The relationship between person-centered care in nursing homes and COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates

OBJECTIVES: This cohort study compared rates of COVID-19 infections, admissions/readmissions, and mortality among a statewide person-centered model known as PEAK and non-PEAK NHs. METHODS: Rates per 1000 resident days were derived for COVID-19 cases and admissions/readmissions, and per 100 positive cases for mortality. A log-rank test compared rates between PEAK (n = 109) and non-PEAK NHs (n = 112). RESULTS: Rates of COVID-19 cases, admission, and mortality were higher in non-PEAK compared to PEAK NHs. The median rates for all indicators had a zero value for all NHs, but in NHs above 90th percentiles, the non-PEAK case rate was 3.9 times more and the admission/readmission rate was 2.5 times more. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: COVID-19 case, and mortality rates were lower in PEAK than non-PEAK NHs. Although PEAK and non-PEAK NHs may differ in other ways as well, person-centered care may be advantageous to promote infection control and improve outcomes.