Join our live online coronavirus update this Thursday, May 7, for a discussion of CDC guidance on infection control in long-term care. Dr. Nimalie Stone works in CDC’s Division of healthcare Quality Promotion, leading long-term care infection control guidance and working to align CMS and CDC guidance. Dr. Stone will answer member questions on how to interpret CDC guidance. Register now to join us Thursday, and every weekday.
Coronavirus Spotlight Podcasts
A new podcast series, LeadingAge Coronavirus Spotlights, features presentations by LeadingAge members and subject-matter experts who have been guests on our live daily online updates. Listen to these brief but informative podcasts to learn more about how your colleagues are coping with the pandemic. For the full-length audio of all the daily calls and a list of upcoming guests, visit the Coronavirus Member Updates Archive.
NEW Virtual Sessions are Open for Registration (free)
Dementia and COVID-19: Insights from the Field. In this 13-minute QuickCast, our own Kirsten Jacobs shares ideas and insights from providers and collaborators who are supporting people with dementia.
Action opportunity for senior housing relief – On May 4, LeadingAge we sent an action alert to Congress for $1.2b in senior housing relief, including funds for services, PPE, cleaning, new service coordinators, and building-wide WiFi. Taking action is easy and quick – click here to reach lawmakers.
See LeadingAge’s FAQ document on the CARES Act here.
Federal Updates
From the CDC
Training slides posted for CDC NHSN module and enrollment instructions. CDC has posted the training slides for the NHSN COVID-19 reporting module and NHSN enrollment. Access slides here. Today at 3pm EST is the replay of training on the module.
Updated CDC return to work criteria. CDC updated Return to Work Criteria last week. When using a symptom-based strategy for determining when healthcare personnel can safely return to work after recovering from COVID-19, the new guidance includes 10 days since initial onset of symptoms (or first positive test for those who never developed symptoms). The guidance for determining when to discontinue transmission-based precautions in patients/residents has also been updated to reflect the same timelines. Available here.
From the FDA
The FDA authorized the first serology, or antibody, test where the results of a new independent validation effort by the U.S. Government provided the scientific evidence used to support the authorization.
Adds staff to reporting numbers (CMS includes both staff and resident cases)
Removes death reporting as a daily requirement. (CMS does not require)
Clarifies reporting to only designated representatives if residents do not have decision making capacity
Provides option to opt out for representatives and residents. For a resident to opt out it would require both them and their representative agreeing.
Adds the CMS requirement to report if there is 3 or more cases of residents or staff with respiratory symptoms in the last 72 hours
Note: ISDH does not require that the LTCF document every communication. The LTCF should able to document the communication procedure and whether an individual is included in that procedure (in case that a complaint of not receiving communication might be investigated).
Note: other reporting requirements (RedCap and Gateway) are not altered by this update.
See also – CDC reporting section of this email communication above.
