COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes

Operators and staff of nursing homes are facing enormous challenges. To help nursing homes tackle these challenges with pragmatic and real-time solutions, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation, has launched a free COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes. 

The Rapid Response Network offers a daily 20-minute National Nursing Home Huddle that includes solutions that can be implemented immediately to address key challenges posed by COVID-19. Its goal is to support nursing home leadership, staff, residents, families, and communities impacted by the pandemic.

So far, these huddles have included creative ideas to help with the most pressing challenges faced by nursing home and long-term care staff and residents. Representatives from organizations such as the CDC have also participated to provide data and policy updates. Topics have included PPE, testing and screening, hospital to nursing home transfers, staff illness and absences as well as the emotional well-being of staff and residents.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement states the following as benefits of participation:

• Immediate access to specific, pragmatic guidance on clinical and operational issues confronting the nursing home community today. Guidance will be focused and ready to implement.
• Ability to speak with a collective voice to federal and state policy makers, regulators, health care systems, and others to help remove policy and regulatory barriers to mission-critical operational challenges.
• Access to tools and materials to help explain the work of nursing homes and promote participation in the COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes. These tools will help nursing homes communicate with local media outlets about efforts to serve and protect residents and staff.

To learn more and to sign up to participate in the free daily huddles, visit the Institute for Healthcare Improvement registration page.