Coronavirus Update #78
Thank you message from Senator Van Hollen, Healthcare Heroes, Federal and State Reporting Requirements, Update on Orders, MDH Webinar Recap,
Testing and PPE Resources
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Thank You Message from Senator Van Hollen
Please take a look at this new special message from Senator Chris Van Hollen as he thanks
the staff of skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities for their steadfastness and resilience as they continue to provide quality care during these difficult times and applauds residents and families for keeping connected even while apart.
Thank you Senator Van Hollen for sharing this special message with staff, seniors, residents, and families across Maryland!
Please share with your teams!
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Nursing home and assisted living workers are heroes
In a letter to the editor, HFAM President & CEO Joe DeMattos, praises the heoric work of nursing home and assisted living staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"
In the coronavirus pandemic, nursing home healthcare workers are proving themselves not just as essential workers, but frontline heroes. From managing a virus that can be spread without symptoms, to dealing with a shortage of adequate testing and PPE, to being forced because of this sinister virus to rightfully isolate residents from families and loved ones, the daily challenges these workers are facing are immense, unprecedented, and heartbreaking."
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UPDATE: NHSN Reporting and CRISP Reporting
On April 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
COVID-19 reporting module
for long term care facilities. Reporting to NHSN provides the timeliest data which will be informative and provide situational awareness at both state and national levels. The COVID-19 module is divided into 4 separate reporting pathways which include:
- Resident impact and Facility Capacity
- Staff and Personnel Impact
- Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment
- Ventilator Capacity and Supplies
Follow the instructions on the NHSN website to enroll and submit the required Federal information as detailed on the site.
Centers who were not previously enrolled in NHSN will be required to go through an expedited
enrollment process
.
State of Maryland Post-Acute Capacity Form:
Centers are required to submit these reports on a daily basis, including weekends.
In addition, there is going to be a new credentialing process instituted during the coming week. Every SNF that wishes to submit the required daily
Maryland Department of Health
reports through the CRISP portal must have a signed Participation Agreement and notify CRISP who their Point of Contact will be.
If the SNF currently has a Participation Agreement and Point of Contact with CRISP, the Point of Contact will be contacted via email on how to enroll for the new reporting Portal.
Should you have any questions, please contact: William (Bill) Hokemeyer, Jr. at 410.596.8205 or at
[email protected]
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Update: Order from Governor Hogan, Order from Secretary Neall
HFAM and our partners recently had a discussion with Maryland Department of Health (MDH) leaders regarding Governor Hogan's most recent order regarding nursing homes and MDH Secretary Neall's order regarding nursing homes.
It was made clear that LPNs under RN supervision could conduct the daily evaluation of residents mandated in the order.
Regarding testing: a testing matrix is being developed, as well as well an operational plan, for the state to provide tests and forms to simplify the process – but the state will not necessarily conduct/administer the test. Expect more on this from the state. An important message is that SNF’s are encouraged to continue arranging their own testing processed by local labs. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
ICYMI: in a
press conference earlier this week, Governor Larry Hogan announced an
executive order to, among other requirements, mandate universal testing of all residents and staff in all Maryland nursing homes and other health care facilities, regardless of whether they have symptoms. You can review our initial update on this executive order
HERE.
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MDH Webinar Recap
Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Health held a webinar call to update the long-term care sector on COVID-19 developments and best practices. The call was recorded, in case you were unable to join or would like to review the topics discussed, which included:
- Review current situation of COVID-19
- Specimen Collection Refresher
- General Updates
- Town Hall
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Testing Options
First Call Medical Center, an urgent care clinic located in Gambrills, is available to provide testing to staff and residents of long-term care centers. Skilled nursing centers and assisted living campuses may set up testing for staff and/or residents in several ways: staff can utilize the urgent care’s drive through testing, the urgent care clinic can set up at your center, or a mix of these options. Please note for staff testing, it is most efficient to send employee information ahead of the testing in order for the clinic to process tests quicker. This testing is available 7 days a week.
