CLM Class Develops Solutions to COVID Long-Term Care Issues

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director

Even now, there are new challenges that health care workers are discovering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And those challenges require solutions.

Take UK’s Clinical Leadership and Management 480 Special Topics class, for instance.

One section of the class this fall, entitled “Aging & Long-Term Care in a Post-Pandemic World,” investigated the effects on the long-term care industry. Working with the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities (KAHCF) and the Kentucky Center for Assisted Living (KCAL), Sarah Kercsmar, PhD and Program Director for Clinical Leadership and Management, and Director of Undergraduate Studies for CLM, developed the class to, as she put it, “create a unique applied learning opportunity this semester.”

“KAHCF and KCAL identified five areas of challenge in the long-term care industry as we come out of the pandemic,” Kercsmar said. “The students worked all semester to research the challenges in groups — each group had one challenge — and then come up with suggested solutions, which they turned into a presentation at the KAHCF/KCAL Annual Meeting in Louisville on Nov. 17.”

To summarize, the organizations found these five challenges:

• Attracting residents to assisted living 
• Marketing/explaining/exciting high school and college students about careers in long-term care 
• Exploring technology and its relationship to the long-term care industry/what’s new/hot/helpful/on the horizon? 
• Recruiting staff to long-term care careers 
• Retaining and engaging current staff in long-term care

“One of the coolest parts of the experience was that each student group was paired with mentors from the long-term care industry that KAHCF/KCAL identified who coached them along the way,” Kercsmar said.

Several solutions were developed for the challenges.

The teams developed marketing plans utilizing social media, creating events and changing the public image of long-term care professions. They devised a plan to reach out to underrepresented populations, simplify the applications process, increase wages, recognize employees, offer management training and partner with institutions in the community.

There were also suggestions of simplifying technology (and the education for that), as well as explaining the benefits of living in assisted living facilities.

The experience was more than constructive for all involved.

“I was honestly pretty nervous going into it because I did not know what it was going to be like, but this experience exceeded all my expectations,” said senior Holly Ratliff. “I was amazed at just how excited every single person we talked to was to have us there. Everyone was so welcoming and eager to hear from us, which was amazing to feel that energy in the room. The mentors that we presented to are incredible role models for me and my classmates, and I know we all were inspired by their willingness to always continue learning and support the future generation of healthcare leaders. It was an honor to share some of our ideas with real-world, long-term care administrators and get to hear some of their experiences out in the field. This conference in part made me even more interested in long-term care because of the passionate people that we had the chance to meet.”

It wasn’t just positive for the students.

“One of the Association’s goals in partnering with the CLM Program was to bring awareness and exposure of the post-acute care world to students,” said John Dailey, chair of the Human Resources Committee for KAHCF and Vice President Employee Experience of Principle LTC. “So often, this part of the health care spectrum is overlooked. There are many wonderful opportunities for career paths, and we need great new leaders in skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living. 

“Through the partnership, the students worked on real-world issues and problems in post-acute care,” Dailey continued. “Through their research and presentations, our facility members had the opportunity to hear fresh perspectives and some great ideas on how to solve issues. I think the students gained insight into post-acute care. We hope it sparked an interest with some of them for a future career in post-acute care. The quality of work and professionalism from the students was outstanding. This partnership was one of the most exciting projects I have been a part of with the KAHCF HR Committee.” 

“When registering for the CLM 480 class, I never thought I would have the opportunity to attend a conference like ‘Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities/Kentucky Center for Assisted Living Annual Meeting,’” said senior Caroline Prewitt. “My hopes and expectations from this conference consisted of gaining connections that would help me in my upcoming professional career, as well as learning the passion and reasoning behind these individuals being a part of this field. The community of long-term care at this conference was uplifting and welcoming because many went out of their way to introduce themselves and ask what our future aspirations were.”

“I was looking forward to connecting our future health care leaders with long term care seasoned professionals so they could learn from each other and make valuable connections,” said Emily Weber, director of communications, marketing & public affairs for KAHCF and KCAL. “I am pleased that we created a successful partnership – opening the eyes of students to this rewarding profession and building a hope for a bright future.”