Participants Share Best Practices in PA Long-Term Care Learning Network Quarterly Learning Collaborative

On June 22, the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network presented its first Quarterly Learning Collaborative to highlight peer-to-peer education delivered to nursing facility staff and leadership over the past three months. This webinar, attended by 142 participants from across the commonwealth, followed the quarter's educational theme of reducing avoidable hospitalizations from nursing facilities. In keeping with the "all teach, all learn" philosophy at the core of the Learning Network, representatives from several participating nursing facilities from across the state shared best practices on key topics covered in the weekly webinars, providing an opportunity for a deeper dive into this quarter's theme.

Nancy Zionts, MBA, chief operating officer and chief program officer at Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF); and Wilmarie González, director of the Bureau of Quality Assurance and Program Analytics in the Department of Human Services Office of Long-Term Living, welcomed attendees and provided an overview of the afternoon's activities. Sharing work from their nursing facilities were Taylor McMahon, RN, assistant director of Nursing at Willows Centre Care Inc. of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, on "Deprescribing Medications to Meet What Matters to the Residents"; Karen Robson, DNP, RN, BC, RAC CT, RN, instructor at the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs, on "Non-Pharmacologic Interventions to Address Neuropsychiatric Symptoms"; Dawn Snyder, RN, BSN, LNHA, administrator of Health Care Services at Providence Point Baptist Senior Family, on "The Clinical Collaborative Team," and Jill Arroyo, RN, BSN, of Souderton Mennonite Homes, on "Deprescribing Medications: Working with Medical Directors." In addition, Brian Stever, RN, of Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators, presented on "Promoting Excellence in the Assessment Process." Zionts also shared highlights of the recent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality, which provides a roadmap for addressing the challenges that have plagued nursing homes well before COVID-19 exacted its devastating toll. Participants benefited from lively discussion among presenters and attendees both during and following the presentations, furthering the opportunity for information-sharing and collaboration that are the hallmarks of this initiative.

JHF launched the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network for Nursing Facilities in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and three managed care organizations of the Pennsylvania Community HealthChoices Program: UPMC Health Plan, PA Health and Wellness, and Amerihealth Caritas/Keystone. This work will advance and support the DHS strategic quality incentive program for nursing facilities.

The second quarter of educational webinars begins on July 7 on the topic of enhancing skills to assess key conditions. It will conclude on September 15 with the next Learning Collaborative, featuring best practices presentations from nursing facility partners across the Commonwealth.