Temporary Nurse Aide Training Program Providing Critical Staffing Support to Georgia’s Nursing Homes
ATLANTA (May 6, 2020) – On April 2, 2020, under the authority of the Section 1135 blanket waiver issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Georgia Department of Community Health’s (DCH) Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) established a temporary nurse aide training program to address staffing challenges in nursing homes. Since then, 226 nursing homes across the state are utilizing the program.
This temporary training program was established with assistance from the Georgia Health Care Association and Alliant Health Solutions to provide expedited onboarding for nurse aides that are needed to care for residents during this emergency period.
“This program was made possible by Governor Kemp’s Executive Order issued March 20, 2020, and CMS’s 1135 blanket waiver, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the participation we’re seeing across Georgia,” said DCH Commissioner Frank Berry. “Mitigating staffing challenges in nursing homes associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency is a priority for all of us, and I’d like to thank everyone who has stepped forward to help – especially the nursing students and nurse aides on the frontline. A great deal of credit for the success of the program goes to leadership within the Georgia Health Care Association, Alliant Health Solutions, and the Georgia Board of Nursing. This has truly been a team effort.”
HFRD surveyors are continuing to share information about the program with nursing homes that express concerns about staffing. For more information on the program or to apply, please access the documents below:
Notice - Temporary Nursing Aide Training Program
Temporary Nursing Aide Training Program Application
Contact:
Fiona Roberts
DCH Press Secretary
404-651-7086