07/02/2025

Research Spotlight – JAMA Network Open

Shang J, Lee JW, Dick AW, et al. Policies for Infection Prevention and Control in Home Health Care, 2019 vs 2023. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2512450. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.12450

Home health care (HHC) is vital to the US health care system, delivering skilled care to patients aged 65 years or older with acute illness. Nearly 3 million Medicare beneficiaries received care from more than 12 000 Medicare-certified HHC agencies, costing approximately $16 billion. Home health care spending is projected to outpace other sectors, driven by an aging population and a preference for in-home care, especially after COVID-19. Despite benefits, HHC patients face infection risk due to chronic conditions, wounds, medical devices, and a less controlled home environment. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a national patient safety goal, yet a pre-pandemic survey found wide IPC policy variation, with deficiencies worsening during the pandemic because of personal protection equipment shortages and insufficient IPC training. We examined how HHC IPC policies evolved after the pandemic and hypothesized that IPC policies improved.

Read the full article here:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2834428?utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=052825