Coronavirus Update #93
Important Update on NHSN Reporting, MDH Webinar Slides, CMS Toolkit,
Medline Update, PPE Reminder, and Testing Resources
NHSN Reporting Update

As you know, CMS released a  memo requiring nursing homes to electronically report COVID-19 information to  CDC's NHSN Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Module.

The Maryland Department of Health and CRISP are able to upload this data to NHSN via your daily CRISP reporting. However your center MUST grant access to the MDH group. Access your NHSN account and make sure your center is added to the MDH group using the information below:

Group Number: 44030
Password: DHMH

Facilities should join this group as soon as possible. There are detailed instructions about how to join a group on the CDC NHSN COVID website . You may also contact NHSN user support at [email protected] for assistance.  

If you have already enrolled in NHSN, you still must grant the MDH group access. If you do not grant the MDH group access, your data will NOT be automatically uploaded. Again, it is critical to register with NHSN and join the MDH group now. Click here if you have questions on enrollment.

Remember that the first submission deadline is 11:59 pm on Sunday, May 17, 2020, so you should take these steps as soon as possible. MDH confirmed on a webinar today (more below) that they will be able to upload your data to the NHSN network by the deadline.

Note: Many centers are experiencing access and registration issues, if you are experience issues, please document and time stamp all of your attempts.
MDH Webinar

Today, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) held a COVID-19 update webinar for long-term care providers. Topics covered included:

  • Review current situation of COVID-19
  • State and Federal Updates
  • Nursing Home Task Force
  • Admissions to Long-Term Care


We will share the call recording when it becomes available tomorrow. If you have any questions, please reach out to: [email protected]
CMS Issues Nursing Homes Best Practices Toolkit to Combat COVID-19

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new toolkit developed to aid nursing homes, Governors, states, departments of health, and other agencies who provide oversight and assistance to these facilities, with additional resources to aid in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic within nursing homes.

The toolkit builds upon previous actions taken by CMS, which provide a wide range of tools and guidance to states, healthcare providers and others during the public health emergency. The toolkit is comprised of best practices from a variety of front line health care providers, Governors’ COVID-19 task forces, associations and other organizations, and experts, and is intended to serve as a catalogue of resources dedicated to addressing the specific challenges facing nursing homes as they combat COVID-19.
Medline Update

With the significant increase in demand for medical supplies resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry continues to experience shortages of certain products, particularly Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

To meet this demand, Medline has increased production of PPE, retrofitted manufacturing facilities to produce hand sanitizer and utilized air freight to accelerate PPE transit. They have also sourced and procured several new products through “spot buys” in order to mitigate the shortages on some traditional products.

Proper Use of PPE Reminder

We encourage you to review with your teams the appropriate way to apply and remove all PPE, including gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. Performing observations yourself can be helpful to prepare staff for surveyor observation and to quickly correct any practices needing improvement. Please see this new donning and doffing checklist.

In addition:

  • These documents can be printed and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately don PPE. 

  • These documents can be printed off and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately doff PPE.  

  • The following video explains how to do hand hygiene and donning/doffing PPE appropriately. 

Testing - AMS Onsite and Additional Resources

Please see our  press release on HFAM Associate Member AMS Onsite for key messages on testing and workforce (which date back to March 12).

  • With increased testing, we are still seeing COVID-19 hotspots in Maryland skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers.

  • In an AHCA/NCAL call this week, Dr. Gifford reported that there is data indicating a relationship between the COVID-19 “hotness” in a community and skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in that community.

  • COVID-19 hospital discharges are happening routinely and efficiently to COVID-19 isolation units in Maryland skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers.

  • Hospital transfers of non-COVID-19 patients to nursing homes are beginning to back up because of unknown COVID-19 status, a shortage of observation beds in skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, and the lack of universal testing in hospitals.

Additional Testing Resources

First Call Medical Center. Please contact Dr. Ron Elfenbein to discuss the testing process and figure out which option works best for your center. Dr. Elfenbein can be reached via email at   [email protected]    or via phone at 410-507-9698 (please leave a message if no answer).


Diamond Medical Labs,   located in Owings Mills, has the capacity to do in-residence test collection for seniors during the COVID-19 outbreak so that they do not have to go out. Contact Andy Diamond at  [email protected]   or  443-992-2782   if there is demand at your center or if you would like additional information.


The Maryland Department of Health Laboratory.  Click here  for more information.


MAXIMUS. If you are interested in setting up a coronavirus testing program, please contact Leonard Lucchi   [email protected]   or 410-280-2203.
Newsweek Article

While you and your healthcare heroes are fighting to save lives and combat COVID-19, we at HFAM continue to communicate and advocate on your behalf with government leaders, our outstanding hospital partners, the media and other stakeholders. 

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls

CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.

Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so you are encouraged to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.



CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM EST)

Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to: Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls; Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce; Put Patients Over Paperwork; and Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare

Thursday, May 14th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 5688374

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM EST)

Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.
This week’s Lessons from the Front Lines:
Friday, May 15th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301;
Access Code: 8983296
 

Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls

CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.

Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM EST)
Thursday, May 14th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 4279137
Who are your healthcare heroes?

There are so many amazing stories of dedication, sacrifice, and compassion by long term care professionals who are going above and beyond to ensure the safety, health, and happiness of residents during this unprecedented time. These individuals are saving lives; they are heroes.

We want to hear your stories!

 Please email   [email protected]   to share a current story and picture of members of your team who are going above beyond to provide quality care during this unprecedented time. 
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?

Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
Thank you.

We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.