Researchers reported a 0.75% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in overall staff-to-patient ratio. There was a 3.09% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in licensed staff hours.

State COVID-19 vaccination mandates increased vaccinations among direct caregivers without negatively affecting staffing levels, according to the results of a study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum.

The researchers studied vaccination rates and staffing shortages that were reported via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network from June 6, 2021, through Nov. 14, 2021.

Provider and policy action is needed to counter the effects of staff absences and departures, particularly during infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, that may put nursing home residents at risk, according to the authors of a study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum.

Nursing home providers should consider implementing innovative strategies for retaining workers after a new study found that low staff turnover was consistently associated with higher quality of care, researchers said.

“While these actions are challenging — especially given that nursing homes are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, they are clearly warranted if we seek an improved quality of care for nursing home residents,” Qing Zheng, Ph.D., lead author and health economist at research firm Abt Associates

Nursing Facility Staffing Shortages During the COVID-19 PandemicThe disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing facility residents and staff has brought increased attention to long-standing workforce issues that can affect care...

Daily variation in nursing home staffing was associated with poorer clinical quality in Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes, suggesting that reporting staffing variation could help provide new quality improvement information, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Typically, nursing home quality regulations include minimum staffing standards to ensure that facilities provide residents with quality care. Meeting the average staffing level has been associated with better performance on process quality measures, on-site survey scores, and resident outcome measures.