AHCA Reminds Us to Continue Posting Daily to ESS
This week, AHCA asked the associations to make phone calls to about 350 communities that have not been submitting data into the Emergency Status System. They are now citing communities for noncompliance.
Please continue posting into the ESS every day by 10:00 a.m. until there is an end to any COVID spread in communities,
November 18, 2020
Long Term Care Facilities Update
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ESS Reporting Requirements
It is imperative that facilities continue to report daily in the Emergency Status System (ESS) to maintain up to date, accurate information. The Agency is citing deficiencies for any facility that is not complying with daily 10 AM reporting deadline.
ESS Reporting Changes
COVID19 Test Results Reporting
All facilities conducting COVID-19 testing must report results within 24 hours of results to the Department of Health. Laboratories and waived labs MUST report all positive, negative, and indeterminate test results for Florida residents.
Per Department of Health Emergency Rule 64DER20-34, FAC, all test results must be submitted electronically, using one of the electronic reporting methods listed below:
- Electronic laboratory reporting: generation of an electronic commaseparated value (CSV) or Health Level 7 (HL7) formatted message.
- National Healthcare Safety Network COVID-19 module for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities.
- COVID-19 Reporting Portal: for entities that perform COVID-19 testing that are unable to generate an electronic CSV or HL7 formatted message
Registration in one of these methods, must be completed within 7 days of the effective date of the Emergency Rule 64DER20-34 (11/12/2020), or within 7 days of obtaining the ability to conduct testing.
Facilities currently reporting COVID-19 Point of Care testing results to the Center for Disease Control's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) are NOT required to report in the Florida DOH COVID-19 Reporting Portal. However, facilities must still report positive cases to the County Public Health Department for outbreak reporting.
AHCA administers the CLIA program on behalf of CMS and will conduct onsite investigations for cases of non-compliance. To request assistance with reporting, please email provider.covid19@flhealth.gov.
Infection Control Information
The Agency is sharing training materials and other guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist facilities and other providers in infection control and prevention.
When providers are administering care to patients and residents in their homes or at a health care facility, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used, including facemasks and gloves. It is key that providers are following infection prevention and control protocols when putting on and taking off PPE.
To assist providers in ensuring they are following infection prevention and control protocols, the Agency recommends review of trainings available on the CDC website. The CDC also offers COVID-19-related training through the TRAIN Learning Network.
If you require additional assistance with ESS, please contact your AHCA licensing unit:
- Assisted Living Unit, 850-412-4304
- Long Term Care Services Unit, 850-412-4303
- Hospital Unit, 850-412-4549