COVID-19 UPDATE #29 5/15/2020

Please keep reading our information because it changes every day. Below is the latest information provided to the association -- please note that we will continue to send updates as soon as we receive any new information.

COVID-19 UPDATE 29

Mandatory Staff Testing when Arranged by DOH

On May 10, the Agency for Health Care Administration issued Emergency Rule 59AER20-2 related to access and testing associated with Department of Health representatives.

The Emergency Rule requires assisted living facilities to 1) grant access to DOH representatives for the purpose of infection prevention and control, and 2) mandate testing of staff when arranged by the Department.

The Emergency Rule only addresses staff testing arranged by the Department of Health as part of their infection prevention and control activities. We are expecting an additional Q&A to be published by the Agency regarding this emergency rule.

The determination of which ALFs or nursing homes are selected for testing has been made in part through the Nursing Home Guide , possible outbreaks reported by laboratories to the Merlin database , or by facility request. There is not a one-size-fits-all formula that qualifies a facility for DOH testing.

As Florida moves toward long term sustainability, ALFs will be encouraged to seek their own independent channels for COVID-19 testing and CDC-based response to symptomatic persons residing or working in the facility.

Read the 5/10 Release (AHCA)

Review the Emergency Rule 59AER20-2

Anticipating and Avoiding

Work Restrictions when Testing

Low, medium, and high risk categories drive the County Department of Health's Epidemiology Units decisions to issue requests to self-quarantine. The categories are based on a combination of timeframes, interaction length, and PPE established by the CDC.

Read the FSLA Summary of Risk Classifications

FSLA's Source Control and Work Restriction Expectations Tool

FSLA has developed a flowchart, based on the CDC Interim Guidelines, to help providers anticipate the PPE conditions that may lead to exposed staff being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Hospital Discharge or

Emergency Room Visit

On the 5/11 DOH/FHA Hospital Conference Call, Secretary Mayhew addressed a question relating to the 5/5 Emergency Rule that requires all hospital discharges to have two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours before discharge to an ALF or nursing home. The question was whether the rule applied to residents who came into the emergency room for a non-respiratory issue. Secretary Mayhew said that the rule applies to discharges; that is, overnight stays. The Secretary reminded practitioners and clinicians to use their professional judgment in initiating testing.

Read the Hospital Testing Q&A (AHCA )

Revisiting Dining in ALFs

As we move through Phase I of re-opening Florida, there has been an increased interest in resuming communal dining in ALFs. FSLA asked the Agency to provide input again on the issue.

The Agency referred us to the CDC’s Consid eration s when Preparing for COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities as they relate to dining:

“Cancel all group activities. Instead of communal dining, consider delivering meals to rooms, creating a “grab n’ go” option for residents, or staggering meal times to accommodate social distancing while dining (e.g., a single person per table).”

The option of seating a single person per table in the dining room would allow some congregate dining.

Staff at A tria at Villages of Windsor create memorable experiences amid social distancing.

New & Noteworthy Resources

Treating Patients in Place : a 3-part series published by The Journal Club (FMDA)

Certifying Deaths due to COVID (CDC)

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (CDC's COCA Signup)

Free Series of COVID-19 Courses for Health Care Professionals (NCSBN)

FHCA Webinar Series

FSLA is sharing Snapshot Notes taken during Part I of Tuesday's FHCA Webinar Series on COVID-19.

Get the Notes (FSLA)

View the Recording (FHCA)

New Fields added to the Emergency Status System

The Agency for Health Care Administration today added several new questions to the Emergency Status System. We surmise that the questions have been added to support the Department of Health's expanded facility-based collection of samples for COVID-19 testing.

New ESS Questions:

Total number of all employees (i.e. clinical, housekeeping, nutrition, maintenance, administration, and contract):
Number of employees tested for COVID-19 since April 11:
Do you have your own arrangements to actively test current and new employees?
Can your clinical staff collect test specimens from employees within a 3-day period if all testing supplies are provided to the facility including laboratory and shipping materials?
If yes to above (you can collect your own specimens), how many remaining employees would you need to test?

Review FSLA's latest COVID-19 Information

Track the latest DOH COVID-19 News