CMS is providing guidance for all patient engagement and advocacy activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. All patient engagement and advocacy activities such as peer mentoring, attending support groups and participating in QAPI and Plan of Care meetings, should be done so virtually, over the telephone, online or thru another distant, non-person to person format to limit patient exposure risk.

The Network encourages facilities to continue to engage with your Network Patient Representative in discussing patient needs at your clinic. Schedule a phone call to discuss their concerns and ideas and review the Topic of the Month sheet offered for June. Utilizing bulletin boards and developing activities that engage patients in their care while maintaining social distancing guidelines are encouraged.

The Network has worked with the Patient Advisory Council and Medical Review Board to provide the first edition of the Heartland Headlines patient newsletter. Please print and share copies with your patients – it has some great article to share on coping with COVID-19 and some a great patient and living donation story to inspire hope.

Intervention Tools:

  • Topic of the Month sheet: Coping and Depression
  • Heartland Headlines 2020 Issue 1