While the use of telehealth in congregate care settings, such as in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities had been growing pre-pandemic, it became a lifeline for many facilities during the peak of the pandemic.  A large number of resources have been developed to assist those in these settings, including our Leveraging Telehealth in Long-Term Care Community Response Toolkit.  Other resources include:

West Health Institute has developed the following resources for PALTC settings:

The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine has published Standards for the Use of Telemedicine for Evaluation and Management of Resident Change of Condition in the Nursing Home.

LeadingAge has developed the following guides for selecting and implementing telehealth technologies:

The Virginia Impact Initiative aims to achieve improved preparedness through technology supported, evidence-based education and advice for statewide infectious disease management across congregate living environments.  This project strives to bring together a community of practice of facility-based infection control teams through consultation on the use of telehealth in congregate care and monthly webinars for on-going state-wide dialogue.

Medicare has made several policy changes related to telehealth for Skilled Nursing and Long Term Care Facilities: