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Questions for the Alliant Boost Team? Email Booster@allianthealth.org
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March 15, 2022
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In this Issue |
Best Practice of the Week/ Center Highlight of the Week
- Cookout Clinics in Florida
Latest Guidance/Updates
- QSO Memo Updates
- CMS Makes Nursing Home COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Data Available Online, Increasing Transparency for Consumers
- Dr. Swati Gaur has been named the Society for PALTC Medicine's Medical Director of the Year!
- COVID-19 at-home test good news!
- CDC: Get Vaccinated Even If You Had COVID
- NYT: Covid cases are rising in parts of both Europe and Asia
- OSHA Announces COVID-19 Focused Inspection Initiative
New Materials & Resources
- Poster: Why I Got Vaccinated **Now available in Spanish**
- Check out this new blog post: Six Reasons Why People Are Getting the COVID-19 Booster
- FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors and People with Disabilities by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes
- Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.
Register for Upcoming Give the Boost a Shot Events
- Education on Wednesdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
- Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT: Join Comagine Health for an update on Visitor Safety Guidelines. REGISTER
- Clinician Office Hours on Thursdays *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
- Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT: Join BOOST Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk (audience NSHN users) with Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP), Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation! REGISTER
Give the Boost a Shot Event Recordings
About Give the Boost a Shot
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Best Practice/Center of the Week |
Cookout Clinics in Florida
Donald Crews, the Administrator of Life Care Center of Jacksonville, FL, increased their booster rates by offering a booster clinic during a cookout. Get your shot, Get your hot dog!
Share your best practices! Email Leighann: Leighann.Sauls@allianthealth.org
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Latest Guidance/Updates |
- Two QSO Memos Updated: QSO-20-39-NH REVISED (cms.gov) | QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (cms.gov)
On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated QSO memos 20-38-NH regarding facility testing requirements and 20-39-NH regarding nursing home visitation to include the term “up-to-date.”
- CMS Makes Nursing Home COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Data Available Online, Increasing Transparency for Consumers
As part of its commitment to improve transparency and help families and caregivers find the best nursing home care for their loved ones, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now posting data on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots administered to nursing home residents and staff on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website. The data will show resident and staff booster rates at the facility level and will include national and state averages.
- Dr. Swati Gaur has been named the Society for PALTC Medicine's Medical Director of the Year!
- COVID-19 at-home test good news!
Starting this week, if you already ordered 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests from COVIDtests.gov, now you can get 4 more free at-home tests shipped to your home. Visit COVIDtests.gov again to place your second order. As before, just enter your name and mailing address (you can also give your email address if you want status updates on your order). If you haven't yet ordered any at-home tests, you can get a total of 8 tests shipped to your home. You'll just have to place 2 separate orders — each order equals 4 tests. At-home tests, or "self tests," give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. Visit CDC.gov to learn when to test yourself, how to use an at-home test, and what your test results mean.
- CDC: Get Vaccinated Even If You Had COVID-19
You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. No currently available test can reliably determine if you are protected after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 provides added protection to your immune system. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery. Read More
- NYT: Covid cases are rising in parts of both Europe and Asia
The bottom line: Covid isn’t going away, but vaccination and other treatments can keep future increases manageable. The biggest problem remains the millions of people who remain unvaccinated, many of them by choice. That’s the case in the U.S., in Hong Kong and across much of Europe, Africaand the rest of the world. Inducing more people to get shots — through persuasion or mandates — would probably save more lives than any other Covid policy. Read More
- OSHA Announces COVID-19 Focused Inspection Initiative
The intent of this initiative is to magnify OSHA’s presence in high-hazard healthcare facilities over a three-month period (March 9, 2022 to June 9, 2022), to encourage employers in these industry sectors to take the necessary steps to protect their workers against the hazards of COVID-19. These focused, partial-scope inspections shall be conducted following the procedures below, at establishments within the four North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes listed in Attachment 1: two NAICS codes representing Hospital sectors and two NAICS codes representing Nursing and Residential Care sectors. Inspections opened under this initiative shall comprise 15% of all inspections per Region for the designated three-month period. However, this goal may be adjusted or terminated based on COVID-19 case rates, establishment density, or similar criteria present in a particular Region, or based on new information or developments regarding COVID-19. Read More
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New Materials & Resources |
- Poster: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: Why Should I Get Boosted? Download |*Now in Spanish*
- Check out this new blog post: Six Reasons Why People Are Getting the COVID-19 Booster
- FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors and People with Disabilities by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes
President Biden has announced a set of reforms, developed by and implemented through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that will improve the safety and quality of nursing home care, hold nursing homes accountable for the care they provide and make the quality of care and facility ownership more transparent so that potential residents and their loved ones can make informed decisions about care. Read more.
- Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.
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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.
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Date/Time
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Event
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Registration Link
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Wednesday, 3/16/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Comagine Health for an update on Visitor Safety Guidelines.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
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Register |
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Thursday, 3/17/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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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*
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Register |
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Wednesday, 3/23/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Carol O'Connell, Assistant Vice President of Long Term Care and Support Services at Wellstar Paulding Hospital & Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to learn how they managed the roll-out of the vaccines and what they are doing to encourage the booster.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
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Register |
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Thursday, 3/24/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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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*
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Register
Download Flyer |
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Wednesday, 3/30/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education Event
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
Register |
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Thursday, 3/31/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Office Hours
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
Register |
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Wednesday, 4/6/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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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*
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Register |
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Thursday, 4/7/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Office Hours
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
Register |
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Give the Boost a Shot Event Recordings |
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Recorded
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Event
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Recording Link
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Give the Boost a Shot Kick Off Event: Learn the why behind this 12-week program.
With Leighann Sauls, RN, CDN, Program Director (Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee), Alliant Health Solutions, JoVonn Givens, MPH, Program Director (Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana), Alliant Health Solutions, Jeremy Bischoff, LHNA, BA, Quality Advisor, Alliant Health Solutions, and Lisa Davies, CPHQ, LNHA, RD, LD, Quality Improvement Initiative Manager, Alliant Health Solutions
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Recording |
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Thursday, 1/20/22
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BOOST Office Hours: BOOST Office Hours & Shop Talk: Clinician Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk (audience NSHN users)
With Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP), Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention
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Recording |
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BOOST Education Event: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster and Health Equity
With Rosa Abraha, MPH, Health Equity Lead, Alliant Health Solutions
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Recording |
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Thursday, 1/27/22
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BOOST Office Hours: Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake - (audience MD, PA, Advance Practice staff)
With Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System
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Recording |
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, CPCS, Aim Lead, Behavioral Health, Alliant Health Solutions for part 1 of a presentation on Using Motivational Interviewing to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations
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Recording |
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Thursday, 2/3/22
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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)
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Recording |
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, CPCS, Aim Lead, Behavioral Health, Alliant Health Solutions for Using Motivational Interviewing to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations Part 2: Practical Application. Participants will hear scenarios using the skills of Motivational Interviewing.
Objectives:
- Define Motivational Interviewing
- Understand the OARS in Motivational Interviewing
- Understand interviewing skills and strategies
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Recording |
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Thursday, 2/10/22
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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
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 2/16/22
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Darcy J. Watson, BSN, LNHA, Quality Consultant, Alliant Health Solutions for a session on Vaccine Clinics.
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*
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Recording |
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Thursday, 2/17/22
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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*
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 2/23/22
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD, Senior Medical Director, UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions to learn more about Long COVID and Boosters.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
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Recording |
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Thursday, 2/24/22
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BOOST Office Hours:
Clinician Office Hours: Focus on Primary and Booster Uptake
Audience: MD, PA, Advance Practice staff
Turn your cameras on and join in the conversation!
Led by Swati Gaur, MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
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Recording |
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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*
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Recording |
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Thursday, 3/3/22
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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*
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 3/9/22
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Darcy J. Watson, BSN, LNHA, Quality Consultant, Alliant Health Solutions for Give the BOOST a Shot - Don't Take "NO" for an Answer. Objectives:
- Review COVID-19 & variant(s) Booster Significance and Eligibility
- Discuss COVID-19 & variant(s) Booster Consent Challenges
- Spotlight COVID-19 & variant(s) Booster Clinic Best Practice Champions
- Provide COVID-19 & variant(s) Booster Clinic Resources
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
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Recording |
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Thursday, 3/10/22
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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*
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Recording |
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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.
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For more information about Alliant Health Solutions, visit the website: quality.allianthealth.org.
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