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INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN NURSING HOMES IN THE COVID ERA: RESEARCH, STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES AND BEST PRACTICES
This report examines the unique challenges facing the nursing home environment in the ongoing fight against healthcare-associated infections. It weaves together an environmental scan of the literature with findings from the Virtual Summit and Qualitative Study (detailed below). The environmental scan sought to better understand current infection prevention and control (IPC) best-practices, barriers to effective IPC implementation, the varied personnel roles in the IPC ecosystem, the role of federal agencies in surveilling and remedying the pervasive threat of infectious disease, and the challenges and strategies associated with the ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is organized into five thematic areas: staffing and resource availability, training and knowledge of IPC practices, quality of life impacts, organizational culture, and external influences including regulations and reporting.
NYAM’s Virtual Summit on Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes
NYAM convened 13 leading global experts in the field of infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities. The goals of the virtual summit were to critically examine evidence-based practice guidelines for infection prevention and control in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, understand key barriers to implementing best practices, and propose sustainable regional and global solutions.
Reflections from the “Forgotten Frontline”: A Qualitative Report on Experiences of Frontline Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities in New York City Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this final report, 14 qualitative interviews were conducted with certified nursing assistants, nurses and supervisors, a physical therapist and patient care coordinator from a nursing home facility or assisted living facility. Two major themes emerged: infection prevention in facilities prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 resulted in changes, impacts and recommendations. Within the first major theme of infection prevention in facilities prior to the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced two sub-themes: before COVID-19: infection prevention practices and procedures and before COVID-19: infection prevention training, adherence and oversight. The second major theme produced seven sub-themes: COVID-19 prevalence in participants’, facility responses and relevant policies, staffing and shortages, supplies and safety, staff well-being and mental health, resident experiences during the pandemic and recommendations for improvement.