In August 2022, the American Academy of Nursing hosted a policy dialogue on “The Quality of Care in Nursing Homes.” The Academy’s Expert Panel on Informatics & Technology, in collaboration with the Expert Panel on Aging, convened this dialogue to discuss policy issues for nurses resulting from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report on the quality of care in nursing homes, The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring Our Commitment to Residents, Families, and Staff. Participants in this dialogue were able to explore the NASEM report’s key policy recommendations to support nurses working in nursing homes, residents, staff, and caregivers, and addressed the strategies needed to support the critical reforms.

• Nursing Must Champion Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Efforts
  For too long, nurses and patients have been impacted by racism, bias, and microaggressions present in the nursing home setting. Nursing has an opportunity to lead culturally safe and linguistically appropriate care.
• Alternative Payment Models Must be Implemented in Long-Term Care 
  Nurses must champion education and research regarding alternative payment models that will make long-term care funding more comprehensive.
• More Data and Transparency are Needed to Guide Reforms
  Current data reporting and quality measures are seriously lacking, especially in the areas of nursing home ownership and resident and family experience. These data are imperative to guide reforms and improve the nursing home environment for residents and their caretakers.
• Health Information Technology and Interoperability Advancements Must be Implemented
  Nursing homes would greatly benefit from systems that are better able to monitor and track patients with complex, long-term care needs. Nurses and health care leaders must implement HIT, mindful of interoperability and training for clinicians.
• The Nursing Workforce Pipeline Must Consider Long-Term Care Needs
  To foster greater registered nurse staffing levels in nursing homes, pathways for career advancement for licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants should be opened to strengthen the workforce pipeline.

Guest Panelists

• Jasmine Travers, PhD, MHS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, Assistant Professor, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
• David Grabowski, PhD, Professor of Health Policy, Harvard Medical School
• Marilyn Rantz, PhD, RN, FAAN, Curators’ Professor Emerita, University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing
• Gregory Alexander, PhD, RN, FACMI, FIAHSI, FAAN, Professor, Columbia University School of Nursing
• Ruth Katz, MA, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy, LeadingAge 
• Terrence O’Malley, MD, CMD, Former Medical Director, Non-Acute Care Services Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
• Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, The John A. Hartford Foundation

Planning Committee

• Gregory Alexander, PhD, RN, FACMI, FIAHSI, FAAN, Professor, Columbia University School of Nursing
• Betty Ferrell, PhD, RN, FAAN, FPCN, Professor, City of Hope National Medical Center
  
• Rosemary Kennedy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Health Informatics Officer, Connect America
• Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN-BC, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN, Associate Professor (Tenured); Director, Center for Aging, Health and Humanities, George Washington University School of Nursing
• Jane Carrington, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, Dorothy M. Smith Endowed Chair And Director Of Florida Blue Center For Healthcare Quality, University of Florida College of Nursing
  
  

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