FRIDAY, July 16, 2021 (HealthDay News) – In Qualified Nursing (SNF) facilities, staff size, including staff members not involved in resident care, is strongly associated with COVID-19 results, according to a study published online on July 14 in Health affairs.

Brian E. McGarry, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester in New York, and colleagues examined the correlation of a new measure of staff size (number of unique employees working daily) and conventional measures the quality of staff with COVID-19 results among SNFs in the United States that had not confirmed a case of COVID-19 as of June 2020.

SNFs in the sample in the bottom quartile of staff size had 6.2 resident cases and 0.9 deaths per 100 beds, while those in the highest quartile had 11.9 resident cases and 2.1 deaths per 100 beds. 100 beds. The researchers found that even after taking into account the size of the facility, there was a strong correlation between the size of staff, including staff not involved in resident care, with the COVID-19 results. ‘an SNF. Conventional measures of staff quality, including direct care staff to resident ratios and skill mix, have not significantly predicted COVID-19 cases or deaths.

“In the future, policymakers should encourage policies that promote the use of full-time, more consistent staff while maintaining enough direct caregivers to provide safe and effective care to residents,” the authors write.

One author has revealed financial ties to the healthcare and caregiver industries.

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