​Many providers had contemplated adopting telehealth technology when the coronavirus hit, but once it did, they accelerated their plans, says Managing Editor Amy Mendoza in this issue’s cover story. When providers started exploring the telehealth option, they worried about how they were going to pay for it. Fortunately, once the government started putting waivers in place to make health care more accessible, they began to ease the pressure, providers say. Mendoza reports on how the coronavirus has been a game-changer when it comes to telehealth.

Pandemic-necessitated bans on friends and families are clearly intended to protect staff and residents. But as a result, staff may be experiencing moral distress, an emotional state in which a person understands what is morally right but is prevented from doing so, says Amy Stewart, RN, in Human Resources. For example, a nurse caring for a resident who died without family near may feel distress. Stewart offers ways leaders can support staff and help build their resilience.

Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, says ideally the skilled nursing facility’s medical director should be a vital member of the center’s infection protection and control program. If the medical director is lacking these skills, an excellent and free online infection preventionist course is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a special feature, AHCA’s Lisa Hohenemser reports on this year’s National Skilled Nursing Care Center Week, which was planned to begin on Mother’s Day. Despite the challenges of these uncertain times, the event went forward as scheduled. Following the theme, Sharing Our Wisdom, centers around the country found creative ways to honor their residents and staff. Opportunities for connection in spite of social distancing included drive-by caravans, live outdoor concerts, hallway games, and a balloon launch.

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