In addition, this urgent care clinic has adequate access to PPE and they are even offering to share PPE (including face shields and masks) with other providers.
Please contact Dr. Ron Elfenbein to discuss the testing process and figure out which option works best for your center. Dr. Elfenbein can be reached via email at
[email protected] or via phone at 410-507-9698 (please leave a message if no answer).
Diamond Medical Labs, located in Owings Mills, has the capacity to do in-residence test collection for seniors during the COVID-19 outbreak so that they do not have to go out. Contact Andy Diamond at
[email protected] or
443-992-2782 if there is demand at your center or if you would like additional information.
The Maryland Department of Health Laboratory -
click here for more information.
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MAXIMUS
As testing capacity and supplies grow to meet demand, logistical issues around coordination, wait times and locations will become salient challenges to nursing homes. Criteria and referrals for getting tested have been unclear and will evolve as more and more tests come online.
Simplifying the testing process for nursing home residents is vital to keeping confidence high.
MAXIMUS can assist nursing homes with support for referred patients:
- Manpower – It can provide qualified, background-checked service representatives quickly.
- Test Screening – It can provide called screening services to identify symptomatic people who need priority testing.
MAXIMUS brings relevant experience
- State of New York COVID-19 Screening and Scheduling – Since mid-April, MAXIMUS has screened and scheduled testing for more than 10,000 New Yorkers through our NYS COVID-19 Hotline.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice and Mission Programs – MAXIMUS providea medical appointment scheduling services for 1.5 million veterans and 440,000 providers.
- National HHS COVID-19 Test Result Notification Center – In just six days, MAXIMUS was able to stand up a multichannel call center for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Operations now support 10,000 individuals per day with COVID-19 test results – providing geo-mapping of real-time test results to HHS staff.
MAXIMUS has the capability and capacity to help
MAXIMUS is the largest provider of turnkey contact center services to government programs, including 1-800-MEDICARE and 1-800-CDC-INFO (which we expanded to 24/7 service in response to COVID-19).
- Unmatched capacity – More than 20,000 service agents working in over 60 MAXIMUS locations across 30 states, handling over 5.7 million calls each month – with nearly 70% of U.S. workforce working from home.
- Ability to provide manpower, equipment and cloud-based services – MAXIMUS’s AWS-based, HIPAA-compliant solution offers secure access to your systems and the communications channels citizens prefer – especially personal mobile devices.
- Decades of experience working with the populations at the front lines of your COVID-19 response – MAXIMUS supports state-based programs, including 100 state-based contact centers and 17 eligibility related program operations
If you are interested in setting up a coronavirus testing program, please contact Leonard Lucchi
[email protected]
or 410-280-2203.
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In our continuing efforts to assist providers with sourcing PPE supply, HFAM has identified several companies that are producing supplies and taking orders. These companies can be used to compliment orders from your existing vendors. Please contact the individuals directly regarding your needs to determine which company is a good fit for you.
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MEDLINE
Medline will have a reusable gown option available in August.
- The sell sheet is for the reusable isolation gowns available in Mid-August
- Medline will only get 325 cases extra across all three items – surplus is limited!! Please send order quantities and signed agreement ASAP if you would like to order.
- Customers must sign the contract, agreeing to no refunds or cancellations of their order
- This is to avoid surplus inventory and allow our manufacturing team to source component materials as soon as possible
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For additional information, questions, or product assistance, contact your Medline sales representative or call 1-800-Medline.
FACE SHIELDS
Sparx Protective Face Shield
Sparx Hockey, inventor of the revolutionary Sparx Skate Sharpener, has announced it will begin manufacturing protective face shields to assist the medical community in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The company expects to produce approximately 10,000-15,000 face shields a week and is currently taking orders via its website at
www.sparxhockey.com/safetygear
. The Sparx Protective Face Shield is intended for single use only and should only be used with medically approved masks. Cost $59.00 for a pack of 10.
FACE MASKS
Eurotard Dancewear
has begun production of face masks. The factory closed its regular production due to the coronavirus and began production of PPE immediately.
