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Questions for the Alliant Boost Team? Email Booster@allianthealth.org
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May 3, 2022
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In this Issue |
Register for Upcoming Give the Boost a Shot Events *ANCC Contact Hours Awarded*
- Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. ET/ 1-1:30 p.m. CT: BOOST Shop Talk: Join us for a 30-minute educational presentation on Vaccine Effectiveness against Variants: Omicron and More followed by a 15-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System. REGISTER
- We want to hear from you on topics!
Best Practice of the Week/ Center Highlight of the Week
- Going Door-to-Door in Atlanta
Latest Guidance/Updates
- Transcript for CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19
- Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States - Interim Clinical Considerations (last updated April 21, 2022)
- Evaluating and Supporting Patients Presenting with Cognitive Symptoms Following COVID
- What you need to know about variants
Materials & Resources
- New AHCA Video: Dr. Gifford Encourages LTC Staff to Get Their Booster Shot
- Leveraging Art to Bring the Community Together
- ICYMI: Updates to the NHSN Tracking Sheets & New Event Level forms for the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module
- When to Get Tested for COVID-19
- Know Your COVID-19 Community Level
- COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
- The Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool
- Flyer: Visitor Talking Points
- Poster: Attention Vistors
- Poster: Why I Got Vaccinated
- Click HERE or visit https://bit.ly/GiveTheBoostAShot to download helpful resources and materials.
Check in: How are we doing? Are you finding the events and materials helpful?
Give the Boost a Shot Event Recordings
About Give the Boost a Shot
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Best Practice/Center of the Week |
Congratulations to Westminster in Atlanta! They have seen the highest improvement in the metro-area nursing homes the Alliant team is supporting. The secret? The Administrator went door-to-door! She already has 30 signed up for booster #2!
Share your best practices! Email Leighann: Leighann.Sauls@allianthealth.org
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Latest Guidance/Updates |
- Transcript for CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19
Press Briefing Transcript - Tuesday, April 26, 2022
- Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States - Interim Clinical Considerations (last updated April 21, 2022)
- Added considerations for the option to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose
- Updated guidance for COVID-19 vaccination after SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Read More
- Evaluating and Supporting Patients Presenting with Cognitive Symptoms Following COVID
During this COCA Call, presenters will discuss post-COVID conditions (PCC), an umbrella term for the wide range of health consequences that are present four or more weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2, which includes long COVID. Cognitive symptoms, often described by patients as “brain fog”, are frequently reported following SARS-CoV-2 infection. COCA Website
- What You Need to Know About Variants
Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some variants emerge and disappear while others persist. New variants will continue to emerge. CDC and other public health organizations monitor all variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 in the United States and globally. Scientists monitor all variants but may classify certain ones as variants being monitored, variants of interest, variants of concern and variants of high consequence. Some variants spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. Even if a variant causes less severe disease in general, an increase in the overall number of cases could cause an increase in hospitalizations, put more strain on healthcare resources and potentially lead to more deaths. Read More
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Materials & Resources |
- New AHCA Video: Dr. Gifford Encourages LTC Staff to Get Their Booster Shot
In a special video message, AHCA/NCAL’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gifford encourages long term care staff to stay up to date on their COVID vaccinations and get their booster shot. While nearly 90% of nursing home staff have received their primary dose, a little less than half have received their COVID booster as of mid-April. Dr. Gifford encourages staff to ensure they have the highest level of protection and reduce the chances of passing the virus onto family, friends, colleagues, and most importantly, vulnerable long term care residents. Dr. Gifford explains why it’s important to stay up to date on COVID vaccinations, especially with new variants still emerging and antibodies waning over time. He also addresses some of the common reasons individuals may be hesitant to get their booster, such reactions to previous doses and the likelihood of breakthrough infections. He emphasizes that getting a booster helps prevent individuals from getting very sick, passing the virus onto others, and creating additional staffing shortages in LTC facilities. LTC providers are encouraged to share this video message with their employees and colleagues via YouTube, or download the video file directly to circulate through your organization’s own internal channels. The video is part of AHCA/NCAL’s ongoing #GetVaccinated campaign. Learn more at getvaccinated.us.
