Coronavirus Update #184
HFAM Update, New MDH Orders, Hurricane Zeta,
Vaccination Program Deadline Extended, Voting Reminders
Friends:

First, thank you and you teams for all that you do. I hope and pray that by now, you know you have never stood alone in this pandemic.  As predicted, we are at the beginning of the fall surge of COVID-19. We knew this was coming; we wrote about it as your association and helped you prepare for it. You have prepared, and now we are here navigating it together. Please read through this update as it includes important new information, updates, and reminders.

Long-term care residents who live in nursing homes have multiple chronic conditions. VERY sadly, people with multiple chronic conditions are more susceptible to COVID-19 and more often die from the virus. That said, the death rate of people with multiple chronic conditions from COVID-19 is about the same inside and outside of nursing homes. More people have survived in Maryland nursing homes than have died during this pandemic. Every death is to be mourned, and every life saved is to be celebrated. People in nursing homes who die with and because of COVID-19 are more susceptible to the virus because of their multiple chronic pre-existing conditions.

Some key points as we move forward:

  • It is critical to recognize that the #1 indicator of COVID getting in our setting is the COVID hotness of the surrounding community-at-large. We must be clinically driven.
  • Infectious disease protocols, proper donning and doffing, PPE supplies, all even MORE key in moments like this, kind of as it was in March and April. And now, fatigue is more pronounced.
  • We also have to be extra vigilant on transfers back and forth from hospitals.
  • We’ve all had continuing concerns about staffing, going back to the start—it will take all of us in and out of government to navigate that front.
  • Commercial testing will likely become less timely in a surge, and we’ll have to use both PCR and POC.
  • Telemedicine will continue to be critical.


Reminders, as always:

  • I am proud of all you are doing.
  • People first, quality counts.
  • Our sector MUST double our efforts on infectious disease protocol, staffing, PPE, observation, and testing.
  • Train, train, and train teams again on infectious disease protocol.
  • Recognize that COVID-19 fighting fatigue is an issue across the county, not just in our sector.
  • Over-communicate with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners; and work with your hospital partners, and coordinate with local and state regulatory partners.
  • Take and document your action; keep a timeline
  • CLICK HERE for the Dr. Katz Video, and please see our attached Donning and Doffing Checklist we first distributed a couple of months ago.

Be well,
Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
Updated MDH Orders

Last night, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) released a revised nursing home order, nursing home update, and morticians board order. Please review this information in detail and share with your teams.

  • Revised Nursing Home Order: Order's substantive change is a new 60 day PPE inventory requirement (+a reporting requirement to us on their PPE inventory) by January 31, 2021. It also contains two technical changes:

  • Changing the time of notifying patients/staff from 12 hours to the federal requirement of 5 pm next day of a COVID outbreak so we track the feds.

  • Eliminating MDH review of nursing home testing plans since they all now have point of care machines and lab contracts. Order maintains requirement that each facility establish and maintain COVID-19 testing arrangements with laboratories for PCR assay-based testing.

  • Nursing Home Updates: Nursing homes must ensure they have adequate staffing during outbreaks in accordance with existing law and regulation, and that all staff, to the extent possible, get their flu shots by Dec. 31, 2020.

Weather Alert: Hurricane Zeta

As Hurricane Zeta approaches the northern Gulf Coast, where it is expected to make landfall today, it is important that all healthcare centers and businesses be on alert and prepared for damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Our sector must get ready for an extreme weather event and possible disruptions in public transportation and electricity.

It is critical for all to review and update emergency/disaster plans and be prepared to implement if needed.

Per established protocols, nursing and rehab centers are expected to work with local emergency management and government officials during a severe weather event and report problems and failures as outlined in disaster plans and state regulations. We urge HFAM members and all skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Maryland to be proactive:

  • Review your emergency/disaster plan and be sure your staff understands how to execute.
  • Check generators and fuel supplies.
  • Ensure the proper amount of medication, water, and food is on hand.
  • Ensure proper staffing and make initial contact with neighboring centers and hospitals.
  • Stay in contact with local officials and leaders at the Office of Health Care Quality as is required and prudent.

It is difficult to predict precise paths and severity of storms that may hit our area. Consider appointing a “weather watcher” and have them check the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and The Maryland Emergency Management Agency websites for updates.
LTC Vaccination Program Deadline Extended to Next Friday

The deadline for long term care facilities to sign up to participate in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program has been extended to Friday, November 6. Please don’t wait to register for the federal government’s national vaccine distribution program for long term care residents.  

Long term care facilities must register with the CDC on how they want to receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Nursing homes register via NHSN, while assisted living communities and other congregate settings sign up through an online survey.

Recording Now Available! Hosted by AHCA/NCAL 

A recording of an overview of these waivers is now available. Access the Recording
Election 2020
With the election days away and a pandemic that uniquely targets the LTC population still rampant, providers have an opportunity to play a larger role in helping residents exercise their right to vote in 2020. Click here for more from AHCA/NCAL.

  • Miss the deadline to register? You can register to vote at your local early voting center during early voting or at a vote center on election day. Find the links to the lists of vote centers here. (Be sure to bring a document that proves where you live.)

  • Early voting will be held from Monday, October 26, 2020 through Monday, November 2, 2020. Early voting centers will be open from 7 am to 8 pm.

  • Mail-in ballots must be postmarked or hand delivered by Tuesday, November 3.
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?

Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
Thank you.

We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.