West Virginia Department of Health launches program to help with antibiotic management in nursing homes

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Department of Health’s (DH) Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services (OEPS) is launching the MEDALS Project.

This project is focused on promoting antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes across the state of West Virginia. The project was made official during a webinar presentation, while meeting with the West Virginia Healthcare Association. This is a beginning milestone for infection prevention and the efforts to make it better within the state.

This project is designed to recognize and reward the nursing homes that display their strong efforts in infection prevention. The MEDALS project is planning to see the next phase with a presentation with Quality Insights nursing home, whom they are meeting with in August. The presentation will show West Virginia’s efforts and practices for the highest care of antibiotic prevention and populations and communities who are more vulnerable.

“The MEDALS Project represents a crucial step forward in safeguarding the health and well-being of our nursing home residents. By promoting initiatives that emphasize infection prevention and responsible antibiotic use, we aim to enhance patient outcomes and reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance,” said Sec. Sherri Young, DO, MBA, FAAFP.

Nursing homes that will be participating in this project will be evaluated in the following criteria:

• Levels of achievement
• Dedication to using different and effective strategies for infection control
• Antibiotic stewardship

This guideline is not just for continuous improvements, but also to keep a high standard of care and excellence within the healthcare community. The West Virginia Department of Health encourages all nursing homes to be part of the MEDALS Project and go by its guidelines and principles. The State of West Virginia’s goal is to lead the way in making antibiotic stewardship practices, which will ensure the health of its nursing home residents, and hopefully be long-term.

The West Virginia Department of Health (DH) is focusing on advancing and making the health of all residents of the state better and improved. They want to do this by promoting healthy behaviors and routines, be able to manage public health crises when they arrive, and make health related resources easily accessible.

For more information about the MEDALS Project, eligibility, and how nursing homes can participate, visit https://oeps.wv.gov/au/Pages/medals.aspx . The application can be found here .

For more information, visit dhhr.wv.gov .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.