Find Resources
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
RELEASE DATE:
White Paper/Brief
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is encouraging higher vaccination rates at nursing homes. Vaccinations are required to be offered at nursing homes, yet the overall vaccination rate is below 50%. The article provides recommendations for ways nursing homes can increase vaccinations by education, communication with residents and their families, and creating action plans for individual residents. It stresses the importance of keeping treatment medications at nursing facilities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article describes the implementation of telemental health services within the Veterans Health Administration before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article identifies strategies the VHA has used to reach hard to reach populations, including unhoused veterans and veterans living in rural communities, and outlines future goals to improve and expand access to telemental health services.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations, White Paper/Brief
Document presents practical strategies for caring for persons living with dementia during emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes (but is not limited to) giving reminders around habits to prevent illness, ensuring person-centered care, and continuing connections with family and friends.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
White Paper/Brief
An early report issued by the CDC identified staff members working in multiple nursing homes as a likely source of spread of COVID-19. The authors performed the first large-scale analysis of nursing home connections via shared staff and contractors. Using a large-scale analysis of smartphone location data, they found that 49 percent of COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents was attributable to staff movement between facilities. Traditional federal regulatory metrics of nursing home quality were unimportant in predicting outbreaks. The results provide evidence for a policy recommendation of compensating nursing home workers to work at only one home and limit cross-traffic across homes.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
White Paper/Brief
This health policy brief focused on federal and state policies created as a response to COVID-19 that also work to diminish health disparities and inequities. Interventions targeted social needs in the pandemic, identifying populations in need, and utilizing funding.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This practice describes a Three-Phase Approach to mitigating COVID-19 in long-term and post-acute care nursing facilities in the Seattle, WA area. The authors outline a structure for addressing the pandemic based on disease surveillance measures, with different focus areas within each phase. Measures include:
(1) Initial: Communication, tracking, PPE preparation
(2) Delayed: Education, testing, isolation
(3) Surge: Activation of a “drop team”” of health care professionals during an outbreak
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
White Paper/Brief
This is a brief highlighting the evidence provided by Lewer and colleagues in the study “COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in England: A modelling Study” that evaluated measures in England to protect people experiences homelessness during the pandemic. The interventions evaluated were found to be effective and provide evidence to inform COVID-19 response in settings with similar homeless populations and social contexts.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This article compared community health workers (CHWs) in Indiana and Texas based on the results of two research studies in order to 1) investigate the unique role of CHWs and their Spanish-speaking counterparts, promotores de salud, in rural communities and 2) understand how their advocacy efforts represent a central form of caregiving. An analysis was done of how CHWs connect structurally vulnerable clients in rural areas to resources, health education, and health and social services. CHWs and promotores de salud have acted as first responders to the needs of marginalized rural populations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to health education and translation work, CHWs also play an important role in advocacy, bridging the gap between clients and community leaders. While informing clients of available resources, they empower the clients to advocate for their own needs in different settings. CHWs also have the ability to engage with stakeholders and policy makers in better addressing client needs.