Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement of Telemedicine Protocols in a Skilled Nursing Facility During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was not well adopted in US nursing facilities. Many nursing facilities have since acknowledged its value due to the need for stricter infection control and reduction of exposure risk from face-to-face visits. A quality improvement project was conducted to improve telemedicine protocols in a high-volume post-acute care nursing facility, enhance provider and facility capability for visits, improve attitudes and skills toward telemedicine, and expand patient access to medical care during the pandemic.

Preventive Care and Outcomes of Interprofessional Medicare Annual Wellness Visits for Older Adults.

As we anticipate a growing population of older adults, we will see an increase in chronic conditions such as dementia and falls. To meet these public health needs, we must systematically provide screening, education, preventive care, and supportive care for older patients and their caregivers in a primary care setting. This will require a workforce trained in providing for the complex medical and psychosocial needs of an older adult population in an interprofessional and collaborative fashion.