In this Issue

Best Practice of the Week/ Center Highlight of the Week

• Clinical Leadership Attend Resident Council Meetings in Florida

• Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
• Update on Booster Interval for Immunocompromised

• BOOST Social Media Graphics!
• Reach the Alliant Boost Team through this new email address: Booster@allianthealth.org - please reach out with questions, comments, etc.
• Flyer: Why I Got Vaccinated
• Poster: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: Why Should I Get Boosted?  
• Book Review: "Brush Fire: Covid-19 and Our Nursing Homes" by Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes
• Case vignettes using Motivational Interviewing to help individuals with concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines
• Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.

• Education on Wednesdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
  • Wednesday, March 2, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT: Join Deke Cateau, the Chief Executive Officer at A.G. Rhodes for Vaccines: A Glimmer of Hope? Morality or Mandate?
    Since the pandemic began, the search for an effective vaccine was thought to be the best way for us to get back to normalcy. In this presentation, Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes, a group of three Atlanta non-profit nursing homes and author of BRUSH FIRE: Covid-19 and our Nursing Homes, reflects on his organization’s techniques and strategies in promoting the COVID-19 vaccine among its staff and residents. Hear lessons learned and practical realities encountered as the organization went from widespread vaccine hesitancy to over 90% staff and resident vaccination. REGISTER
• Clinician Office Hours on Thursdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
  • Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT: Join Jeremy Bischoff, LHNA, BA, Alliant Quality Improvement Initiative Advisor, for BOOST Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake. Audience: NH Admins, DONs, Direct Care Staff - all are welcome. Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation! REGISTER 

Best Practice/Center of the Week

Clinical Leadership Attend Resident Council Meetings in Florida
A nursing home located in Florida shared that they have engaged their MD, APRN, and other clinical leadership to be present during resident council meetings on a rotating basis (with the residents' permission). During this time, the clinical leaders share current updates regarding the coronavirus and vaccinations, and set aside time to address questions from the residents. As a result, the residents feel better informed, are more confident addressing myths, and are able to educate on a peer-to-peer level within the home. It has also built trust in the leadership because it allows the residents to have a higher level of connection to the primary people addressing their health concerns in the facility.

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

Latest Guidance/Updates

• Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
  People who previously received antibody products (anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma) as part of COVID-19 treatment, post-exposure prophylaxis, or pre-exposure prophylaxis can be vaccinated at any time; COVID-19 vaccination does not need to be delayed following receipt of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. Although some reduction in vaccine-induced antibody titers was observed in people who previously received antibody products, the clinical significance of this reduction is unknown, and the balance of benefits vs. risks favors proceeding with vaccination even considering the possibility of diminished vaccine effectiveness in this situation. However, in people who previously received a COVID-19 vaccine, administration of tixagevimab/cilgavimab (EVUSHELD™) for pre-exposure prophylaxis should be deferred for at least two weeks after vaccination, per the product EUA.
• Update on Booster for Immunocompromised
  The booster dose interval has been shortened to 3 months for moderately to severely immunocompromised. Please refer to the CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Interim Immunization schedule.

New Materials & Resources

• BOOST  Social Media Graphics
  We now have BOOST campaign social media graphics available (sized for Twitter and LinkedIn/Facebook) on the Give the Boost a Shot landing page. We’ll be adding new graphics each week that folks can download and use. 
  
• Flyer: Why I Got Vaccinated - Administrators and staff at Memphis Jewish Home in Tennessee shared their personal stories regarding their motivation to become vaccinated. The facility includes a large campus of around 300 staff who are nearly 80% vaccinated. Download
• Poster: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: Why Should I Get Boosted? Download 
• Book Review: "Brush Fire: Covid-19 and Our Nursing Homes" by Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes
  "Brush Fire" chronicles the challenges that nursing home residents and staff experienced in their difficult and lengthy battle against COVID-19. In his authorial debut, Deke gives a sobering behind-the-scenes look into what his organization, and undoubtedly thousands of other senior care organizations, faced during the global pandemic. Perhaps most importantly, Brush Fire gives hope and direction on how a historically misunderstood industry can emerge out of the ashes stronger than ever. Alliant has purchased and will distribute copies of Deke's book to Nursing Homes enrolled in Alliant's quality improvement initiatives. Meet Deke at the March 2, 2022 Boost Education event!
• Case Vignettes Using Motivational Interviewing - During an earlier Boost Education event, Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, CPCS presented on Motivational Interviewing and invited colleagues to role play how to have conversations with individuals who have concerns about the vaccines. Listen to the recording.
• 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. ​​​​​

Date/Time	Event		Registration Link
Wednesday, 3/2/22 2-2:30 ​​​​p.m. ET/  1-1:30 p.m. CT	BOOST Education Event:  Vaccines: A Glimmer of Hope? Morality or Mandate? Since the pandemic began, the search for an effective vaccine was thought to be the best way for us to get back to normalcy. In this presentation, Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes, a group of three Atlanta non-profit nursing homes and author of BRUSH FIRE: Covid-19 and our Nursing Homes, reflects on his organization’s techniques and strategies in promoting the COVID-19 vaccine among its staff and residents. Hear lessons learned and practical realities encountered as the organization went from widespread vaccine hesitancy to over 90% staff and resident vaccination. Learning Objectives: At this session, participants will: Learn different strategies for effectively promoting the COVID-19 vaccine Be able to encourage hesitant staff, families, and other stakeholders through a variety of messages and communications Take away practical data to compare COVID-19 activity before and after the organization achieved such a high vaccination rate. Objectives: To demonstrate the recent statistical evidence of booster efficacy To ascertain the current challenges with booster uptake (will have polling questions) To understand and mitigate the challenges with LTC providers obtaining the booster To assist facilities in conducting efficient and ongoing onsite clinics *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 - all are welcome! Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation! 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:  Join Darcy J. Watson, BSN, LNHA, Quality Consultant, Alliant Health Solutions for part 2 of Boosting Your Vaccine Clinic.   *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 - all are welcome! Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation! 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:  Join Nimalie Stone, MD, MS, Medical Epidemiologist for Long-term Care in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a special session to look at all we’ve accomplished as a spring board to positively transforming the experiences of residents and staff in nursing homes.   *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: Facility leadership, MD, PA, Advance Practice staff - all are welcome! Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation!   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
  • Email: Booster@allianthealth.org 

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

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