- Leveraging Art to Bring the Community Together
The Signs of Solidarity initiative uses the arts to convey public health messages and boost community trust in COVID-19 vaccines. Louise E. Shaw, the curator of the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, and her colleagues Kathleen Holmes and John Donovan partnered with CDC’s Vaccine Task Force and the Atlanta arts organization Living Wall to commission art banners that encouraged Atlanta residents to get vaccinated. Read More
- ICYMI BOOST Shop Talk: On 4/21/22, Heather Dubendris, MSPH, Senior Public Health Analyst at Lantana Consulting Group, supporting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Vaccination Modules, Hannah Reses, MPH, Epidemiologist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP), Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention, and Amy Ward, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist reviewed Updates to the NHSN Tracking Sheets & New Event Level forms for the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module. Watch the Recording
- When to Get Tested for COVID-19: The Coronavirus Self-Checker is an interactive clinical assessment tool that can help you decide when to seek testing or medical care if you think you have COVID-19 or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
- Know Your COVID-19 Community Level: CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. COVID-19 County Check
- COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator: CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation calculator takes the stress out of deciding when, and for how long, people with COVID-19 and close contacts need to stay home, get tested, and wear a well-fitting mask.
- The Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool: CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz helps you create a list of vaccines you may need based on your age, health conditions, and more. Click here to take the quiz now!
- Flyer: Visitor Talking Points: This one-page flyer outlines how to talk to visitors about ensuring the safety of nursing home residents and staff while visiting. Download
- Poster: Attention Visitors: This poster outlines practices to help visitors keep nursing homes residents and staff safe. Download
- Poster: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: Why Should I Get Boosted? Download | In Spanish
- 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* |
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Thursday, 5/5/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join us for a 30-minute educational presentation, Vaccine Effectiveness against Variants: Omicron and More, followed by a 15-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
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Register |
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Thursday, 5/12/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join us for a 30-minute educational presentation, Omicron: I got the vaccine why did I still get sick?, with Jeremy Bischoff, LHNA, BS, Quality Improvement Initiative Advisor at Alliant Health Solutions followed by a 15-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
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Register |
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Thursday, 5/19/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP), Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention & Amy Ward, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist for NSHN Shop Talk.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
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Register |
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Thursday, 5/26/22
2-2:30 p.m. ET/
1-1:30 p.m. CT
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join us for a 30-minute educational presentation followed by a 15-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System.
*ANCC Contact Hours Awarded* |
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 3/16/22
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Carolyn Brill, Senior Improvement Advisor at Comagine Health for a session on COVID-19 Vaccine High level considerations. Carolyn will share her personal story about getting COVID after her booster and will discuss the related science. Topics covered include:
- Review a few points from March 1 webinar and booster schedule
- Share a personal story
- New England Journal of Medicine study (March 2, 2022) Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant
- What can we do to prioritize resident boosters
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Recording |
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Thursday, 3/17/22
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BOOST Office Hours & Shop Talk:
Clinician Office Hours: NSHN Shop Talk
Audience: NSHN users
Led by Amy Ward, MS, BSN, RN, CIC – Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 3/23/22
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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.
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Recording |
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Thursday, 3/24/22
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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
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 3/30/22
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BOOST Education Event:
Join Sherri Creel, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Quality Advisor supporting Alliant's work within the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) and Shanika Jones, LMHC, MA and Quality Advisor for the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) for a session on Effective Ways to Manage the Traumatic Experience of COVID-19.
Objectives:
- Have a better understanding of trauma and trauma responses.
- Learn ways a person's culture may impact their response to trauma.
- Learn ways leadership can support staff who are experiencing trauma.
- Learn practical ways to manage personal trauma and distress.
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Recording |
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Thursday, 3/31/22
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BOOST Office Hours:
Clinician Office Hours: Panel Discussion with the Alliant Boost Team
Audience: All are welcome!
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Recording |
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Wednesday, 4/6/22
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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.
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Recording |
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Thursday, 4/14/22
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join us for a 15-minute educational presentation titled, Changing Behaviors by Tommy Barnett of North Highland followed by a 30-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System.
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Recording |
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Thursday, 4/21/22
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join Marilee Johnson MBA, MT (ASCP), Alliant Technical Advisor, Infection Prevention & Amy Ward, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, Alliant Infection Prevention Specialist for NSHN Shop Talk.
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Recording |
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Thursday, 4/28/22
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BOOST Education & Office Hours Event:
Join us for a 30-minute educational presentation on Short Term Rehabilitation Facilities – Best Practices in Vaccinating/Boosting followed by a 15-minute interactive discussion led by Swati Gaur MD, MBA, CMD, AGSF, Medical Director, Post Acute Care, Northeast Georgia Health System. |
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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.
- Weekly educational events and dedicated time to ask questions.
- 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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