More Q&A, New AHCA Changes and Clarifications
Clinical Screening Tool for Identifying Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19
per CDC
Lists of Suppliers
Surgeon General Suggests ALF Staff Wear Masks
DOH Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees suggests that any ALF staff working with the elderly wear a mask to protect the residents if they could be potentially asymptomatic with COVID-19 to decrease exhaling the virus.
Staff Travel During Established Curfews
The Florida Department of Health has issued a letter to local law enforcement advising about the critical role of health care professionals working in response to COVID-19.
Click here
to download the letter for your staff to have available to show law enforcement as they report to and from work during established curfews.
Visitor Restriction FAQs
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has issued guidance and clarification on the FDEM
Emergency Order 20-006
to create broad limitations on visitation at long-term care and residential facilities to protect residents from COVID-19. AHCA's latest guidance is available by
clicking here
.
Communal Dining
- Is communal dining okay especially if distance is maintained?
Until we can get an official answer on this question from AHCA, please use the
CMS guidelines
and adhere to the less than 10 people and 6 feet away for any communal dining.
AHCA Provides New Clarification for Health Care Services and the 14-Day Restriction on Staff in Airports from the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) Emergency Order No. 20-006
An Emergency Order was recently issued to create broad limitations on visitation at long-term care and residential facilities to protect residents from COVID-19.
To assist with clarifying this directive, the Agency for Health Care Administration has started a list of the most commonly asked questions.
1. What are necessary health care services as allowed by the Emergency Order?
Medically necessary health care includes health services as well as support services such as activities of daily living and assistance with resident self administration of medication. This exception applies to individuals who previously performed them on a regular basis.
For example, any family member or sitter who provided assistance with activities of daily living, such as feeding a resident or assisting with bathing, prior to the Emergency Order issued on March 15, 2020, may continue to provide these services.
2. Can staff who have been on a flight within the last 14 days enter a facility?
Yes. Facility staff are exempt from the 14-day air travel prohibition if the individual does not meet any of the other screening criteria. The facility must still follow the required documentation criteria.
3. Can hospice workers enter the facility?
Yes. Hospice workers are allowed to see a resident with hospice orders so long as the hospice workers meet the other screening criteria in the Emergency Order.
Hospital Transfers
On the Emergency Management conference call this morning, AHCA Secretary Mary Mayhew urged any patient transfers to your community from a hospital be tested for any type of pneumonia or respiratory issue, and COVID-19 testing. On a call this afternoon with Argentum, a provider said they were not accepting in any patients from hospitals. Please do your due diligence before accepting any resident from a hospital.
