In this Issue

Best Practice of the Week/ Center Highlight of the Week

• Celebrating Pruitt Health - Magnolia Manor

• CMS issued memo QSO-22-10-ALL to all state survey agencies, requiring onsite surveyors, including CLIA and Life Safety surveyors, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption.  
• National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call, February 2, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m. ET
• CDC Website: Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines - Updated Jan. 24, 2022

• CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Vaccination Data Dashboard
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-term Care Settings
• Download the Public Health Communication Collaborative toolkit
• Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.

• Education on Wednesdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
  • Wednesday, February 2, 2022: Join Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, Aim Lead, Behavioral Health, Alliant Health Solutions for a presentation on Using Motivational Interviewing to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT - REGISTER
• Clinician Office Hours on Thursdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
  • Thursday, February 3, 2022: Join Jeremy Bischoff, LHNA, BA, Quality Advisor, Alliant Health Solutions for Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake. This Office Hours session is geared toward NH Admins, DONs, and Direct Care Staff. The format will be a brief presentation followed by Q&A session (30-minute timeframe) from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT - REGISTER

Best Practice/Center of the Week

Celebrating Pruitt Health - Magnolia Manor
Administrator, Jon Black, and his team at Pruitt Health Magnolia Manor were looking for a way to increase vaccine uptake with their short-term rehab admissions. The shorter stay in the facility provided a narrow window to identify new admits that were eligible, obtain consent, and arrange for the shot administration. In a review of processes, Jon determined that he could add the Vaccine Consent Form to the admission packet. He implemented training for the admitting team member to work through questions regarding safety and hesitancy, along with dispelling myths to allow the new admit to make an informed decision. When consent was obtained, the form was reviewed by the clinical team during the following day admission chart checks. The clinical team was then able to arrange for vaccination during the short term stay. This process not only saved the team valuable time, but also increased vaccination rates, while advancing the protections for his residents and staff. Contact Jeremy Bischoff to hear more about this best practice.

Share your best practices! Email Leighann: Leighann.Sauls@allianthealth.org

Latest Guidance/Updates

• CMS issued memo QSO-22-10-ALL to all state survey agencies, requiring onsite surveyors, including CLIA and Life Safety surveyors, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption.  
• National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call, Wednesday, February 2, 2022 @ 3 p.m. ET
  Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a National Stakeholder Call providing updates on COVID-19, revisions to nursing home guidance, and best practices. Additionally, subject matter experts from CDC and CMS will address frequently asked questions. When: Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 3-3:45 p.m. ET Where: Zoom link will be provided following registration. Panelists: Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CMS), Jean Moody Williams, Deputy Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CMS), Dr. Kara Jacobs-Slifka, Long Term Care Lead, Prevention and Response Branch (CDC), and Evan Shulman, Director, Division of Nursing Homes (CMS) Who should attend: Long term care providers, facility staff and resident advocates. Registration is required.
• CDC Website: Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines - Updated Jan. 24, 2022
  More than 535 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through January 24, 2022. To view the current total number of COVID-19 vaccinations that have been administered in the United States, please visit the CDC COVID Data Tracker.

New Materials & Resources

• CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Vaccination Data Dashboard
  This dashboard displays data at the national and state level on COVID-19 vaccination coverage among residents and staff of CMS-certified nursing homes. These summaries represent data that nursing homes reported to the NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module using weekly vaccination forms. Join BOOST Office Hours & NHSN Shop Talk on the third Thursdays for technical assistance with CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-term Care Settings
  The federal government is committed to ensuring that residents and staff in long-term care (LTC) settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living, residential care communities, group homes and senior housing, have access to COVID-19 vaccines to receive primary series and booster shots. For additional examples of LTC settings, see COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-Term Care Settings. The goal is to continue to protect those who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19—especially residents of LTC settings. All LTC settings that request assistance accessing COVID-19 vaccines for their residents and staff will receive the support they need.
• Download the Public Health Communication Collaborative toolkit. It includes infographics, talking points and sample social media graphics regarding COVID-19 vaccines. 
• Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.

Upcoming Give the Boost a Shot Events *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* ​​​​​​

Join us and invite clinical colleagues every Wednesdays for an educational event. On Thursdays, we'll take a deeper dive into your challenges and questions during Clinician Office Hours. Each week we will focus on the concerns and questions from different clinician groups. 

• First Thursday of the Month: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake (Audience: NH Admins, DONs, Direct Care Staff) - Led by Jeremy Bischoff LHNA, BA – Alliant Quality Improvement Initiative Advisor
• Second Thursday of the Month: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Infection Prevention (Audience: Facility IPs) – Led by Amy Ward MS, BSN, RN, CIC – Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist
• Third Thursday of the Month: Clinician Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk (audience NSHN users) - Led by Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP) – Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention
• Fourth Thursday of the Month: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake (audience MD, PA, Advance Practice staff) – Led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF

Date/Time	Event		Registration Link
Wednesday, 2/2/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event: Join Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, Aim Lead, Behavioral Health, Alliant Health Solutions for a presentation on Using Motivational Interviewing to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 2/3/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Join Jeremy Bischoff, LHNA, BA, Quality Advisor, Alliant Health Solutions for Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake. This Office Hours session is geared toward NH Admins, DONs, and Direct Care Staff. The format will be a brief presentation followed by Q&A session (30-minute timeframe)  *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 2/9/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 2/10/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Infection Prevention (Audience – Facility IPs) Led by Amy Ward MS, BSN, RN, CIC – Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 2/16/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 2/17/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours & Shop Talk: Clinician Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk (audience NSHN users) Led by Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP) – Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 2/23/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 2/24/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake - (audience MD, PA, Advance Practice staff) Led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register Download Flyer
Wednesday, 3/2/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 3/3/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake – (Audience: NH Admins, DONs, Direct Care Staff) Led by Jeremy Bischoff LHNA, BA – Alliant Quality Improvement Initiative Advisor *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 3/9/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 3/10/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Infection Prevention (Audience – Facility IPs) Led by Amy Ward MS, BSN, RN, CIC – Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 3/16/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 3/17/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours & Shop Talk: Clinician Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk (audience NSHN users) Led by Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP) – Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Wednesday, 3/23/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 3/24/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake - (audience MD, PA, Advance Practice staff) Led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register Download Flyer
Wednesday, 3/30/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register
Thursday, 3/31/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Office Hours *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*		Register

About the Give the Shot a Boost Program

Alliant Health Solutions received a direct change order from CMS to provide support to nursing homes to help accelerate resident vaccination rates. This intensive 12-week program includes the following services and activities:

• Tuesdays: You will receive a weekly email bulletin dedicated to this program with the latest updates and tools you can use to help increase vaccination and booster rates.
• Wednesdays: Participate in a weekly educational event for all nursing homes to provide the latest information and tools to help accelerate rates.
• Thursdays: Take advantage of weekly office hours sessions for clinicians to share best practices, updates in clinical guidance, and science. 
• A dedicated website page with resources and materials.
• Access to experts in epidemiology, quality improvement, and infection control. 
  • Assistance Hotline: 1-888-519-4128

For more information about Alliant Health Solutions, visit the website: quality.allianthealth.org.

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