Pathways to Quality: Advancing Nursing Home Care for Better Outcomes
A Value Based Purchasing webinar training series for nursing home staff
In partnership with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and its Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Program, VCU Gerontology is launching a 6-part webinar series, Pathways to Quality: Advancing Nursing Home Care for Better Outcomes, dedicated to elevating the quality of care for nursing home residents. This free series will equip nursing home staff with innovative, evidence-based insights and practical approaches designed to strengthen performance across essential areas of resident care.
Each 120-minute interactive workshop invites everyone working in a Virginia nursing home (CNAs, nurses, social workers, activity staff, administrators, dietary staff, housekeeping, and everyone!) to take a deep dive into best practices for understanding and managing a specific value-based purchasing measure. One month after each webinar, we’ll reconvene in an optional, one-hour Huddle-Up Session – your opportunity to share what you’ve tried, what questions you still have, and engage more deeply.
Series Highlights:
- Actionable techniques and proven approaches designed to elevate overall care quality
- A follow-up “Huddle-Up” session one month after each webinar, offering participants an opportunity to ask questions, exchange experiences, and learn from peers
- Engaging instruction led by a gerontological nurse practitioner, featuring clear, accessible guidance and practical recommendations for effective care pathways
Pathways to Quality: Advancing Nursing Home Care for Better Outcomes includes 6 modules over 3 years.
Session 1: Pressure Ulcers Part 1: Causes, Risk Factors, and Care Paths
Live Webinar: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 12:30pm-2:30pm
Huddle-Up: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
(Registering for the webinar automatically registers you for the optional Huddle-Up)
In session one, we will learn about the causes and risk factors of pressure ulcers is critical in the prevention and care of nursing home residents, as well as pathways for care.
Session 2: Pressure Ulcers Part 2: Moving to Prevention
Live Webinar: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 12:30pm-2:30pm
Huddle-Up: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
(Registering for the webinar automatically registers you for the optional Huddle-Up)
In session two, we will continue our learning about pressure ulcer care with a special focus on prevention.
[Workshops 3 and 4 will follow later]
How to Attend Pathways to Quality: Advancing Nursing Home Care for Better Outcomes
Please register for each session individually. One registration provides access to both the live webinar and its corresponding Huddle-Up. While we encourage attending the full series, we understand scheduling can be challenging. All webinars will be recorded, and links will be emailed to registrants and made available on this page.
Remember, every member of the nursing home team plays a role in advancing quality of care, not just clinical staff. We invite interdisciplinary teams to join these sessions together and collaborate in strengthening resident outcomes.
Series Team
Gigi Amateau, MS, PhD
Gigi Amateau serves as Assistant Professor and Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging. In her role with VCU, she focuses on person-centered, trauma-informed care for nursing homes, capacity-building within the home and community-based services network, and teaching in the graduate program, where she integrates poetry, film, and humanities as tools for building person-centered, trauma-informed skills. She is a certified personal care aide in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, a YWCA Richmond Pat Asch Social Justice Fellow, and a Health Equity Faculty Fellow with the VCU Health Humanities Lab.
Laura Finch, MS, RN, GNP
Laura P Finch, MS, GNP, RN has been a nurse for 38 years and an NP for thirty. She has focused on improving health care and quality of life for our frail elderly in nursing homes through direct care, teaching health care students and clinicians, process improvement for care transitions, legislation, and most recently on the Governor's Advisory Board on Nursing Home Oversight. She has worked with VCU's Department of Gerontology and the Virginia Center on Aging on the Nursing Home ECHO project and the Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network.
Maureen Lillis
Maureen Lillis is a full-time doctoral student and graduate assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences. A registered nurse, Ms. Lillis, has extensive experience working in skilled nursing facilities and has spent many years supporting Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) health plans. The intersection of her clinical and business experience has provided a strong understanding of the challenges and benefits of serving senior populations, and she remains committed to ensuring high quality programs are in place.
Annie Rhodes, PhD, CGCM
Annie Rhodes directs the Virginia Memory Project, Virginia's only statewide epidemiological database supporting policy and resource allocation for Virginians with brain health concerns, neurodegenerative disorders, and their caregivers. Dr. Rhodes holds positions in both the Department of Gerontology and The Center on Aging and has been awarded for her approach to data-driven advocacy. In addition to her work at the Virginia Memory Project, she also serves as the evaluation director for the Virginia Geriatric Education Center.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CEUs will be available for nurses working at a Virginia nursing home who attend and participate in the two-hour webinars. Certificates of Completion will be offered for participants who do not currently work in a nursing home in Virginia.
Certificates of Completion will be available for the one-hour Huddle Ups for all participants. Active participation is a key part of this series. CEUs or Certificates will be provided to those who attend at least 75% of the session and engage in at least 75% of polls, questions, or breakout activities.
You are welcome to join any individual webinar or attend the entire series, whatever fits your schedule.
These webinars are designed for all nursing home staff, as well as anyone interested in enhancing the quality of care for residents.
Select one person from your team to register for each session. After the webinar, the registered participant will receive a post-training evaluation survey, which includes instructions for submitting the names and email addresses of all team members. Each team member will then receive their own evaluation survey, and upon completion, a Certificate of Completion.
For technical support, please email nico@worldeventsforum.com.
A VCU Gerontology project in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) as part of the agency’s Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Program (NFQIP) and co-produced with World Events Forum.
