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Upcoming Outage During Planned NHSN Database Upgrade | SNF
Beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 24 at 6:00 pm, PDT, there will be a planned upgrade to the Secure Access Management Service (SAMS) database. This may potentially impact nursing home users’ ability to submit data into National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) during the outage window from Friday March 24 - Sunday, March 26. Please make sure you plan submissions accordingly, so your facility is not out of compliance with the CMS weekly reporting requirement. Questions? Contact nhsn@cdc.gov.
Standing Orders for COVID Testing, Vaccines to Expire May 11, 2023 | AL/ESF/SNF
With the coming expiration of the national Public Health Emergency, the standing orders for vaccines and testing will also expire. Facilities are encouraged to secure standing orders for COVID-19 antigen testing from residents’ primary care providers (PCP) so any suspected cases can be tested right away, and ongoing outbreak testing can be managed without interruption. Orders for staff testing will require more thoughtful consideration, as all antigen tests performed and results used to inform facility processes must be ordered by a medical provider. Assisted living and enhanced services facilities might consider securing staff’s standing orders from the same medical professional who orders staff’s tuberculosis testing.
You are also encouraged to create a plan so residents in need of vaccination can receive them; this might involve obtaining orders from the resident’s PCP and/or requesting the resident receive needed vaccines during a standard medical office visit.
Tacoma-Pierce County Long Term Care Facilities and Homes Provider Survey | AL & SNF
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wants to learn more about you and your facility. Please take the short, anonymous survey by April 7, 2023. Visit the long-term care webpage for more information and resources. Questions? Contact longtermcare@tpchd.org.
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