CMS QSO Memo: Enhanced Enforcement Actions Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results (2/21)

DATE: June 1, 2020 REVISED 01/04/2021 TO: State Survey Agency Directors FROM: Director Quality, Safety & Oversight Group SUBJECT: Revised COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes CMS is committed to taking critical steps to protect vulnerable Americans …

COVID-19 Survey Activities (3/20)

For more recent information about CMS survey priorities, also see QSO memo QSO-20-31-ALL-REVISED. ————————————————————– Background  CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities and clinical laboratories are prepared to respond to the threat of the COVID-19 and other respiratory illness. Specifically, CMS is suspending non-emergency …

Patterns in COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Long-Term Care Facilities in 2020: Kaiser Family Foundation Review (1/21)

For some regions of the country, recent months have brought the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities since the start of the pandemic, a new KFF analysis of state-reported cases and death shows, underscoring the importance of current efforts to vaccinate this high priority group. A second, related analysis synthesizes the …

CLIA Laboratories Surveyor Guidance for New and Modified CLIA Requirements Related to SARS-CoV-2 Test Result Reporting (1/21)

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Laboratories Surveyor Guidance for New and Modified CLIA Requirements Related to SARS-CoV-2 Test Result Reporting Memo # QSO-21-10-CLIA Posting Date 2021-01-08 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary • CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities continue to be prepared to …

CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Toolkit for SNFs/NFs (1/21)

Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination at Your Facility Answering Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines This toolkit provides long-term care facility (LTCF) administrators and clinical leadership with information and resources to help build vaccine confidence among healthcare personnel (HCP) and residents. You play a critical role in providing …

CDC Post-COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations for Healthcare Workers (12/20)

Infection prevention and control considerations for healthcare personnel with systemic signs and symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination Note: Strategies are needed for healthcare facilities to appropriately evaluate and manage post-vaccination signs and symptoms among healthcare personnel (HCP). The approach described in this document is intended to reduce the risks for disruptions in …

CDC Post-COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations for Residents (12/20)

Infection prevention and control considerations for residents of long-term care facilities with systemic signs and symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination Note: Strategies are needed by long-term care facilities to appropriately evaluate and manage post-vaccination signs and symptoms among their residents.  The approach described in this document is intended to balance: ·  …

SARS-COV-2 Point-of-Care Testing Toolkit (11/20)

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), recently announced plans to provide nursing homes with a Point of Care (POC) rapid response testing instrument to bolster each facility’s ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The data collected through the NHSN system directly supports this …

COVID-19 Tools from AAPACN

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPACN is developing several tools and resources to help LTPAC providers. The tools and resources available to date include: Updated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing Competency Tool COVID-19: Education for Nursing Home Healthcare Personnel – This one-page document provides relevant and straight forward education …