WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced today the launch of its new education program to further improve quality care and outcomes in long term care. The free, four-part virtual program, Building Trust: A Strategy to Improve Patient Safety, Staff Wellbeing and Vaccine Uptake in Long Term Care, equips leaders with trust-building skills and practices to continue to increase vaccine uptake and staff retention as well as improve infection prevention and control.
“The pace of change and uncertainty that facilities have faced since the beginning of the pandemic, including an unprecedented workforce crisis, has been overwhelming, resulting in a growing distrust with all aspects of health care that has affected our interactions with one another,” said Dr. David Gifford, Chief Medical Officer at AHCA/NCAL, and board-certified gerontologist. “What is exciting about our new course is that it really addresses this issue of trust. Trust building creates this essential foundation for facilities and their teams to adapt and thrive in times of continuous change, which ultimately leads to a stronger operation that allows for further improvements in care and outcomes.”
Made possible through a grant by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the course is designed for formal and informal leaders within long term care in both clinical and non-clinical roles. This includes administrators, directors of nursing (DON’s), medical directors, senior leaders, department heads, as well as infection preventionists, quality improvement coordinators, and influential staff.
Participation in the course requires completion of four lessons, which are approximately two-three hours per session, and include video lectures, readings, and time for applying new knowledge and skills. At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. The four lessons that are now available:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to The Three Drivers of Trust for COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake
- Lesson 2: The First Driver of Trust: Empathy
- Lesson 3: The Second Driver of Trust: Logic
- Lesson 4: The Third Driver of Trust: Authenticity
Participants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll with a colleague with whom they can practice the skills and offer one another feedback.