COVID-19 Special Issue
AMRPA Hosts COVID-19 Informational Call Series for the IRF Industry
Remy Kerr, MPH, AMRPA Health Policy and Research Manager
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a rapidly evolving public health emergency and looks different in various parts of the country. In order to create a forum for the inpatient rehabilitation industry to facilitate the exchange of information, AMRPA began hosting regular informational calls in March that are open to both association members and potential new members. The calls have garnered record attendance for AMRPA webinars and include opportunities for speakers to discuss the COVID-19 response in their regions and facilities and share best practices from their experiences. The calls also allow attendees to hear regulatory and legislative updates impacting IRFs and include Q&A sessions with panelists on the COVID-19 impact on IRFs from both a clinical and policy standpoint. Informational Call 1 – COVID 19 & the Rehabilitation Hospital Impact: Views from the Field AMRPA’s first informational call, held on March 20, included the following panelists: Bruce Gans, MD, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Select Medical Karl Sandin, MD, MPH, Immanuel Rehabilitation Institute Kayleen Degener, BSN, CRRN, Immanuel Rehabilitation Institute David Storto, Partners Continuing Care and Spaulding Rehabilitation Network Kate Beller, JD, AMRPA staff Jonathan Gold, JD, AMRPA staff Martie Kendrick, JD, Akin Gump
Visit the AMRPA COVID-19 Resource webpage for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) received during our informational calls and from AMRPA member alerts!
While most hospitals and providers had been preparing for a potential COVID-19 emergency for many weeks, by March 20 many hospitals were beginning to see that COVID-19 presented a tangible threat to their communities and patients. AMRPA’s first informational call provided attendees with insight into what some hospitals were beginning to experience and how others were preparing. In addition, AMRPA staff and counsel provided information on what IRFs could potentially expect in terms of regulatory relief. The call concluded with a question and answer session. Informational Call 2 – COVID-19 & the Rehabilitation Hospital Impact: Emerging Issues The second informational call focused on emerging issues for rehabilitation hospitals and best practices to address them and included the following speakers: Suzanne Snyder Kauserud, FACHE, MBA, PT, Carolinas Rehabilitation Ronella Eaddy, MHA, BSN, NEA-BC, CRRN, Carolinas Rehabilitation As Carolinas Rehabilitation prepared for a potential surge related to the COVID-19 pandemic, several policies were put in place to protect patients and staff and most
22 AMRPA Magazine / May 2020
COVID-19 Special Issue
