COVID-19 UPDATE #184
September 3, 2021
DEAR PROVIDER LETTER ANNOUNCES RAPID RESPONSE TEAM 2 SHORT-TERM STAFFING
A Dear Provider letter dated September 2, 2021, notifies that the Department of Social and Health Services Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA) has contracted with a temporary nurse staffing agency to provide Rapid Response Staffing teams in multiple geographic areas across the state. These teams are being established to provide short-term staffing support to providers who participate in incentive programs to admit patients from acute care hospitals.

Effective immediately, providers can request short term staffing support by completing a Rapid Response Request form (DSHS 02-716) and submitting to the Department via email at rapidresponse@dshs.wa.gov. Rapid Response Team 2 Management will screen requests based on three priorities:
  • Priority 1 is patient admissions from acute care hospitals to offload discharges and supporting providers participating in the ALTSA incentive program.
  • Priority 2 is staffing homes with a certain percentage of COVID-19 cases.
  • Priority 3 is for other urgent staffing needs to meet resident care and service delivery. Screening will be in order of prioritization.

Rapid Response Managers will contact providers to discuss requests, staff availability, need, and assignments. They will confirm what amount of staff resource is available and when. Contacts will be made in 24 hours. Providers who have questions are asked to contact Bett Schlemmer via email or by calling (360) 725-2404.
DOH ENCOURAGES REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS TO MITIGATE HEALTHCARE SURGE
The Department of Health (DOH) encourages healthcare facilities to request volunteers to help mitigate healthcare surge. There is updated information on the DOH website to help facilities and providers navigate the volunteer request process.

Also available on the website is information describing the local and state volunteer pools and the processes for requesting those volunteers. If you have questions, please contact the DOH Volunteer Management Team at waserv@doh.wa.gov. 
DEAR PROVIDER LETTER EXPLAINS CONTINUED USE OF EYE PROTECTION
In a Dear Provider letter dated September 3, 2021, all providers are notified that Residential Care Services (RCS) will continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Infection Prevention and Control guidance for wearing eye protection. This guidance will also be used during assessment of provider infection prevention and control practices.

The CDC guidance states eye protection should be worn during patient, resident, and client care encounters to protect eyes from exposure to respiratory secretions when working in facilities when located in communities with moderate to substantial (or high) community transmission. HealthData.gov publishes COVID-19 transmission data weekly. You can access the CDC COVID-19 Tracker - Integrated County View here.

The letter also explains the CDC guidance has been reviewed on multiple levels, including DOH and Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). This guidance is the national infection prevention and control standard related to COVID-19.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identifies eye protection can be provided by goggles, face shields, safety glasses, and full face respirators. There are certain benefits and limitations of eye protection to consider.
  • Safety glasses provide impact protection, but do not provide the same level of splash or droplet protection as goggles and generally should not be used for infection control purposes.
  • Face shields are commonly used as an infection control alternative to goggles. As opposed to goggles, a face shield can also provide protection to other facial areas.

You and your staff must wear eye protection when there is moderate to substantial community transmission of COVID-19 infection to protect yourself and the people you serve. If providers have questions, the letter encourages them to email Katherine Ander.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WHCA continues to post resources and information as it becomes available on our website. If you have questions or need additional information, please call the WHCA office at (800) 562-6170.