JAMA: “Abandoned” Nursing Homes Continue to Face Critical Supply and Staff Shortages as COVID-19 Toll Has Mounted

JAMA: “Abandoned” Nursing Homes Continue to Face Critical Supply and Staff Shortages as COVID-19 Toll Has Mounted

JAMA has published a Medical News and Perspective article, “'Abandoned' Nursing Homes Continue to Face Critical Supply and Staff Shortages as COVID-19 Toll Has Mounted."

The article talks about nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic and interviews experts in the field. "Despite an early understanding that older adults with comorbidities were at greatest risk, 'initially, nursing homes were not prioritized,'" noted Christopher Laxton, executive director of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, AMDA.

"Nursing home representatives and researchers alike have observed that the widespread PPE and testing shortages have gotten far too little attention amidst a plethora of negative news coverage. Facilities and staff 'have felt abandoned,'" said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation.

Testing and staffing over the past few months are some of the issues that are explored. The John A. Hartford Foundation and other groups, the article notes, are funding a National Academy of Medicine study on nursing home safety and quality, and The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new contractor-led Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes.

To read the article, click here.