Karen Fernandes, RN, CPHQ, CPAA, discusses her personal connection to the far-reaching impact of the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES), prescribed from the 1940s to the 1970s. She highlights its multi-generational health effects and stresses the need for increased awareness, research funding, and provider education.
LISTEN NOWStephanie McGrath, PharmD, and Sydney Stawarz, PharmD, discuss their successful collaboration between the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network and Quality Insights to deliver targeted vaccination clinics in long-term care facilities across Pennsylvania. They detail the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from administering almost 5,000 vaccines to nursing home residents.
LISTEN NOWErin Woodford, MSN, RN, Vice President of Population Health for Genesis Healthcare and member of the American Heart Association's Skilled Nursing Facility Heart Failure Certification oversight work group, discusses the certification’s role in improving care quality, reducing readmissions, and supporting better resident outcomes. She emphasizes early detection, staff training, standardized protocols, and family education in heart failure management.
LISTEN NOWLisbeth Rojas, Maria Salazar, and Stephanie Duncan discuss their impactful work in Delaware addressing health disparities for women and babies through community-based relationships and essential resources. They share success stories and envision a future where CHWs are integral parts of the healthcare system, advocating for patient-centered care and support.
LISTEN NOWJacob Bowling, MSW, Chief Executive Officer of Bowling Business Strategies (BBS), discusses his career in behavioral health strategy, the impact of stigma, addiction, and mental health care models. He emphasizes the need for integrated care, addressing disparities, and providing mental health care to healthcare workers to counteract burnout.
Amy Kelly, MD, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with over 15 years of experience specializing in breast imaging, discusses advancements in breast imaging, emphasizing the importance of annual screenings, early detection, and improving patient outcomes, with a focus on addressing disparities and leveraging social media for education.
Pam Meador, RN, BSN-BC, Director of Regulatory Services at the West Virginia Health Care Association, discusses the regulatory challenges, staffing issues, and infection control in long-term care facilities, emphasizing the importance of effective leadership and resident-centered care. She highlights the need for specialized training in long-term care and West Virginia's collaborative healthcare environment.
LISTEN NOWDr. Brian McGarry, a physical therapist and health services researcher with an interest in the economics of aging, discusses his path to becoming a researcher, the impact of public policies on Medicare navigation, and the vital role of consistent healthcare staff and certified medical directors in improving care quality in nursing homes. He highlights the importance of addressing staffing shortages, patient preferences for home-based care, and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Dave Thimons, Founder and CEO of Personal Care Medical Associates (PCMA), discusses the importance of palliative medicine in improving the quality of life for nursing home residents and reducing hospitalizations. He highlights the benefits and misconceptions of palliative care, emphasizing the necessity of patient-centered care and the ROSE program's role in redefining end-of-life care.
Jason Povio, CEO of Eagle Telemedicine, discusses the vital role of telemedicine in improving healthcare access for rural and underserved communities. He highlights the importance of interoperability, chronic disease management, and specialty care through telemedicine, while sharing insights on challenges and future advancements in the field.
Dr. Emily Jaffe discusses the importance of quality of life at the end of life, the roles of palliative and hospice care, and CQEL's initiatives to improve serious illness care in Pennsylvania. She emphasizes the need for patient-centered care, education, and collaboration among healthcare providers to enhance patient outcomes. She also highlights innovations like community-based care models, PA POLST forms, and the potential for policy changes to support better end-of-life care throughout the state.
Jeff Neccuzi discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccine uptake, growing vaccine misinformation, and the state of school vaccination policies in West Virginia. He emphasizes the role of primary care providers in combating misinformation and the importance of vaccinations, including measles and shingles, for public health.
Brian Frazee, President and CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association, discusses his extensive background in healthcare advocacy, the unique challenges of Delaware's aging and growing population, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare, and DHA's strategic priorities including workforce development and health equity.
Amanda Cummings and Dr. Carol Antonelli Greco discuss FARMacy West Virginia, a program combining healthcare with access to fresh, healthy food. The initiative, spanning 10 years and over 30 sites, tackles chronic disease by offering patients locally grown produce and nutrition education, aiming to improve health outcomes while emphasizing the importance of food as medicine and navigating challenges such as funding, transportation, and patient engagement.
Holly Estel, RN, Clinical Advisor for Genesis Healthcare, discusses long-term care nursing, covering topics such as the nursing workforce shortage, the essential role of nurse leadership, and the impact of COVID-19. They highlight challenges in staff recruitment, regulatory compliance, and innovations like infusion therapy and AI in patient care.
Merewyn Sheeran, BS, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP, discusses Pennsylvania Project Firstline, an initiative in partnership with the CDC that aims to bolster infection prevention knowledge among healthcare workers. The program features innovative tools like translated resources and escape rooms, highlighting success in hands-on training, comprehensive outreach, and tailored education for diverse healthcare settings and workers.
Cathy Slemp, MD, MPH, discusses her diverse career in public health, focusing on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of community resiliency, and strategies to tackle substance use disorders in rural areas. She emphasizes the role of trusted relationships, accurate information, and the need for integrated services in combating public health crises.
Heather McGowan, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (PANAC), and Debra Wright, a Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights, touch on their responsibilities, challenges, and professional development, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing shortages. They also explore the impact of accurate assessments on care plans, regulatory compliance, and how organizations like PANAC support NACs.
