3.15.20
WHCA/WiCAL MEMBER UPDATE

CDC Call: Tuesday, March 17 at 1 p.m. CST

During this call, CDC will focus on current information about COVID-19 as it relates to long term care facilities. Topics will include infection prevention and control guidance, steps facilities should take to prepare, and available resources. 
 
New Communal Dining Guidance  

CMS’s memo dated March 13, 2020  includes guidance to “ cancel communal dining and all group activities ” in skilled nursing facilities. While this CMS guidance is not a requirement for assisted living communities, all long term care facilities should take all reasonably available steps to adhere , given the dire consequences of the spread of COVID-19 among our resident population. 

Implementing this can be a challenge and will likely require changes in staffing patterns as well as enlisting other staff in the facility in order to accomplish. How this is implemented must be viewed on a facility-by-facility and day-to-day basis depending on your physical plant, staff availability, and resident needs. 
This virus is now reported in 49 states. You should assume it is already in your surrounding community, whether or not it has been confirmed, due to lack of testing to-date. The experience in the Seattle, Washington area suggests spread may have been facilitated by group activities, including perhaps communal dining.
 
Supply Shortage of PPE

We have heard from many of you about rapidly declining supply for personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly surgical masks and gowns, N-95 masks or face shields. As you all know, the current worldwide shortage, coupled with the increased demand for PPE has created a dire situation for their availability in long term care facilities and other providers. We have raised this concern with every agency at the highest level, including the Vice President.  
If you have not already started, which we understand many of you have, we recommend initiating as many conservation approaches where you are able. If you are imminently (within 3-4 days) about to exhaust specific PPE supplies, you should take these steps in this order: 
  1. Contact your local healthcare coalition 
  2. Contact your state health department 
  3. Contact your local health department 
  4. Contact your local hospital(s) and other health care providers in your area about possibly sharing PPE supplies.  
WHCA/WiCAL Continues Advocacy Efforts  

In a communication to Gov. Tony Evers that John Vander Meer, WHCA/WiCAL's President & CEO sent on Sunday, WHCA/WiCAL raised its significant concerns about critical front line long-term caregivers not being available to work because of the decision to close schools around the state of Wisconsin. This situation places caregivers in the position to have miss work because they have to take care of their kids because schools are closed, making a difficult staffing situation even worse.
 
As was said in the communication to Gov. Evers, the provider community wants to do everything to be a part of the solution to this situation – not just point out the problems. In addition to providing further analysis on the significant costs providers will incur as a result of COVID-19, we wanted to pass on the ideas of some of the ideas that WHCA/WiCAL members have suggested, including:
 
IDEA – Jobs Available in LTC: We respectfully ask that you work with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and other cabinet Secretaries to get the word out to workers in industries affected by the COVID-19 crisis that important jobs in the field of long-term caregiving are available for them if they want to help people who really need it.
 
IDEA – Exempt Health Care Workers: Minnesota is closing schools this week, but they are letting them open for the children of health care workers and first responders. Would you consider a similar approach here in Wisconsin? Attached I have included a complete version of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order on the subject. Here is the specific relevant text on the subject:
 
11. Emergency workers (including providers of healthcare, emergency medical services, long-term and post-acute care; law enforcement personnel; personnel providing correctional services; public health employees; firefighters and other first responders; and court personnel) are critical to the State's response to COVID-19. During the Closure Period, and subject to paragraph 12, schools are directed to provide care to, at a minimum, district-enrolled students aged 12 and under who are children of emergency workers. In providing this care, schools must practice hygiene and social distancing best practices. Schools are not required to provide this care during previously scheduled breaks reflected on a school-board approved calendar. I encourage schools and school districts to also provide extended care-before and after school hours-to students who are children of emergency workers. MN Department of Education will provide further guidance to schools and school districts about this provision.
 
Please stay tuned to WHCA/WiCAL Member Memos for additional information, and contact John Vander Meer, WHCA/WiCAL President & CEO regarding our on-going advocacy efforts.
WHCA/WiCAL | 608.257.0125 | info@whcawical.org | www.whcawical.org