Graphical Abstract
Evolution and change don’t just happen overnight; small steps, new ideas, and innovations move us forward and closer to our goals and visions. That is certainly true of the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine — your Foundation — and the progress we made in 2021. We have reached some milestones as we continue on our path — a path that continues to be paved with powerful transitions, inclusion, shared dreams, and a health care world that supports patients and practitioners alike.
We would like to thank all Society members for your ongoing service to your patients, trainees, organizations, and communities during these challenging times. Your dedication to excellence is appreciated. We are honored to have opportunities to support you in your efforts. Clearly, it’s been a challenging but exciting year.
AMDA Mobile App
Early in the year, the Foundation-funded AMDA mobile app was unveiled to rave reviews. The app is a one-stop mobile shop for PALTC practitioners. They can easily access COVID-19 resources, webinars, and other education, materials, and tools; the Society’s monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) Treatment Eligibility Tool; public policy and advocacy resources; AMDA On-The-Go podcast programs; and much more. Additionally, an “AMDA Social” feature will enable members to share ideas, information, and links. Members also can create polls and ask questions in real time.
During the event that launched the app, James Lett, MD, CMD, Foundation past chair, said, “I don’t have the superlatives to tell you how wonderful this is. It is thanks to everyone who’s donated to the Foundation that we can support amazing endeavors such as this.”
With the success of the initial development this year, the Foundation Board voted to fund the second phase of the app development. In response to your requests, the following tools will be available in the app: a urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment tool, clinical admission protocols, and rapid geriatric assessment tools for frailty, sarcopenia, nutritional status, and cognition.
Drive to Deprescribe
The issue of polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use in PALTC has been an ongoing concern. The PALTC setting has one of the highest polypharmacy rates, which increases the risk for adverse events and drug interactions. Earlier this year the Foundation Board voted to fund the Society’s Drive to Deprescribe (D2D) initiative. The goal is to attain a 25% reduction of medication use while optimizing the medication regimen in long-stay patients. The initiative will also create a footprint of collaboration for the future on this and an array of other issues.
Happy Anniversary, Futures
This past year, we celebrated an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Futures Program. Even before workforce shortages were making headlines, the Foundation was committed to encouraging and nurturing practitioners in training and those seeking midcareer changes to pursue professions in PALTC. These efforts are embodied in the Futures Program, which brings an additional 60 to 70 professionals into our fold each year. It is widely considered to be an innovative and effective leadership development initiative. In recent years, we opened the program to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team, further expanding its impressive footprint.
As testament to the success of the program, many Futures alumni have taken on leadership roles both within and beyond the Society. For instance, Milta Little, DO, CMD, the Society’s vice president, has said that, starting with her participation in Futures, “AMDA has helped me to network with and meet others who love this field. I was elected to the board as secretary in 2012, and the rest is history. I just got more and more involved.”
Research and Practice Continue Their Partnership
Early in the life of the Foundation, we embraced the need for PALTC research that can be translated into practice. That commitment continues. For instance, in 2021 we’ve continued our successful partnership with Insight Therapeutics to recruit facilities to participate in an influenza outbreak study to evaluate the impact of antiviral medication choice on outcomes of influenza outbreaks in U.S. nursing home residents during the 2021–2022 influenza season.
Ed Davidson, PharmD, MPH, a partner at Insight Therapeutics and one of the lead investigators on the study, has worked on several flu studies in collaboration with the Foundation over the years. He says, “It’s truly a privilege to work with the Foundation and AMDA members. Whenever I’ve brought an idea about a study to the leadership, they’ve never just said ‘no.’ They have always been receptive to listening to the idea and talking through it.”
For every facility that enrolls in the study, the Foundation will receive a donation of $100. For more information on this important project, contact Insight Therapeutics, LLC, at [email protected] or at (757) 625-6040; or access additional information at https://join.nhflurx.com.
The Foundation also worked on recruiting for an important survey with Society member Ilo Leppik, MD, to gather data on epilepsy and seizures in residents. The information collected through this survey will contribute to the development of targeted and relevant educational resources for practitioners on this issue.
New Face, New Frontiers
We invite you to visit our newly redesigned website — with a new, modern look — and learn more about the work of the Foundation and the many ways you can support work in PALTC medicine.
We want your involvement. Society members can submit letters of inquiry regarding projects they would like to see the Foundation fund. The Foundation will review proposals for funding twice a year — January through March and again in June.
Thank you to those of you who have supported the Foundation. If you haven’t done so already, please consider making a donation now. The benefits to you, your patients, and your profession are significant, and you leave a legacy that will touch lives well into the future.
Dr. Susan Levy is chair of the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. She lives and practices in Delaware.
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