• We continue conversations with the State on staffing and testing. Yesterday, HFAM had a productive virtual meeting with the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) and we are engaged in follow-up work going forward. It is important to remember as this surge ramps up, the workforces of hospitals and skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are impacted. Nursing homes have team members who have contracted or been exposed to the virus, as do hospitals. And, we are increasingly pulling from the same RN workforce.

• The current order regarding various healthcare matters asks for hospitals to help nursing homes, and seeks to have nursing homes mutually support each other as the surge continues. In a crisis, the expectation and hope is that all will help where they are able. We continue to work with MHA to reinforce and build specific hospital/nursing home safety net partnerships, and to identify specific nursing homes who might need help as the surge advances. We also continue to work with MDH on more detailed guidance.

• We continue to work with MDH and National Guard leaders on the State bridging of perhaps 20 percent of the sector. We are working within parameters that the State identified to us in early September. As we previously advised, the State’s expectation is that our sector will largely self-bridge during this fall and winter COVID-19 surge. Unlike the first surge in March and April, State bridge teams will be very limited.

• The support of State and National Guard Technical Assistance Teams has been helpful. Even now, those teams are doing a second round of review and instructional visits. But again, the State’s expectation is that our sector will self-bridge during this fall and winter COVID-19 surge.

• As with earlier surges, HFAM will continue to be proactive in coordination with the Maryland Hospital Association, UMMS, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Lifebridge and other hospital partners on issues of emergency RN staff supervision/training support, and in general coordination.

• 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.
• Overcommunicate with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners.
• 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.

1. Infection Prevention and Control for All Staff
2. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
4. Hand Hygiene
5. COVID-19: PPE Guidance for Use

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Applying and Removing
2. Handwashing
3. Surgical Face Mask: Application and Removal
4. N95 Respirator Application and User Seal Check
5. Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces