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  • 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

By: Leemore S. Dafny and Steven S. Lee
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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.
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About The Author

Leemore S. Dafny

General Management
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More from the Authors
  • Cigna-Express Scripts: Can a Vertical Merger Rescue an Industry Under Attack? By: Leemore Dafny
  • Giving a Buck or Making a Buck? Donations by Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to Independent Patient Assistance Charities By: Leemore Dafny, Christopher Ody and Teresa Rokos
  • Two Approaches to Capping Health Care Prices By: Michael E. Chernew, Maximilian J. Pany and Leemore S. Dafny
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