Providing High-Quality Care During a Pandemic: Nursing Home Administrator Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Nursing home administrators face challenges in maintaining quality improvement (QI) during pandemics.
• The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the need for adaptable QI strategies in long-term care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing home administrators' insights on sustainable QI initiatives during a pandemic.
• To identify factors contributing to QI success in nursing homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing open-ended interviews with 28 non-profit nursing home administrators.
• Convenience sampling to recruit participants for in-depth discussions on leadership and QI.

Main Results:

• Administrators identified successful QI initiatives in social connections, infection control, and innovative activities.
• Key advice for new administrators included team development, positive attitude, and communication.
• Recommendations for external parties involved respecting infection control and regulatory flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer insights for enhancing nursing home QI during public health crises.
• Nurses may be well-positioned to lead or support QI initiatives based on these findings.