Long-Term Care Learning Network Concludes First Year of Programming with Annual Gathering/Learning Collaborative Webinar

The Pennsylvania Community Health Choices Long-Term Care Learning Network (LTC LN) ended a very successful first year of educational programming with an annual gathering/learning collaborative webinar held on December 8. One hundred sixty-seven individuals, plus teams from nursing homes from across the Commonwealth, gathered via Webex to hear about best practices on the quarterly theme of addressing workforce challenges, updates from the Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living, several of Pennsylvania's long-term care associations, and the Long-Term Care Resilience Infrastructure Supports and Empowerment program.

Attendees heard reflections on the work done to date within the LTC LN, including quarterly themes and webinar topics. Best practices were shared on the use of telemedicine in nursing facilities and on transitions of care. Jewish Healthcare Foundation COO & Chief Program Officer Nancy Zionts, MBA, convened a panel of representatives from each of the three managed care organizations regarding their role in collaborating on providing quality care for nursing facility residents. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, Pennsylvania Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators shared updates on how they can support those working in long-term care.

Speakers for the collaborative included Jamie Buchenauer, MPA, deputy secretary, Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living; Angela McCray, RN, director of nursing, and Jennifer Monahan, RN, shift supervisor, Concordia at Villa St. Joseph; Anthony Chin, MS, director of social services, Quality Life Services – Apollo; Jennifer Mullins, nursing home transitions service coordinator, PA Health & Wellness; Dominique Oputa, LPC, manager, Jocelyn Saggese, BSW, manager, and Amanda Schrader, RN, supervisor, Long-Term Services and Supports, AmeriHealth Caritas/Keystone First; Kimberly Schin, service coordinator, PA Health and Wellness; Renee Abbs, RN, BSN, senior statewide manager, nursing facility service coordinator;Sophie Campbell, MSN, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, CNDLTC, executive director of educational programming and services, Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration; Molly Langford, MSN, CRNP, president, Pennsylvania Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine; Brian Stever, RN, BSN, clinical consultant and board member, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators; Matthew Chambers, MD, team member, Long-Term Care Resilience Infrastructure Supports and Empowerment, Department of Health; and Jill Vovakes, MHA/INF, director, Bureau of Quality Assurance and Program Analytics, Abagail Coleman, director, Division of Program Analytics, and Larry Appel, MD SFHM, medical director, Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living.

Programming for the first quarter of 2023 will focus on bringing Age-Friendly Health Systems to nursing facilities across Pennsylvania through the LTC LN, in collaboration with the Revisiting the Teaching Nursing Home initiative.