In this second installment, Benjamin Canter, OTD and PhD student from Boston University, discusses research on the impact of COVID-19 on rehabilitation in nursing homes, highlighting disparities in access to rehabilitation between post-acute and long-term care patients. He also reviews challenges faced by skilled nursing facilities during the pandemic and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policies and person-centered care.
Benjamin Canter, OTD and PhD student from Boston University, discusses the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on nursing home care, focusing on prevention, mitigation, and rehabilitation strategies. His studies highlight the links between functional dependence, dehydration, and poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients and emphasize the importance of tailored monitoring and interventions in long-term care facilities.
Sophie Campbell, MSN, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, CNDLTC, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (PADONA), and Debra Wright, a Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights, discuss the evolution and challenges of nursing leadership in long-term care, including the impacts of COVID-19, partnerships to improve care and training, and efforts to combat negative perceptions and recruit new talent.
Rosha McCoy, MD, Senior Director for Advancing Clinical Leadership & Quality at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), a Principal Investigator for the CDC Cooperative Agreement, a pediatrician, and the lead for VaccineVoices.org, discusses efforts to strengthen physician leadership, healthcare quality, and counter vaccine misinformation post-COVID. She highlights AAMC’s work in medical education, community collaboration, and integrated behavioral healthcare to tackle public health challenges.
Zeest Khan, MD, podcaster and former cardiac anesthesiologist, shares her journey with long COVID, highlighting the importance of peer support, symptom validation, creative treatment approaches, and trusted information sources. She emphasizes the need for curiosity and compassion in healthcare providers managing long COVID patients.
Kimberly Everett, Executive Director of the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP), highlights BCHIP's collaborative efforts with local hospitals and the county health department to address community health needs in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Key topics include its COVID-19 response, chronic disease management, vaccine hesitancy, and programs like BCARES and Advanced Care Planning, emphasizing collaboration and social determinants of health.
Dr. Donna Lisi, a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, discusses the importance of immunizations for older adults, addressing vaccine hesitancy, immunosenescence, and barriers like healthcare access. She highlights pharmacists' expanding role, community outreach, culturally competent education, and AI in improving vaccine uptake and infectious disease management.
Angie Settle, DNP, APRN, BC, FNP, CEO of West Virginia Health Right, shares her journey into healthcare, shaped by her Appalachian roots, and discusses WV Health Right's mission to provide free, quality care to underserved populations in the mountain state. She highlights challenges like vaccine hesitancy, the nonprofit's COVID-19 response, and reliance on volunteers, grants, and innovative community programs to deliver comprehensive healthcare.
Ghinwa Dumyati, MD, Director of the Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Prevention Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses infectious disease management in long-term care facilities, focusing on COVID-19, vaccination, infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and combating multi-drug resistant organisms like Candida auris. She highlights the importance of collaboration between healthcare facilities and public health to address current and emerging threats.
Lana Kunik, Director of the National PA Center for Diabetes Prevention and Education, a program of the Sight Center of NWPA, shares her journey into diabetes prevention, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes and the National Diabetes Prevention Program's 12-month curriculum. She highlights strategies like food tracking, stress management, community support, and the shift to hybrid models post-COVID-19 to address type 2 diabetes, especially in rural communities.
The Pennsylvania Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative bridges nursing schools and nursing homes to enhance geriatric care using the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework. Guests Erin Kitt-Lewis, PhD, RN, and Kim Ratliff, RN, discuss its impact on nursing education, resident care, and professional development, highlighting challenges, pandemic adaptations, and hopes for future expansion.
Karen Ernst, a nationally recognized expert in vaccine confidence, discusses her background in literature and grassroots organizing, which shapes her empathetic and imaginative approach to communicating vaccine science. She discusses vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, common misconceptions, and strategies for empowering communities to trust vaccines through clear, peer-driven communication.
Maggie Ratnayake, Program Director, and Maddie Hagerty, Baltimore Chapter Manager of Lori's Hands, discuss the nonprofit’s mission to support individuals with chronic illnesses while providing hands-on learning for healthcare students. They highlight its grassroots origins, expansion into multiple cities, and initiatives like the Charm City Scholars Initiative, which promotes equitable aging and empowers underrepresented groups in healthcare.
Michael McShane, MD, EdM, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Penn State College of Medicine, discusses the Lion Mobile Clinic, an initiative that brings essential healthcare services to Snow Shoe Township, Pennsylvania, while providing learning opportunities for medical students. This mobile clinic addresses healthcare disparities, combats vaccine hesitancy, and tackles social determinants of health such as financial stability and food security.
Five Quality Insights' employees discuss a new virtual peer support group initiative for long COVID patients, highlighting the importance of community support, structure, and addressing mental health challenges. Key points include the group's inspiration, data on long COVID's impact, benefits of virtual sessions, and plans for tracking success and inclusivity.
Tom Ahrens, PhD, RN, FAAN, founder of Viven Health and a pioneering expert in infection prevention and critical care, discusses Viven Health's innovative programs focusing on behavioral change and technology to reduce infections in the workplace and homes. He highlights the importance of scenario-based learning, user engagement, and partnerships to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs.
Mary Beth O'Connor, J.D., recovery advocate, author, and former judge, shares her journey from childhood abuse and addiction to creating a unique secular recovery plan, becoming a federal administrative law judge, and advocating for various paths to recovery. She emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care and community support, while also addressing misconceptions and legal issues surrounding addiction.