April 15, 2020
Other Article
Health Affairs Blog

Designating Certain Post-Acute Care Facilities As COVID-19 Skilled Care Centers Can Increase Hospital Capacity And Keep Nursing Home Patients Safer

Format:Electronic

Abstract

As the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide continues to grow, many hospitals will need to convert acute care beds into intensive care beds and discharge stable patients to post-acute care settings such as nursing homes. In addition, nursing homes unable to care for COVID patients requiring intensive support services—or unable to isolate their COVID-positive residents—will require safe and high-quality options. We recommend designating specific nursing homes (also known as "skilled nursing facilities") to serve as "COVID-19 Skilled Care Centers" (CSSCs). Officials should identify these nursing facilities immediately, so the facilities can decline new uninfected patients and isolate/transfer uninfected longer-term residents. Facility scorecards and average capabilities by metro area available here.

Keywords

COVID-19; Nursing Homes; Health Pandemics; Health Care and Treatment; Safety; Quality

Citation

Dafny, Leemore S., and Steven S. Lee. "Designating Certain Post-Acute Care Facilities As COVID-19 Skilled Care Centers Can Increase Hospital Capacity And Keep Nursing Home Patients Safer." Health Affairs Blog (April 15, 2020).

Supplemental Information

COVID-19 Capability Scorecard

As the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide continues to grow, a number of hospitals will need to convert acute care beds into intensive care beds, and discharge stable patients to post-acute care settings such as nursing homes. In addition, nursing homes unable to care for COVID patients requiring intensive support services - or unable to isolate their COVID-positive residents - will require safe and high-quality options. We recommend designating specific nursing homes (also known as “skilled nursing facilities”) to serve as “COVID-19 Skilled Care Centers” (CSSCs). Officials should identify these nursing facilities immediately, so the facilities can decline new uninfected patients and isolate/transfer uninfected longer-term residents.