Nursing Home to Nursing Home Transfers during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.
Chiang-Hua Chang, Pil Park, Julie Pw Bynum and 1 others
PMID 36878263WHAT IT FOUND
During the early Michigan nursing home pandemic, long-term residents were transferred to another nursing home more often, especially those with recorded COVID-19, Black residents, and residents with severe cognitive impairment.
Key findings
01The overall nursing home to nursing home transfer rate was 7.7 per 100 during the early COVID-19 period, compared with 5.3 per 100 in the prepandemic period.
02A recorded COVID-19 diagnosis was associated with higher transfer risk during the pandemic period (adjusted odds ratio 4.70, 95% CI 3.30-6.68).
03During the pandemic period, Black residents and residents with severe cognitive impairment also had higher transfer risk (adjusted odds ratios 1.46 and 1.88).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used Michigan data only, so other states may have different transfer patterns. It did not examine why residents were transferred, such as care needs, staffing, facility closure, or policy. It used administrative MDS records, and early pandemic COVID-19 diagnoses may have been underreported because of staff shortages and a new ICD-10 code. It cannot show that resident characteristics or COVID-19 caused transfers. It covered only early pandemic months and may not reflect later pandemic conditions.
Declared interests
The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research and non-U.S. government research. The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest declaration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the higher transfer rate or adjusted odds ratios as proof that transfers were clinically necessary or caused by race, severe cognitive impairment, or COVID-19. The study did not examine reasons for transfer and cannot show causation.