Coronavirus Update #210
HFAM Update, Vaccination Program Reminders,
MD Think Survey, Upcoming COVID Webinars
HFAM Update

Friends:

This is an important day as we turn a corner in our shared fight against COVID-19. The vaccines mark a new and promising dawn. The truth is that due to initial short supply, it will be many months before we vaccinate all in need. Together, we will get through this in the coming weeks and months. And, we will also get through this current COVID-19 surge that is likely to persist well into January.

In talking with my colleague state execs here in Maryland and among AHCA/NCAL affiliates across the country, I know that skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are on calls with and emailing back and forth with CVS/Walgreens as part of the national vaccination plan for our sector.  If I were to guess, and it is only a guess, I would estimate that nursing homes in Maryland could start seeing CVS/Walgreens federally contracted vaccine deployment in our sector around December 24. Please know that we are staying in close contact with our HFAM members, our colleague leaders at the Maryland Hospital Association, LeadingAge Maryland and LifeSpan, and with our national partners at AHCA/NCAL.

A couple other points:

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released new guidance regarding post vaccination considerations for residents and staff. This is new infection control guidance for nursing home residents and healthcare workers  who may develop side effects that mimic COVID-19 disease after receiving COVID vaccination. The goal is to avoid excluding staff or isolating residents unnecessarily, while still avoiding allowing positive staff or residents to expose others.

  • On the current co-occurring flu and COVID-19 surge, it is real and intensifying in some local communities. As you know, the biggest indicator of COVID-19 entering a healthcare setting is the prevalence of COVID-19 in the surrounding community. Therefore, as COVID-19 spreads in the community, it is also spreads in healthcare settings. While there are outbreaks, we are preventing hotspots through testing and improved infection control practices. We continue to be in touch with MDH/National Guard Bridge Teams, for whom we are most thankful. That said, all of us are stretched thin for medical staff.

As we have been advising, the State of Maryland’s expectation is that our sector will self-bridge during this fall and winter COVID-19 surge. State bridge teams are limited. The support of State and National Guard Technical Assistance Teams that have been in all 227 centers to review infectious disease protocols, staffing, and PPE has been helpful. But again, the State’s expectation is that our sector will self-bridge more often than not. In the earlier March/April surge, HFAM was proactive in coordination with the Maryland Hospital Association, UMMS, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and LifeBridge on issues of emergency RN staff supervision/training support, and in general coordination. We will continue on this front.

Important Note: On monoclonal antibody treatment, Remedi SeniorCare is receiving allotments of hundreds of doses per week dedicated for patients and residents in our setting. We’ve now had four calls with MDH leaders on this, and together we MUST take advantage of working with MDH, Remedi SeniorCare, and infusion companies such as Advanced PICC Specialists to get this treatment, clinically driven and medically supervised, to patients and residents. This is important, stay tuned for updates.

As always:

  • People first, quality counts.
  • Be prepared to deploy people and PPE around your organization.
  • 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.
  • Overcommunicate with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners.
  • Sound alarms early.
  • Know that WE WILL get through this, and that you are saving lives!
  • 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 the Donning and Doffing Checklist we first distributed a couple of months ago.
Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
Federal Vaccination Program

AHCA/NCAL Webinar Recording and Materials

The recording to last week's AHC/NCAL webinar, Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics is available. The webinar covered what providers need to do now to prepare for vaccine clinics and tips to promote high vaccination rates in buildings. To view the webinar at your convenience:


  • Once the page opens, click on the “View Archived Recording" button on the right hand side of the page. The presentation will open in a new window for you to view and hear the program.

  • Click on the Handout tab to download your copy of the handouts and other available materials.

Additional vaccination planning resources, including this template vaccine clinic checklist, can be found on the AHCA/NCAL website. Please email COVID19@ahca.org with any questions.
Important Reminders and Notes:

  • Skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers signed up for the CVS/Walgreens vaccination program as directed by the federal government. The Maryland Department of Health has signed up all skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers into the national CVS/Walgreen vaccination plan and expects all facilities to participate. 

  • Walgreens completed outreach by Wednesday, December 9. If Walgreens is your pharmacy and you have not heard from them, please contact ImmunizeLTC@walgreens.com

  • CVS expects to complete outreach by Monday, December 14 (today). If CVS is your pharmacy and you have not heard from them, check your spam, update facility contact information HERE, and email CovidVaccineClinicsLTCF@CVSHealth.com with "CONTACT" as the subject line and include the facility name, address, and point of contact information.

  • Skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are making operational plans for the initial clinics. Please remember, you must have written consent.
MD Think User Survey

Please help the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) improve the LTC E&E system by taking an Adoption and Usage Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020EandEsurvey. The survey will only take about 5 minutes. Your feedback is critical, so MDH asks that you respond by Wednesday, December 30, 2020.   

The survey is anonymous and results will be shared at a later date. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Upcoming COVID-19 Webinars

Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 1:30 PM ET
Hosted by the CDC 

Vaccine Clinic Prep Office Hours
Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 11 AM ET 
Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 4 PM ET
Hosted by AHCA/NCAL

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 3 PM ET 
Hosted by the CDC Foundation

Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 10 AM ET 
Hosted by Project ECHO
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.