing homes contingent upon their compliance with specific infection prevention and control strategies, infection prevention and control practice audits, and testing, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Hebrew SeniorLife were the primary partners in this state-wide effort. Performing the initial infection prevention and control (IPC) competency audits for nursing homes, providing on-site and virtual consultation and training, as well as resources for personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement, recruitment of temporary staff, and SARS-CoV-2 testing. Please click here to read the complete article. For more detailed information on the initiative, please click here.
Building trust with residents and families is essential
Broad Reach Healthcare, led by President and CEO Bill Bogdanovich, is featured for its work on Building Trust with Residents and Families. When visitor restrictions and access limitations were put in place in response to COVID-19, Broad Reach developed a communications plan designed to help build trust with residents and families and eliminate the fear of the unknown. Please click here to read about the Broad Reach initiative.