By Angela Carr, RN, MHA, LHNA
One of Thomas Jefferson’s most famous quotes is, “Knowledge is power.” He equated knowledge with power, safety and happiness. Dedicated long-term care nurses and health care workers have long cared for the respected senior community and those with chronic illnesses. They are a proud group of professionals whose strength has been tested over this past year as they fight the coronavirus on the front line. Challenging times are not new to the staff in nursing homes. They are accustomed to the challenges associated with flu season, staffing challenges during inclement weather and other emergencies. However, this pandemic has presented new challenges as staff try to navigate the overwhelming volume of information, regulatory updates and corresponding company policy changes.
Genesis Healthcare recognizes that information is power and is using information as a key strategy to providing safe, high-quality care for its residents and for creating a team of resilient staff. Nursing homes have been at the forefront of the coronavirus battle, primarily due to the communal living environment and the vulnerability of the senior population. Therefore, it is imperative that nursing home staff remain vigilant and knowledgeable on how to best care for and protect their residents. As physicians and scientists learn more about how to best treat and prevent illness, more changes are to come. Ongoing education and information sharing is a key strategy in this battle. Genesis Healthcare embraces the commitment to improving coronavirus preparedness, safety and infection control through education. Targeting all levels of the organization, Genesis has created multiple opportunities for sharing information, insights and best practices.
Weekly education, best practice discussions and information sharing occurs during weekly Genesis leadership calls and through a partner program called Project ECHO. Richard Feifer, M.D., MPH, FACP, executive vice president and chief medical officer, and JoAnne Reifsnyder, Ph.D., MSN, MBA, FAAN, executive vice president and chief nursing officer, have led weekly leadership calls with nursing home leaders since the start of the pandemic. They provide crucial information, resources and best practices on topics essential to navigating the pandemic.
In November 2020, Genesis Healthcare broadened the opportunities for information sharing by partnering with the University of New Mexico in a telementoring program, originated by Dr. Sanjeev Arora, called Project ECHO. This program facilitates a collaboration between Genesis Healthcare and academic health care organizations like Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Alzheimer’s Association, to share coronavirus information, infection control measures and best practices in the care and treatment of nursing home residents. This 16-week program engages nursing home leaders and front line staff in a highly interactive case based training program designed to enhance knowledge and skills and to employ safety measures to protect nursing home residents. The Institute for Health care Improvement enhances the program by leading quality improvement content and process components during each session.
According to Amanda Scott, center executive director at Brightwood Center in Follansbee, WV, Project ECHO provides tools and resources to center leaders that enable them to make impactful changes where needed.
“Our main goal is to keep staff and residents safe, and Project ECHO helps us achieve this goal during unprecedented times,” says Scott.
During the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, organizations must evolve, adapt and confront the challenges associated with the virus. As nursing homes wait for the vaccination of their residents, staff and the general population, Genesis Healthcare will continue its commitment to developing knowledgeable and competent staff who provide high-quality care for its residents.
Harnessing the power of information is just one of many tools is the toolbox to fight this virus.
“Genesis Healthcare has been a leader to others during the pandemic,” says Kelly Falls, center nurse executive at Tygart Center in Fairmont, WV. “Working with Project ECHO and seeing its best practices align with Genesis has reaffirmed that I’m with the right company.”
About the Author
Angela Carr is the director of population health for Genesis Healthcare. She has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years with experience in a variety of settings, including acute care, developmental disabilities and long-term care. She is passionate about health, wellness and disease prevention.
