Why GAO did this study. Before the COVID-19 pandemic led to devastating consequences in nursing homes, infections were a leading cause of hospitalization and death among nursing home residents. As the nation moves forward, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases will continue to present a threat to these individuals. Proper infection prevention and control procedures, such as hand hygiene, will remain critical to ensuring resident safety. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to monitor and report on the federal pandemic response. GAO was also asked to review federal oversight of nursing homes in light of the pandemic. This report: (1) describes actions experts identified that HHS should continue, enhance, or discontinue to improve infection prevention and control practices in nursing homes and (2) compares actions identified by experts with prior recommendations from GAO and others. GAO convened a roundtable of 13 experts to discuss actions to improve infection prevention and control in nursing homes. GAO contracted with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to help identify experts representing a range of perspectives on nursing homes and infection prevention and control, including researchers and infectious disease specialists, nursing home staff, individuals with nursing home oversight and regulatory experience, as well as representatives for residents and their families. GAO also interviewed officials from CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)