Managing COVID-19 in LTC, SNF, and ALF Environments: What We Learned

Managing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care/Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Environments: What We Learned

May 27, 2021

12:00-1:30pm (CDT)

Moderator: Mathew Bedard, Campus Administrator, Cassia

Panelist: Diane Rydrych, Director, Division of Health Policy, Minnesota Department of Health

Panelist: Marvin Plakut, President & CEO, Episcopal Homes of Minnesota

Panelist: Kari Everson, Director of Clinical Care, LeadingAge Minnesota

Long-Term Care (LTC)/Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Assisted Care environments have been under great stress due to cultural, financial, and health care policy regulations creating operational challenges to preparedness to keep residents and staff healthy and safe during catastrophic outbreaks such as the COVID-19 Pandemic presented this year in the United States and around the world. Long-Term Care/SNF reimbursements have remained low compounding challenges to those who administer within these environments. Emergency and crisis management efforts are critical to effectively prepare and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Public health and healthcare organizations operate in extremely complex environments that can be exacerbated in an emergency setting. The outbreak of COVID-19 presents a dynamic application of wide-scaled responses that requires decisive leadership activities and coordination, especially in the LTC/SNF, and Assisted Living environments where some of the most vulnerable population reside.

The session will provide a general debrief of the COVID-19 pandemic response from a leadership perspective within the LTC/SNF and Assisted Living environments. Panel discussion will surround baseline emergency preparedness; ebbs and flows of the implementation journey of Federal and State guidelines; operational practices to minimize risk of COVID-19 illness for residents and staff; and lessons learned and best practices that ensure the health and safety of residents and staff of these environments.

Ticket Costs:

• ACHE Member – $20
• ACHE Student Member – $10
• Non-Member – $40

*Approved for 1.5 hours ACHE Fact-to-Face Education*

*Approved for 1.5 hours of CEUs by BENHA*

Diane Rydrych, MA

As the Director of the Division of Health Policy, Diane oversees a division of ~125 staff working on issues related to administrative simplification, electronic exchange of health information, patient safety, rural health, healthcare workforce development, analysis of Minnesota’s healthcare/health insurance system, clinical quality reporting, payment/care delivery reform, and medical education, as well as other state/federal reform initiatives. Diane also leads MDH’s efforts to implement a large, 3.5 year federal State Innovation Model grant, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services. Previously, as the division’s assistant director, she managed the state’s Adverse Health Events reporting system and led MDH’s participation in state and national patient safety efforts, and managed the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics, a group of analysts whose research includes studies of racial/ethnic health disparities, trends in mortality/natality, the burden of chronic disease, and general population health issues, as well as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Diane received a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management from the University of Minnesota. She also serves on the Alumni Board for the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Kari Everson, RN, BSN, MSN, MHA, LNHA

Kari Everson is a diverse and highly experienced clinical and operations professional in the senior care industry. Ms. Everson has experience leading clinical and operations teams. She has served as a clinical educator in post-secondary nursing programs and in health care organizations. Ms. Everson has assisted with systemic conversions and strategic planning in senior housing and skilled nursing communities. She has strong clinical expertise particularly related to assessment, care delivery, compliance, and quality.

Ms. Everson served many years as an Administrator and Director of nursing; and, has experience with both small and larger post-acute providers.

Mathew Bedard, LNHA, MPH, FACHE

Mathew is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. As the Campus Administrator for Cassia’s Park View community in Buffalo, Minnesota, Mathew supports approximately 270 staff that serve seniors on a campus which includes a 123 guest Skilled Nursing Facility, a 46 unit Assisted Living Apartment community with Memory Care Suites, and the Buffalo Adult Day Care Program.

Mathew previously worked at Presbyterian Homes-Langton Place, where he served as the Campus Administrator for a 125 bed skilled nursing facility specializing in post-acute care with a 63 guest Transitional Care Unit. We served 1100 seniors and their families annually through a team of 240 staff members, 60+ volunteers and medical providers from Allina, Health Partners and HealthEast health systems.Mathew has an MPH in Health Services Administration from the University of Minnesota. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the ACHE MN Board of Directors.

Marvin Plakut, MBA

Marvin Plakut has been working in the long-term care industry since 1985. He has served in a variety of management positions in for profit and non profit organizations. Mr. Plakut has been serving in his current role as President & CEO of Episcopal Homes of Minnesota for 22 years. Under his leadership, Episcopal Homes has tripled in size and substantially increased its presence on University Avenue. Episcopal Homes most recent project was a $50 million expansion on its main campus right in front of the Fairview light rail station.

Numerous local and national awards have been received by Episcopal Homes in the last dozen years, with the most recent coming from the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies for high quality affordable housing on University Avenue in St. Paul.

Mr. Plakut has served on several industry boards and is frequently asked by leaders in long term care to speak on Episcopal Homes growth and strategies in the urban core of St. Paul.

Marvin’s undergraduate degree is in Speech Communication and he has a Masters of Business Administration degree from California State University, Los Angeles.