Join the Program | Long-Term Care | AHRQ Safety Program for MRSA Prevention

Learn About Participating

We are recruiting long-term care facilities to participate in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program for MRSA Prevention, a free 18-month program that seeks to improve bathing and skincare techniques to reduce pressure injuries, wounds, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other Multidrug Resistant Organism (MDRO) transmission.

Beginning in June 2023, this program combines evidence-based guidance with implementation strategies to address the attitudes, beliefs, culture, and barriers that often pose challenges to improving infection prevention practices. This program can help you enhance your infection prevention program and prevent MRSA infection by utilizing evidence-based MRSA prevention strategies including improvement of hand hygiene, proper skin care, antibiotic stewardship, and environmental cleaning.

Participation in this AHRQ program will provide your long-term care facility with technical assistance, coaching, webinars, and tools to support your infection prevention program and resident safety.

Benefits of Participation

- Reduce skin and soft tissue infections

- Reduce pressure injuries and skin tears

- Reduce Multidrug Resistant Organism (MDRO) infections

- Improve team-based infection prevention practices

- Enhance communication and teamwork regarding proper skin care

- Increase resident and family satisfaction

Eligible Teams

While long-term care includes a broad range of facilities, the program aims to recruit nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. Long-term care facilities that offer more than one type of care, such as skilled nursing facilities that include long-term acute care units, are eligible for participation.

This program is not designed for long-term acute care facilities (LTACHs), adult day cares, home health programs, exclusive hospice facilities, dementia or memory care facilities, or facilities specializing in the care of developmentally disabled or pediatric patients.

How Can I Learn More?

For more information about the program, please read our FAQs or review the recording of the informational webinar, transcript, and slides posted below.