For more information on the reusable face mask, please
click here
. Note that the pricing shown on the website is consumer retail pricing. Bulk orders for PPEs will be invoiced at wholesale pricing for your facility.
FACE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZERS
Offering bulk pricing on Planet Earth Face Masks, that are ATSM Level 2 FDA Certified.
Offering bulk pricing on Greenerways Handsanitizer a 70% Alcohol based hand sanitizer to meet the demands of First Responders, Hospitals and Healthcare centers.
Contact Scott Edwards, Innovative Marketing Services, phone 410-340-1113 or via email at
[email protected]
DISPOSABLE FACE SHIELDS
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has designed and licensed a manufacturer to produce
disposable face shields
in high volume. These face shields do not replace the need for face masks such as N95s but do offer splash protection and can extend the useful life of N95 respirators and surgical masks.
Long term care facilities facing shortages of face masks and other PPE should continue efforts to obtain N95s and other PPE, even if they order the MIT face shields. The face shields cost $348.75 for a box of 125 ($2.79 each). Learn more and access their order form at
mitshield.com
.
ALL PPE
IronMark.
In an effort to support the thousands of healthcare, medical staff and essential business workers in protecting themselves in this critical time, IronMark has leveraged their existing manufacturer relationships to source and make available PPE supplies and gear. Ironmark is committed to making these much needed supplies available to you, to protect the teams of heroes on, and supporting, the front line.
Hatch Exhibits in Elkridge, MD
is working with supply chain personnel at several local medical facilities in the Baltimore/Washington area as well as facilities in Michigan. Hatch is currently filling orders on a first-come, first-served basis for overnight or next day delivery. Please contact Tracy McCormick at
[email protected]
for additional information or to place an order.
CLEANING AND DISINFECTING COMPANIES
Gordon
410-739-4432
Josh Rafter
Cell: 410-458-6180
Jim Reynolds
410-589-5999
(or)
Kevin Holmboe
410-271-0268
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HFAM cannot guarantee the availability of any supplies or equipment. These resources are provided as an addition to your current PPE suppliers. HFAM will not profit financially from sales made from these vendors.
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Proper Use of PPE Reminder
We encourage you to review with your teams the appropriate way to apply and remove all PPE, including gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. Performing observations yourself can be helpful to prepare staff for surveyor observation and to quickly correct any practices needing improvement.
- These documents can be printed and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately don PPE.
- These documents can be printed off and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately doff PPE.
- The following video explains how to do hand hygiene and donning/doffing PPE appropriately.
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COVID-19 Resource Request Process Reminder
As we have previously shared, The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working closely with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to organize emergency suppliers of equipment and services that will aid in the response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Please direct questions to your local emergency management contact.
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Brooke Grove Retirement Village has many healthcare heroes! Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!
When
Lien Bui
, purchasing director of Brooke Grove Retirement Village (BGRV) in Sandy Spring, Maryland, discovered that face masks were unavailable from suppliers, she immediately stepped into action! Enlisting the help of her family and a seamstress friend, Lien and company set to work creating homemade face masks for the BGRV staff. Others members of the BGRV family soon joined the effort to make or obtain face masks or face shields, including Medical Director Ted Howe, M.D., and his wife, Elizabeth; volunteers Leslie England and Hampton DeJarnette; independent living resident Mary Konrad; resident family member Laurie Gibb; and staff family member Jeanette Manley. Their hard work went a long way to support the BGRV team!
At the request of Assisted Living LIFE Enrichment Director Tina Morrell, Lien also designed and produced unique face masks that allow residents with hearing challenges to lip read through through a clear panel in the mask!
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Who are your healthcare heroes?
There are so many amazing stories of dedication, sacrifice, and compassion by long term care professionals who are going above and beyond to ensure the safety, health, and happiness of residents during this unprecedented time. These individuals are saving lives; they are heroes.
We want to hear your stories! Please email
[email protected]
to share a current story and picture of members of your team who are going above beyond to provide quality care during this unprecedented time.
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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.
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Additional Resources and Guidance
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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.
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