Coronavirus Update #103

Nursing Assistants Week, Rovner Products, Medline Update,

Testing & Cohorting, Revised 1135 Waiver Template,  

 CDC Website Update, CMS Resources and Calls

Nursing Assistants Week: June 18 to June 25

Honoring all Nursing Assistants, National Nursing Assistants Week kicks off with a celebration exhibiting the special care and attention provided by direct care staff. Click here for more information on celebrating your nursing assistants.

Nursing Assistants Week is also a great time to consider a center membership with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) . Membership in NAHCA demonstrates professional pride in your many CNAs and other caregivers. 

Rovner Products Inc.

Rovner Products Inc., a small family-owned manufacturing company in Timonium, specializes in making accessories for wood-wind instruments. When their non-essential business closed, they repurposed their equipment and began making parts to create protective face shields. They donated the supplies, their time and equipment, and contacted a team of volunteers to make and assemble 3000 face masks, which they have distributed to first responders, front line medical workers and other essential workers.

HFAM is excited they choose us to help distribute the remaining supply to skilled nursing and assisted living centers. If your center is in need of Face Shields, please contact Patty DeGrasse [email protected] or 410-401-3089.

Pictures of Lynn and George Reeder of Rovner Products, Inc. donating 864 Face Shields to HFAM for distribution to skilled nursing and assisted living centers.

Medline Update

To meet the demand for medical supplies during this time of supply chain strain, Medline has sourced and procured several new products through "spot buys" in order to alleviate the pain due to shortages on some of our traditional products.

 

In this catalog you will find:

 

Keep in mind that what is included and available may change from week to week. To learn more, contact your Medline representative, call 1-800-MEDLINE or visit medline.com. Please see more details below.

FACIAL PROTECTION:

 

NONFS600 – Reusable Face Shield:

NONFS800 – Disposable Face Shield:

CRI1502 – Bouffant Cap, White:

CRI1404A – Bouffant Clip Cap, Blue:

BODY PROTECTION:

NONCV985CXL – Type 5/6 Coverall:

PONCHO20 – Poncho:

NONBL200 – Polyethylene Cover Gown:

CRI4040PCC – Medium weight Cover Gown:

CRI4010PCC – Heavyweight Cover Gown:

CRI2004A – Shoe Cover, Large, Blue:

Testing and Cohorting: When & How? 

Trying to figure out what to do about testing and cohorting can be a challenge. Our partners at AHCA have created an algorithm for testing and cohorting nursing home residents which incorporates the latest CDC guidance. The algorithm walks through three primary entry points for testing prior to deciding on who and how to cohort individuals. The entry points include testing residents who develop symptoms, testing all residents simultaneously, and testing new admissions. The algorithm also walks through how to cohort if the person(s) tested are in a single-person room or with roommates. 

I nnovative Methods to Keeping Residents Connected 

AHCA/NCAL has also prepared a resource to help providers continue to keep residents connected to their loved ones. As visitation restrictions and social distancing continues, we need to find ways to keep people connected in-person when possible. Using an infection prevention and control mindset can help generate innovative methods to engage residents and families and fellow residents.

This resource is a starting point and intended to kick off additional ideas each center or community is able to try based on the status of COVID-19 in their building and in their community as well as the availability of necessary resources to support these innovative efforts. This resource can be used by nursing homes, assisted living communities and ICF/IID as each sees fit. 

Revised 1135 Waiver Template for Nursing Homes 

In AHCA/NCAL's guidance on Where to Turn for Help , there is information on and a customizable template for requesting a facility-level 1135 waiver. AHCA/NCAL has updated the template due to CMS blanket waivers and guidance provided since we first shared the template. 

Remember that while using this check-box format it is still important that you customize your waiver request to reflect your center’s needs and circumstances, as this will aid in CMS’s review and approval of your requests. This is a Word document, so you can make edits to include the items you need and to provide any additional explanation or rationale for your requests. 

CDC Website Updates 

On May 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated several of their webpages to be reflective of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updates on reopening guidance. The three webpages that were updated include: 

Below is a summary of what was changed. Review your infection prevention & control procedures to ensure they are consistent with the latest guidance. 

 

CDC recommends creating a COVID unit for residents with confirmed COVID and, if possible, an observation area for new admissions with no known COVID history (those with known COVID would go to COVID unit), but recommend that if possible those with symptoms or suspect COVID-19 go to a private room. Testing should be prioritized for these individuals and, if positive, they would move to a COVID unit. PPE should be worn. 

New CMS Health Resource Materials

CMS has released two new resources focused on coronavirus and health coverage. You can see the materials at this link: go.cms.gov/c2ccovid19 .

C2C’s Coronavirus and Your Health Coverage: Get the Basics talks about how to protect yourself and your family along with an overview on updates from Medicare, the Marketplace, and other information for consumers looking for information on health coverage and staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next, C2C has Stay Safe: Getting the Care You Need, at Home which focuses on how people can stay healthy within their home. This resource gives an overview of telehealth, managing ongoing health conditions, prescriptions, and other tips.

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 highly encouraged to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.

Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page here.

 

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

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 29th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301; 

Access Code: 6350189

Web Link

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. 

Additional Resources and Guidance

AHCA/NCAL

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Maryland Department of Health

Mental Health Association of Maryland

AMDA Guidance

AARP