Taking Action to Support Nursing Home Resident Wellbeing: Perspectives of U.S. Nursing Home Staff During COVID-19.

Background And Objectives: COVID-19 negatively influenced resident wellbeing in nursing homes (NHs). We examine perceptions and experiences of U.S.

Urban and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes in the United States: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review investigates disparities in COVID-19 outcomes (infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) between urban and rural populations in the United States. Of the 3,091 articles screened, 55 were selected. Most studies ( = 43) conducted national analyses, using 2020 data, with some extending into 2021.

Health Information Technology Adoption at U.S. Home Health Care Agencies: Results from a Multi-Methods Study.

Health information technology (HIT) holds potential to transform Home Health Care (HHC), yet, little is known about its adoption in this setting. In the context of infection prevention and control, we aimed to: (1) describe challenges associated with the adoption of HIT, for example, electronic health records (EHR) and telehealth and (2) examine HHC agency characteristics associated with HIT adoption. We conducted in-depth interviews with 41 staff from 13 U.

Systematic Review of Rural and Urban Differences in Care Provided by Home Health Agencies in the United States.

Objective: Home health care agencies (HHAs) are skilled care providers for Medicare home health beneficiaries in the United States. Rural HHAs face different challenges from their urban counterparts in delivering care (eg, longer distances to travel to patient homes leading to higher fuel/travel costs and fewer number of visits in a day, impacting the quality of home health care for rural beneficiaries). We review evidence on differences in care outcomes provided by urban and rural HHAs.

Measuring Palliative Care-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence in Home Health Care Clinicians, Patients, and Caregivers: A Systematic Review.

Integrating palliative care services in the home health care (HHC) setting is an important strategy to provide care for seriously ill adults and improve symptom burden, quality of life, and caregiver burden. Routine palliative care in HHC is only possible if clinicians who provide this care are prepared and patients and caregivers are well equipped with the knowledge to receive this care. A key first step in integrating palliative care services within HHC is to measure preparedness of clinicians and readiness of patients and caregivers to receive it.

Influenza vaccination of home health care staff and the impact on patient hospitalizations.

Background: Influenza is associated with significant morbidity and mortality for adults aged 65 years and older. Influenza vaccination of health care workers is recommended. There is limited evidence regarding influenza vaccinations among health care workers in the home health care (HHC) setting and their impact on HHC patient outcomes.

Urinary catheter policies in home healthcare agencies and hospital transfers due to urinary tract infection.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a frequent cause of hospital transfer for home healthcare (HHC) patients, particularly among patients with urinary catheters.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative HHC agency-level survey (2018-2019) and combined it with patient-level data from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) and Medicare inpatient data (2016-2018) to evaluate the association between HHC agencies' urinary catheter policies and hospital transfers due to UTI. Our sample included 28,205 patients with urinary catheters who received HHC from 473 Medicare-certified agencies between 2016-2018.

The Effects of Home Health Value-Based Purchasing on Home Health Care Quality in For-Profit and Nonprofit Agencies: A Comparative Interrupted Time-Series Analysis, 2012-2018.

Beginning in 2016, the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model incentivized U.S. Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) in nine states to improve quality of patient care and patient experience.

The state of infection prevention and control at home health agencies in the United States prior to COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Home health care is a rapidly growing healthcare sector worldwide. Home health professionals face unique challenges related to preventing and controlling infections, which are likely to amplify during an infectious disease outbreak (e.g.

COVID-19 Preparedness in US Home Health Care Agencies.

Objectives: In the United States, home health agencies (HHAs) provide essential services for patients recovering from post-acute care and older adults who are aging in place. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHAs may face additional challenges caring for these vulnerable patients. Our objective was to explore COVID-19 preparedness of US HHAs and compare results by urban/rural location.

Self-reported National Healthcare Safety Network knowledge and enrollment: A national survey of nursing homes.

Predictors of nursing home staff knowledge of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and facility enrollment were explored in a national survey. Facility participation in Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization initiatives was positively associated with both knowledge and enrollment. In addition, engaging clinical personnel in decision making on NHSN enrollment was positively associated with staff knowledge of NHSN.

Measuring Quality in Home Healthcare.

Background/objectives: Improving quality performance in home health is an increasingly high priority. The objective of this study was to examine trends in industry performance over time using three quality measures: a composite quality metric (Q index), an infection prevention measure (vaccination verification), and an outcome measure (hospital avoidance).

Design/setting/participants/measures: We linked Home Health Compare and Provider of Services data from 2012 to 2016, which included 39 211 observations during the 5-year study period and 7670 agencies in 2016.

The expansion of National Healthcare Safety Network enrollment and reporting in nursing homes: Lessons learned from a national qualitative study.

Background: This study explored nursing home (NH) personnel perceptions of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Methods: NHs were purposively sampled based on NHSN enrollment and reporting status, and other facility characteristics. We recruited NH personnel knowledgeable about the facility's decision-making processes and infection prevention program.

Nursing home adoption of the National Healthcare Safety Network Long-term Care Facility Component.

Background: Health care-associated infections pose a significant problem in nursing homes (NHs). The Long-term Care Facility Component of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) was launched in 2012, and since then, enrollment of NHs into NHSN has been deemed a national priority. Our goal was to understand the characteristics of NHs reporting to the NHSN compared to other NHs across the country.