COVID-19 Project ECHO in Nursing Homes

COVID-19 Project ECHO for Nursing Homes: A Patient-centered, Randomized-controlled Trial to Implement Infection Control and Quality of Life Best Practice

Nursing homes are ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing homes are ill-equipped for the pandemic; though facilities are required to have infection control staff, only 3% have taken a basic infection control course. Significant research has focused on infection control in the acute care setting. However, little is known about the implementation of practices and effective interventions in long-term care facilities.The investigators propose an intervention utilizing Project ECHO, an evidence-based telehealth model, to connect Penn State University experts with remote nursing home staff and administrators to proactively support evidence-based infection control guideline implementation. Our study seeks to answer the critical research question of how evidence-based infection control guidelines can be implemented effectively in nursing homes

The investigators will recruit 200 nursing homes with approximately 24,560 residents from across the United States through collaborations with our stakeholders. Nursing homes will be randomized to one of two arms: 1) AHRQ-funded COVID-19 ECHO that includes 16 weekly telehealth sessions addressing COVID-19 guidelines and best practices or 2) AHRQ-funded COVID-19 ECHO plus an additional 9 sessions with a focus on CDC infection control training. Randomization will be stratified by characteristics of nursing homes to ensure balance among the two trial groups, including size (number of beds),geographic location, and current COVID-19 infection rate. Patient-centered outcomes (nursing home residents with COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and QOL) will be assessed at baseline, 4, 6, 12, and 18 months. Our study is guided by the RE-AIM framework to critically evaluate both effectiveness and implementation outcomes of the proposed intervention. The RE-AIM framework is frequently utilized to improve sustainable adoption and implementation of effective, generalizable, evidence-based interventions like Project ECHO.

Nursing homes in this arm will receive the intervention via real-time, interactive videoconferencing using Zoom at no cost to participants. Sessions will be 90 minutes in duration and held weekly for 6 months (25 sessions total) at regularly scheduled times. Participants in this arm will receive a 2 month (8 sessions total) refresher course in Fall 2021. Project ECHO utilizes case-based, collaborative learning to support discussion of learners' challenges and barriers to guideline implementation

Nursing homes in this arm will receive the intervention via real-time, interactive videoconferencing using Zoom at no cost to participants. Sessions will be 90 minutes in duration and held weekly for 6 months (25 sessions total) at regularly scheduled times. Project ECHO utilizes case-based, collaborative learning to support discussion of learners' challenges and barriers to guideline implementation

Project ECHO utilizes case-based, collaborative learning to support discussion of learners' challenges and barriers to guideline implementation. This differentiates ECHO from traditional learning and facilitates rapid dissemination of medical knowledge and increased capacity to deliver best-practice care.studying innovative approaches.

Inclusion Criteria for Facilities Skilled Nursing Facility in United States Access to computer or electronic device Exclusion Criteria for Facilities Previously participated in Project ECHO COVID-19 series either through Penn State or another institution

Calo WA, Francis E, Kong L, Hogentogler R, Heilbrunn E, Fisher A, Hood N, Kraschnewski J. Implementing Infection Control and Quality of Life Best Practices in Nursing Homes With Project ECHO: Protocol for a Patient-Centered Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 May 13;11(5):e34480. doi: 10.2196/34480.