ECHO Sessions: Real-Time Sharing, Learning, and Collaboration 

The Massachusetts COVID-19 Infection Control Hub led by Mass Senior Care and Hebrew SeniorLife is launching an interactive and collaborative community of practice for 300 nursing homes to advance improvements in COVID-19 preparedness, safety and infection control. This National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and in collaboration with Project ECHO and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). 

Each cohorts will be participating in weekly ECHO sessions for the next 16 weeks. The PowerPoint slides from these sessions are included below. 

Preventing and Limiting the Spread of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes - Session 1

Guidance and Practical Approaches for Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During COVID-19 - Session 2

Infection Prevention and Management: Approaches to Cohorting during

COVID-19
 - Session 3 

COVID-19 Vaccine Management - Session 4

  • Vaccine Resources from Project ECHO and IHI related to Staff Hesitancy to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine

    Talking with Staff about COVID-19 Vaccinations: IHI Narrative & Slide Deck

    Working with national experts and professional associations, IHI has created a short narrative and slide deck on how to talk with staff and residents about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, IHI has developed an online repository of vaccine resources. Registered IHI Community members can follow this link and click on the grey arrow next to the menu item that says “COVID-19 Vaccine Resources.”



    Are the COVID-19 Vaccines Safe for Pregnant Women?

    Many nursing home workers have expressed concerns about the safety of the new COVID-19 vaccines for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. We asked Don Goldmann, MD, Chief Scientific Officer Emeritus and Senior Fellow at IHI and an epidemiologist, for his take. Watch this brief video to hear his response in full. Here are the highlights:

    • Evidence regarding the safety of the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant is limited.
    • However, it is unlikely that these vaccines would pose safety concerns for mother or baby. That’s because:
      • These RNA vaccines do not contain live virus, so they cannot give COVID-19 to a recipient.
      • They do not interact with the DNA of mother or baby.
    • We know there are risks from COVID-19 during pregnancy, particularly for women working in high-risk settings like nursing homes. Evidence is growing that COVID-19 infection is more severe during pregnancy, with increased risk of hospitalization and need for mechanical ventilation.
    • Both the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend the vaccination be strongly considered for pregnant women and people working in healthcare settings.



      Dr. Goldmann is producing a series of short educational videos on COVID-19 for healthcare providers that you can access here. Do you have a question for Ask the Expert? Email Ben Cloutier at becloutier@salud.unm.edu.

COVID-19 Testing - Session 5

Managing Social Isolation during COVID 19: Perspectives

on Staff and Residents - Session 6

Advance Care Planning in the time of COVID 19 - Session 7

Staff Returning to Work Safely during COVID-19 - Session 8

Effective Leadership and Communication during COVID-19 - Session 9

The Role of the CNA during COVID-19 - Session 10

 Interprofessional Team Management of COVID 19 In Nursing Homes- Session 11

Safe Care Transitions During COVID-19 - Session 12

Promoting Safe Visitation and Nursing Home Re-opening during COVID-19 - Session 13

Promoting Solutions for Making the Built Environment Safer During COVID-19 - Session 14

What’s Next For Nursing Facilities and How To Prepare - Session 15

Supporting The Emotional Well Being of Staff Caring for Residents During COVID-19 - Session 16