Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Partners with County Departments in Response to COVID-19 Outbreaks in Skilled Nursing Facilities

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

This SO+S Program is a collaboration between the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), and the Department of Behavioral Health. The Program offers expertise and training for staff working with patients most vulnerable to COVID-19. The Skilled Nursing Facilities in San Bernardino County were not alone during COVID-19. They had the support of the Skilled Nursing Facility Outreach and Support (SO+S) Task Force that did everything from hands-on staff training, calling in the National Guard to bolster SNF staffing, staying late into the night or early mornings to make sure all was handled at the SNFs, as well as providing emotional support for some staff who were fearful or exhausted. The SO+S team also developed an innovative approach to staffing called the Quick Response Force, a rapidly- deployed group of health care providers who could fill staffing gaps until reinforcements arrived.