One of 25 experts selected nationwide, Neil L. Pruitt Jr., chairman and CEO of PruittHealth, has been appointed to serve on a new, independent commission set to begin a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as a member of this commission and advocate for one of the most vulnerable patient populations our company proudly has served for 50 years,” Pruitt said. “For me, this commission is an extension of our Commitment to Caring, and I look forward to sharing with fellow members the valuable experiences and lessons learned as our country grapples with COVID-19.” 

The commission’s work will inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality of life of vulnerable Americans, as well as prepare for future threats to nursing home residents’ safety and to public health. 

Specifically, the commission is tasked to: 

• Identify best practices for facilities to enable rapid and effective identification and mitigation of transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in nursing homes;

• Work to recommend best practices as exemplars of rigorous infection control practices and facility resiliency that can serve as a framework for enhanced oversight and quality monitoring activities;

• Identify best practices for improved care delivery and responsiveness to the needs of all nursing home residents in preparation for, during, and following an emergency; and

• Identify opportunities to leverage new sources of data to improve existing infection control policies and enable coordination across federal surveyors, contractors, and state and local entities to mitigate coronavirus and future emergencies.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the formation of the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes on May 14. MITRE, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is standing up the commission and facilitating its activities and will independently author and deliver a report on the commission’s findings and recommendations to CMS on September 1.

Learn more about the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes at https://sites.mitre.org/nhcovidcomm/.