ISDH Long Term Care Newsletter
Today's Issue:
- COVID-19 Guidance for out-of-hospital mitigation strategies
- CMS – 1135 authority – Immediate jeopardy duties only and LTC Strike Teams
The ISDH created guidance on ways to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and residential facilities when a resident is positive or presumed positive. “Non-essential” in the following guidance, in accordance with CDC, (see STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS) does not mean non-essential staff cannot enter a resident room. Rather it is focused on non-essential staff not entering the presumed or confirmed COVID-19 resident’s room
.
COVID-19 Guidance for out-of-hospital mitigation strategies
Strategies to reduce the spread of infection in facilities with a patient/resident with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19
CMS – 1135 authority – Immediate jeopardy duties only and LTC Strike Teams
With CMS using 1135 authority to require nursing home surveyors to limit their duties to immediate jeopardy only, we will be using this workforce to form LTC strike teams. These teams will go to facilities (those with a presumed case will be prioritized) to do PPE training and communicate risk mitigation strategies with essential staff (those who provide healthcare to patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 cases). These teams will also do targeted test collection. We hope to fully utilize this workforce and their expertise to assure that the facilities that care for our most vulnerable residents are as prepared as possible to continue to do so safe and effectively. This is not a regulatory visit and there will be no report given to the facility. The team will rely upon the facility’s screening of the residents to prioritize testing. Please have a nurse available to assist with the resident during the testing. Your staff will be appreciated by both the resident and the strike team staff to comfort the resident.
